Rate Quality Research Articles

Optimal scheduling of energy routers based on distributed CAES systems

Abstract With the rise of renewable energy, distributed energy, and other different forms of energy, the architecture and function of the energy router are relatively perfect, for the topology of the energy router itself, different forms of energy in the energy router flow, conversion to realize the large-scale use of distributed energy equipment has also gradually become a hot spot of research. However, there are fewer studies on the energy router with a distributed CAES system to participate in the optimal scheduling of energy for integrated energy systems. Therefore, this paper is based on the operational domain model of an energy router with a distributed CAES system and analyzes the physical characteristics and coupling relationship of non-energy storage components, takes air pressure, temperature, and oil volume as state variables, takes charging, power generation, and heating power as external interfaces, and utilizes internal interface variables such as air quality and flow rate to realize energy storage, flow, and other internal interface variables to realize the communication between energy storage and non-energy storage elements, and finally determine the operation domain of the system. Secondly, the feasible domain of the energy router based on the distributed CAES system is portrayed, and the optimization of the system parameters is guided with the help of the relative distance by establishing the electric and thermal power constraints and the storage state constraints. Finally, the effectiveness of the feasible domain analysis method in the energy router of a distributed CAES system is verified by taking a northern region as an example.

Associations of Subjective Sleep Quality with Wearable Device-Derived Resting Heart Rate During REM Sleep and Non-REM Sleep in a Cohort of Japanese Office Workers.

Associations between subjective sleep quality and stage-specific heart rate (HR) may have important clinical relevance when aiming to optimize sleep and overall health. The majority of previously studies have been performed during short periods under laboratory-based conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of subjective sleep quality with heart rate during REM sleep (HR REMS) and non-REM sleep (HR NREMS) using a wearable device (Fitbit Versa). This is a secondary analysis of data from the intervention group of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) performed between December 3, 2018, and March 2, 2019, in Tokyo, Japan. The intervention group consisted of 179 Japanese office workers with metabolic syndrome (MetS), Pre-MetS or a high risk of developing MetS. HR was collected with a wearable device and sleep quality was assessed with a mobile application where participants answered The St. Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire. Both HR and sleep quality was collected daily for a period of 90 days. Associations of between-individual and within-individual sleep quality with HR REMS and HR NREMS were analyzed with multi-level model regression in 3 multivariate models. The cohort consisted of 92.6% men (n=151) with a mean age (± standard deviation) of 44.1 (±7.5) years. A non-significant inverse between-individual association was observed for sleep quality with HR REMS (HR REMS -0.18; 95% CI -0.61, 0.24) and HR NREMS (HR NREMS -0.23; 95% CI -0.66, 0.21), in the final multivariable adjusted models; a statistically significant inverse within-individual association was observed for sleep quality with HR REMS (HR REMS -0.21 95% CI -0.27, -0.15) and HR NREMS (HR NREMS -0.21 95% CI -0.27, -0.14) after final adjustments for covariates. The present study shows a statistically significant within-individual association of subjective sleep quality with HR REMS and HR NREMS. These findings emphasize the importance of considering sleep quality on the individual level. The results may contribute to early detection and prevention of diseases associated with sleep quality which may have important implications on public health given the high prevalence of sleep disturbances in the population.

Frame rate improvement in coherent plane-wave compounding using null subtraction imaging

Coherent plane-wave compounding (CPWC) has attracted significant attention in preclinical research and clinical diagnosis. However, a trade-off exists in CPWC between the image quality and frame rate. Null subtraction imaging (NSI), as a novel beamforming method, can realize high-quality imaging with enhanced lateral resolution and suppressed grating lobes. This study explores NSI to reduce the number of emissions while preserving the imaging quality. The performance of the proposed method is assessed using the Plane-Wave Imaging Challenge in Medical Ultrasound datasets, including phantom and in vivo datasets. The results verify the potential of NSI in terms of frame rate improvement compared to the conventional delay and sum beamforming method. NSI with 5 and 15 plane-wave emissions is evaluated. For example, for the experimental phantom datasets, NSI with 15 plane-wave emissions improves the lateral full-width at half maximum by 0.10 in comparison to DAS with 75 plane-wave emissions. Moreover, the corresponding contrast ratio and generalized contrast-to-noise ratio increase from 25.11 to 31.19 dB and 0.63 to 0.68, respectively, indicating contrast improvement. Thus, compared to DAS with 75 plane-wave emissions, the proposed method accelerates data acquisition by a factor of 5, resulting in remarkable frame rate improvement.

