Rates In Different Regions Research Articles

Mortality in Children Treated With Maintenance Peritoneal Dialysis: Findings From the International Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis Network Registry

Research on pediatric kidney replacement therapy (KRT) has primarily focused on Europe and North America. In this study, we describe the mortality risk of children treated with maintenance peritoneal dialysis (MPD) in different parts of the world and characterize the associated demographic and macroeconomic factors. Prospective cohort study. Patients younger than 19 years at inclusion into the International Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis Network registry, who initiated MPD between 1996 and2017. Region as primary exposure (Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Latin America, North America, and Oceania). Other demographic, clinical, and macroeconomic (4 income groups based on gross national income) factors also were studied. All-cause MPD mortality. Patients were observed for 3 years, and the mortality rates in different regions and income groups were calculated. Cause-specific hazards models with random effects were fit to calculate the proportional change in variance for factors that could explain variation in mortality rates. A total of 2,956 patients with a median age of 7.8 years at the start of KRT were included. After 3 years, the overall probability of death was 5%, ranging from 2% in North America to 9% in Eastern Europe. Mortality rates were higher in low-income countries than in high-income countries. Income category explained 50.1% of the variance in mortality risk between regions. Other explanatory factors included peritoneal dialysis modality at start (22.5%) and body mass index (11.1%). The interpretation of interregional survival differences as found in this study may be hampered by selection bias. This study shows that the overall 3-year patient survival on pediatric MPD is high, and that country income is associated with patient survival.

Interaction between urbanization and eco-environment in the Tibetan Plateau

A scientific evaluation of the broad reciprocal influences between urbanization and the eco-environment in the Tibetan Plateau region is of great significance for increasing the speed and quality of urbanization as well as restoring and improving the eco-environment. Based on a thorough look at the progress made by research on interactions between urbanization and the eco-environment in the Tibetan Plateau region, this article attempts to construct a complete analytical model of the reciprocal influences that can achieve the whole process of analyzing evaluation indexes, quantifying coupling coordination, identifying coupling types, exploring decoupling paths, and predicting future trends. Using multi-scale analysis of the Tibetan Plateau and its provinces and prefecture-level units as a means of comparison, we attempt to clarify differences at different scales, identify problem areas and propose targeted improvement measures. The result shows that the urbanization evaluation indexes for the Tibetan Plateau at different scales rise in stages and that the urbanization index for Qinghai is higher than for Tibet; the changes in the eco-environment index of the two regions are also different, with a downward trend in Qinghai and a trend toward stability in Tibet, and with stratification in the eco-environment indexes of prefecture-level units; the degree of coupling coordination between urbanization and the eco-environment at different scales in the Tibetan Plateau region is increasing overall, with the type of coordination changing from uncoordinated deterioration to borderline uncoordinated deterioration, and ultimately changing into scarcely coordinated development, which basically puts the region into the logging urbanization category; and the urbanization and eco-environment indexes display a dynamic trend of alternating between strong decoupling and weak decoupling, indicating that there is a negative reciprocal influence between urbanization and eco-environment at different scales and that the phenomenon of passive urbanization is prominent. We predict that in the next 10 years, the system coupling coordination of prefecture-level units in the Tibetan Plateau region will steadily increase, but there will be significant discrepancies in the growth rates of different regions.

Malignancy rates in thyroid nodules classified as Bethesda categories III and IV; a subcontinent perspective

BackgroundBethesda category III and IV thyroid nodules fall in the indeterminate risk of malignancy category. These nodules have been a relatively elusive entity to manage as previous studies have shown a wide variation in malignancy rates in different regions and institutions across the world. However, data from the subcontinent with regards to this is scarce. Aim and objectiveThis study aimed to determine the characteristics and malignancy rates of cytology proven Bethesda Category III and IV thyroid nodules and its association with clinical, histopathological and laboratory variables, in the regional population. MethodA retrospective search was performed on all patients with thyroid nodules who presented to this hospital, from January 2011 to September 2018. Patients who had cytology proven Bethesda category III and IV thyroid nodules that underwent surgery were included in the study. ResultsMalignancy in Bethesda Category III and Bethesda Category IV thyroid nodules was 29.6% and 47.1%, respectively. There was no significant