Poor sleep quality and overweight/obesity in healthcare professionals: a cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the sleep quality of healthcare professionals and the incidence of overweight and obesity, exploring the potential impact of sleep quality on the onset of overweight and obesity in order to provide a scientific basis for formulating effective health intervention measures. A convenience sampling method was used to conduct a survey on the sleep characteristics and obesity status among healthcare professionals at Peking Union Medical College Hospital and Tianjin Dongli District Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. The survey was conducted via online questionnaires, which included demographic data, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), height, weight, and related sleep, exercise, and dietary habits. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to study the relationship between sleep quality and overweight/obesity among healthcare professionals. A total of 402 questionnaires were distributed, with a 100% retrieval rate, yielding 402 valid questionnaires. The average body mass index of the 402 participants was 23.22 ± 3.87 kg/m^2. Among them, 144 cases were overweight or obese, accounting for 35.8% (144/402) of the total. The prevalence of poor sleep quality among healthcare professionals was 27.4% (110/402), with an average PSQI score of 8.37 ± 3.624. The rate of poor sleep quality was significantly higher in the overweight and obese group compared to the normal weight group (36.1% vs. 22.5%, p = 0.003). The multivariate analysis indicated that gender, marital status, lower education level, sleep duration (odds ratio [OR] =1.411, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.043-1.910, p = 0.026), and sleep disturbances (OR = 1.574, 95%CI 1.123-2.206, p = 0.008) were significant risk factors for overweight and obesity among healthcare professionals. Overweight or obese healthcare professionals had poorer sleep quality compared to those with a normal weight. Sleep duration and sleep disorders were identified as independent risk factors for overweight or obesity in healthcare professionals. Increasing sleep duration and improving sleep disorders may play a positive role in controlling overweight and obesity among healthcare professionals.

Promotion of a social prescribing pathway to general practitioners in a rural area (a feasibility study protocol)

PurposePsychosocial problems, including social isolation and loneliness, are prevalent in rural communities and can impact the use of health services and health outcomes. Current approaches to managing patients with predominantly psychosocial issues may not be the most appropriate. Social prescribing (SP) is a relatively new way of linking patients with sources of non-medical support within the community. Emerging literature suggests that community-based, non-medical activities are an effective and preferred approach to managing psychosocial problems. However, there is little evidence describing the attitudes of general practitioners (GPs) towards formal SP pathways.Design/methodology/approachThis research will occur in a general practice in a rural area of Tasmania, Australia. The project will deliver an education module to rural GPs to highlight the benefits of SP and provide a streamlined pathway for referring patients to community support hubs. Existing community organisations will act as “link workers” to connect patients with suitable community activities. GPs will complete a baseline and follow-up survey to measure their perception of SP and the acceptability, feasibility and appropriateness of such an intervention.FindingsThe acceptability, feasibility and appropriateness of the pathway will be assessed using published measures. Free-text responses to open-ended questions will be used to complement the quantitative data. A hybrid effectiveness-implementation method will be used to gather information about the rate of uptake and quality of the SP referral process and identify barriers and facilitators of the process in a real-world setting.Research limitations/implicationsWhile qualitative data for SP programmes is predominantly positive, quantitative data is lacking. Although the planned project is relatively short, it will provide a basis for future SP programme implementation and guide the approach to data collection and implementation assessment.Social implicationsThe barriers to and facilitators of introducing a SP programme in a rural general practice setting may be used to guide the development and implementation of future large-scale SP interventions. This research is both timely and relevant as the problem of social isolation and loneliness, especially in rural areas of Australia, is becoming more well-recognised as a driver of poor health and unnecessary health service usage.Originality/valueUsing SP to address psychosocial risks may reduce healthcare burden and costs. Few SP programmes have been delivered and formally assessed in Australia, and the best way to implement SP locally remains unclear. By delivering a SP intervention in a rural setting and assessing GPs’ responses, future SP projects will be better able to design and integrate social and medical care services.

Log-Linear Model and Delivery Load Analysis for Improvements in Water Quality through TMDL in the Gyeongan Stream Watershed, Republic of Korea

The effectiveness of implementing the total maximum daily load (TMDL) in the Gyeongan stream watershed was evaluated to assess its impact on water quality. The relationships between water quality and flow rate and load and water quality were reinterpreted using a log-linear model and the delivery load, respectively. To estimate annual water quality trends and analyze the effects of water quality improvement in each parameter, an improved multivariable log-linear model addressing the limitations of the traditional L-Q equation was applied to analyze the relationship between water quality and flow rate, excluding the effects of flow rate and seasonality. The effect of total phosphorus (T-P) was particularly prominent. A new delivery load was developed and applied to address the limitations of the original unit-based delivery load. Evaluations showed that water quality continuously improved across all parameters, and all methods (excluding the influence of flow rate on water quality fluctuations) were highly effective in estimating water quality changes attributable to anthropogenic pollution sources. The analysis of pollutant contributions revealed that managing point sources is necessary for controlling the biochemical oxygen demand and total nitrogen, while point and non-point sources require T-P management. Future policy development should consider this when formulating management strategies.

Analisa Total Productive Maintenance Guna Meningkatkan Produktivitas Mesin Ekstrusi Type 2500 Menggunakan Metode Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)

Manufacturing industry companies are always faced with productivity, quality and delivery problems as demanded from customers, PT. XYZ is engaged in manufacturing various aluminum profile products during the 2020 period, the company experienced a type 2500 extrusion machine downtime of 9807 minutes, exceeding the company's standard of 7800 minutes a year, this is one of the causes of a decline in production. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the machine using the OEE (overall equipment effectiveness) method, to increase the productivity of the type 2500 extrusion machine from the results of the six big losses analysis to identify the main cause of the downtime of the type 2500 extrusion machine. The results show that the overall equipment effectiveness measurement is obtained the average Avaibility Ratio presentation is 92.24%, Performance Ratio is 49.56% and Quality Rate is 99.72% so that the average overall equipment effectiveness value is 45.61% where this value is still below the average ideal value overall equipment effectiveness is 85%. The results of the measurement of six big losses obtained the results of downtime values: equipment failure losses 3.81%, setup and adjustment losses 3.95%, speed losses: idle and minor stoppage 3.03%, reduce speed losses 46.51%, quality losses: defect losses 0.13%, reduced yield 0% , from these data it is known that the main problem is in the speed losses section with the highest loss in reduce speed losses of 46.51%. The factors that dominate the main cause of downtime for the 2500 extrusion machine are log heater, puller, dummi block, loader, finish cut saw, stem, and table.

Relationship between Image Quality and Reproducibility of Surgical Images in 3D Digital Surgery.

Objectives: Ophthalmic three-dimensional (3D) digital surgery can reproduce high-definition surgical images; however, 3D digital surgery is limited by recording capacities. We examined the relationship between the minimum image quality required to reproduce surgical images and recording capacity. Methods: Patients who underwent simultaneous vitrectomy and cataract surgery by the same surgeon using a 3D digital surgery system at Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital between February and October 2021 were evaluated. Various quality (Q) and frame rate (FR) settings were used for each case. Four vitreous surgeons evaluated the reproducibility of recorded images of macular manipulation for epiretinal membrane (ERM) and macular hole (MH) cases and those of peripheral retinal manipulation for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) cases. The video bitrate and minimum settings required to reproduce surgical images and factors affecting surgical image reproducibility were examined. Results: A total of 129 eyes of 129 patients were observed. The minimum image quality required to reproduce surgical images was 11.67 Mbps. The Q and FR for periretinal processing and Q for macular manipulation affected surgical image reproducibility (p = 0.025, p = 0.019, and p = 0.07, respectively). The minimum recording settings required to obtain highly reproducible images were Q = 3 and FR = 40. The total file size for vitrectomy video recordings with these settings was as compact as 3.17 GB for 28 min. Conclusions: During 3D digital surgery, highly reproducible surgical images can be obtained with a small storage capacity using settings of at least Q = 3 and FR = 40.

Effect of organic acids on fermentation quality and microbiota of horseshoe residue and corn protein powder

This experiment aimed to investigate the impact of malic acid (MA) and citric acid (CA) on the nutritional composition, fermentation quality, rumen degradation rate, and microbial diversity of a mixture of apple pomace and corn protein powder during ensiling. The experiment used apple pomace and corn protein powder as raw materials, with four groups: control group (CON), malic acid treatment group (MA, 10 g/kg), citric acid treatment group (CA, 10 g/kg), and citric acid + malic acid treatment group (MA, 10 g/kg + CA, 10 g/kg). Each group has 3 replicates, with 2 repetitions in parallel, subjected to mixed ensiling for 60 days. The results indicated: (1) Compared to the CON group, the crude protein content significantly increased in the MA, CA, and MA + CA groups (p < 0.05), with the highest content observed in the MA + CA group. The addition of MA and CA effectively reduced the water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content (p < 0.05). Simultaneously, the CA group showed a decreasing trend in NDFom and hemicellulose content (p = 0.08; p = 0.09). (2) Compared to the CON group, the pH significantly decreased in the MA, CA, and MA + CA groups (p < 0.01), and the three treatment groups exhibited a significant increase in lactic acid and acetic acid content (p < 0.01). The quantity of lactic acid bacteria increased significantly (p < 0.01), with the MA + CA group showing a more significant increase than the MA and CA groups (p < 0.05). (3) Compared to the CON group, the in situ dry matter disappearance (ISDMD) significantly increased in the MA, CA, and MA + CA groups (p < 0.05). All three treatment groups showed highly significant differences in in situ crude protein disappearance (ISCPD) compared to the CON group (p < 0.01). (4) Good’s Coverage for all experimental groups was greater than 0.99, meeting the conditions for subsequent sequencing. Compared to the CON group, the Shannon index significantly increased in the CA group (p < 0.01), and the Simpson index increased significantly in the MA group (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the Chao index among the three treatment groups and the CON group (p > 0.05). At the genus level, the abundance of Lentilactobacillus in the MA, CA, and MA + CA groups was significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). PICRUSt prediction results indicated that the metabolic functional microbial groups in the CA and MA treatment groups were significantly higher than in the CON group (p < 0.05), suggesting that the addition of MA or CA could reduce the loss of nutritional components such as protein and carbohydrates in mixed ensilage. In conclusion, the addition of malic acid and citric acid to a mixture of apple pomace and corn protein powder during ensiling reduces nutritional losses, improves fermentation quality and rumen degradation rate, enhances the diversity of the microbial community in ensiled feed, and improves microbial structure. The combined addition of malic acid and citric acid demonstrates a superior effect.

Mathematical Analysis for Optimizing Electro Discharge Machining Parameters and Enhancing Hastelloy Machining Efficiency

This study investigates the process parameter optimisation for Hastelloy electro discharge machining (EDM). The goal of the research is to increase machining accuracy and efficiency by precisely changing the EDM process factors. The most important variables affecting tool wear, surface quality, and material removal rate are identified. In order to improve the machining performance for Hastelloy components, the research highlights the importance of factors including discharge current, pulse duration, electrode material, and dielectric fluid properties. The study's conclusions give important information about how to improve EDM procedures for this tough, corrosion-resistant hastealloy. Extensive research is conducted into the features of tool wear and their connection to process parameters in an effort to increase tool life and reduce manufacturing costs. The findings of this research offer useful data for optimising the efficiency of the Hastelloy EDM process in terms of both money and time. The growing need for high-performance components in industries including aerospace, chemical, and nuclear engineering is being addressed by this study, which intends to lay the groundwork for the development of efficient and environmentally friendly machining practises for Hastelloy. To do this, one must get a thorough comprehension of the interrelationships between the various process parameters.

Quality of life and sleep, depression, family functioning, and marital adjustment in patients on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

End-stage renal disease is different from other chronic diseases that the treatment method is as difficult. Our aim in this study was to compare marital adjustment, sexual functions and family functioning between hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patient. A total of 21 HD and 27 PD patients were included. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Short Form-36 (SF-36), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX), Golombok-Rust Inventory for Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS), Marital Adjustment Test (MAT) and Family Assessment Device (FAD) were applied. BDI scores were significantly higher in HD patients (p < 0.001). According to FAD problem solving (p < 0.001), communication (p = 0.00) and general functioning scores (p = 0.04) were higher in PD. The rate of poor sleep quality was 44.4% in the PD group, and 66.7% in HD group (p = 0.12). General health (p = 0.04), vitality (p < 0.001), mental health (p = 0.00) and social functioning (p = 0.00) scores were lower in HD patients. HD patients are at high risk for psychiatric disorders due to the treatment modality. These patients should be monitored carefully and consultation-liaison services should be increased.

Impact of the Qualified Digital Content on Digital Experience Optimization and Conversion

This research explores the critical role of qualified digital content in enhancing user experience and increasing conversion rates. In the digital age, content quality is paramount in attracting and retaining users. However, the relationship between content quality, user experience, and conversion rates remains underexplored, in the context from business to business view. This study aims to bridge this gap by examining how high-quality digital content can improve user experience, leading to higher conversion rates. The methodology analyses the outcomes of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Saudi Arabia which implemented a project to enhance the digital content in their website. A qualitative approach was applied, using a statistical paired T-test. Preliminary findings suggest a strong correlation between the quality of digital content, experience useability, credibility and usefulness, and conversion rates. This research recommends organizations, especially in the governmental sector, invest in creating and maintaining high-quality digital content as a strategic approach to enhance user experience and boost conversions.

Aerosol deposition of dense alumina coatings on micropillar-patterned Si substrates

Fabricating dense ceramic layers without cracks is challenging, especially on structured surfaces and under low process temperatures. Aerosol deposition (AD) is a promising technique for producing dense ceramic coatings at room temperature. Film formation on smooth and flat substrates by AD has been explored in the field, but deposition on patterned surfaces was rarely studied. In this work, we describe dense alumina coatings deposited on flat and micropatterned silicon substrates using AD. We demonstrate that the patterned substrates with 1–2 μm pillars can reduce or eliminate the formation of horizontal micro-cracks in the coatings. The impact of pillar walls on coating quality and deposition rate diminishes when the pattern size exceeds the powder agglomerate size. The deposited layers cover the substrate patterns completely and give uniform coating surfaces, which opens the way for AD in applications such as hole-filing and 3D micro-energy devices.

Lead Generation Methodologies and Strategies

The research challenge is first articulated, along with the necessity for more investigation into lead generation techniques and methodologies across sectors. The project's focus on the vital role that lead generation plays in fostering corporate sustainability and growth. This study intends to provide insights and solutions applicable to a wide range of sectors by analyzing the complexities and difficulties related to lead generation. The research explores traditional and digital lead generation channels commonly utilized in the automotive sector, including but not limited to, dealership networks, online advertising, social media marketing, content marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), and email campaigns. It evaluates the effectiveness of each method in terms of lead quantity, lead quality, cost-effectiveness, and conversion rates, considering their applicability to Suzuki's marketing goals and budgetary constraints. The present study in automobile sector with lead generation strategy is essential for car businesses to thrive in a competitive market. It helps identify effective ways to attract and convert potential buyers, ensuring sustained sales growth. This research aims to uncover key strategies and insights to improve customer acquisition in the automotive industry. The study incorporates statistical tools like 5-point Likert scale, Anova and Regression techniques are used with necessary recommendations.

The efficacy and safety of retrograde ureteral stenting in the management of complicated cases of ureteral obstruction caused by urolithiasis.

To investigate the efficacy and safety of retrograde double J stent (RDJS) placement in the management of complicated obstructive uropathy caused by urolithiasis. An observational study done at a tertiary center was implemented in which a total of 27 patients (10 males, 17 females) with average age of 48.74 years (range: 15-88) who underwent RDJS or percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) between 2017 and 2021 due to complicated obstruction caused by urolithiasis were included. A total of 27 patients (10 males, 17 females) with average age of 48.74 years (range: 15-88) who underwent kidney decompression between 2017 and 2021 due to complicated unilateral or bilateral kidney obstruction caused by ureteral stones were included. Twenty-two patients (81.48%) underwent successful RDJS placement, two patients had RDJS placement then PCN was also placed, and two patients underwent PCN placement. Three patients needed an intensive care unit "ICU" after intervention, two of them were in the ICU before intervention. All septic parameters were normalized within a short period postoperatively. Two patients with failed previous ureteroscopy had a successful RDJS placement. Retrograde DJS placement is a feasible option in the management of complicated cases of obstructive uropathy caused by urolithiasis. Short hospitalization period, low rate of complications and better quality of life are the most prominent advantages of RDJS placement. In the hands of experienced surgeons, RDJS should be offered as the first choice of decompression for obstructive uropathy caused by urolithiasis.

Key technologies of smart antenna in WLAN based on adaptive array

In order to improve the communication quality and transmission rate of WLAN, the key technologies of smart antenna in WLAN based on adaptive array are proposed. The adaptive array is used to suppress the WLAN interference signal, and the feedback from the output is used to adjust the weight loaded on the signal, and the optimal weight corresponding to the linear constraint minimum variance is obtained to achieve beamforming optimization. On this basis, the optimal antenna selection algorithm and the sub-optimal antenna selection algorithm are designed, and the sub-channel matrix with the maximum capacity can be obtained by repeated iterative calculation, so as to realize the smart antenna selection and further optimize the performance of WLAN. Experimental results show that the smart antenna signal has 100% coverage in WLAN compared with conventional methods. When the transmission rate is greater than 35 mb/s, the delay of the study method is not jitter compared to the contrast method. When the transmission rate is greater than 35 mb/s, the packet loss rate of the proposed method remains stable, while the packet loss rate of the two comparison methods begins to increase. When the transmission rate is greater than 12 mb/s, the throughput of the proposed method is more stable than the other methods. In conclusion, this method has the characteristics of large signal coverage, low delay, low packet loss rate and high throughput, and can be widely used in practice. The contribution of this study is that the weight of the antenna array can be dynamically adjusted through the adaptive algorithm, thus optimizing the quality of the received signal and improving the receiving sensitivity.

In Case You Haven't Heard…

Nearly half of people with below‐average sleep quality rate their mental health as poor, according to a survey released by sleepfoundation.org. The foundation surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults in April and found that those who described their mental health as “below average” reported sleeping less than people who rated their mental health as above average, and when they did slumber, the quality of their sleep was worse. Those in the group with below‐average mental health reported sleeping for nearly an hour less per night than those with above‐average mental health (6.3 hours vs. 7.2 hours). They were also three times as likely to rate their sleep quality as poor or very poor. The survey found that 46% of people with below‐average sleep quality rated their mental health as poor or very poor and were three times as likely to rate it as such compared with those who reported themselves as having average or above‐average mental health. The survey noted that people with anxiety and depression are twice as likely to experience mood changes due to sleep deprivation, and people under age 44 were more likely to identify mental health as the leading cause of their sleeping problems (30% vs. 18% of people over age 45). But on average, people over age 45 slept about 20 minutes less and were more likely to rate their sleep quality as below average.

Perioperative alpha blockers in voiding dysfunction secondary to prostate biopsy: A meta-analysis.

Voiding dysfunction remains a common side effect postprostate biopsy leading to significant morbidity. Alpha blockers have emerged as a potential therapeutic option to mitigate this risk, with various centres already incorporating its use in practice. Despite this, the literature regarding its efficacy remains inconclusive. Hence, a systematic review was performed to quantify the effect of perioperative alpha blockers on prostate biopsy-related voiding function. A systematic search in MEDLINE, Embase and PubMed between January 1989 and July 2023 was performed to identify relevant articles. Two independent reviewers independently screened abstracts, full texts and performed data extraction. Data including International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS), voiding flow rates (Qmax), postvoid residuals (PVR), rates of acute urinary retention (AUR) and quality of life (QoL) scores were extracted. Results were combined in an inverse variance random effects meta-analysis. A total 808 patients from six randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing alpha blockers to controls were included. All articles excluded patients with pre-existing voiding dysfunction. Pooled outcomes demonstrated statistically significant differences favouring alpha blocker usage in all objective and subjective measures including IPSS (mean difference 4.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.58-5.84, p <0.00001), PVR (mean difference 20.41 mL, 95% CI 3.44-37.39, p =0.02), Qmax (mean difference 3.07 mL/s, 95% CI 2.55-3.59, p <0.00001), QoL (weighted-mean difference 0.82, CI 0.17-1.48, p =0.01) as well as overall risk of AUR (odds ratio 0.22, CI 0.09-0.55, p =0.001). There was variable heterogeneity (I 2=0-86%) between outcomes. This review highlights the potential role of alpha blockers in improving urinary function and reducing adverse voiding outcomes postprostate biopsy. The standard practice of incorporating the usage of perioperative alpha blockers may be considered to reduce the morbidity of voiding complications secondary to prostate biopsy.

Synergistic Effects of Humic Acid, Biochar-Based Microbial Agent, and Vermicompost on the Dry Sowing and Wet Emergence Technology of Cotton in Saline–Alkali Soils, Xinjiang, China

Soil amendments such as humic acid (HA), a biochar-based microbial agent (M), and vermicompost (V) can improve soil quality and promote crop growth. However, it remains unclear whether the co-application of the three soil amendments (HMV) has a synergistic effect on alleviating soil quality deterioration obstacles caused by dry sowing and wet emergence technology in Xinjiang cotton fields. A three-year field experiment was conducted in saline–alkali soils using plastic-film-mulched drip irrigation in Xinjiang, China. Through the orthogonal experiment method, the application amounts of HA, M and V were 75 kg ha−1, 75 kg ha−1 and 225 kg ha−1 respectively in 2021. In 2022, three application amount gradients were used for HA, M and V: 60 kg ha−1, 90 kg ha−1 and 120 kg ha−1 respectively. In 2023, the application amounts of HA, M, and V were 60 kg ha−1, 120 kg ha−1, and 120 kg ha−1. It should be pointed out that V contains HA in the range of 20–35%. This study aimed to explore the improvement effect of a single or combined application of HA, M, and V on soil quality and cotton emergence rate using dry sowing and wet emergence technology in Xinjiang cotton fields. The results showed that the single and combined applications of HA, M, and V improved the soil quality and water–heat–salt environment of the cultivated layer. In the combined application, the cotton seedling emergence rate and yield increased by 1.9–22.8% and 7.0–54.1%. Therefore, it is recommended to jointly apply HA, M, and V to promote cotton seedling emergence and increase yield using dry sowing and wet emergence technology in Xinjiang cotton fields.

Friction and Wear Performances of Materials for Wind Turbine Sliding Bearing Bushes

This study aimed to enhance the friction and wear characteristics of materials for wind turbine sliding-bearing bushes operating under low-speed and heavy-load conditions. To this end, a high-entropy CoCrFeNiMo alloy coating was applied to the surface of 9Cr18 bearing steel, and Ni-Cr-Mo-Si alloy coating was applied to MTCrMoCu30 wear-resistant cast iron using laser cladding. The effects of varying loads on the friction and wear properties of these coatings were investigated, and the friction and wear properties were compared. Furthermore, the overall priority indices for both groups of bearing bush coatings were assessed. The findings indicated that the friction coefficient, wear quality, and wear rate of CoCrFeNiMo high-entropy alloy coating initially decreased and then increased with the increase in applied load, dominated by abrasive wear. By contrast, the friction coefficient of the Ni-Cr-Mo-Si alloy coating increased, and wear quality and wear rate initially increased and then decreased, indicating the coexistence of adhesive wear and abrasive wear. Therefore, Ni-Cr-Mo-Si alloy coating exhibited a high overall priority index and favorable friction and wear properties.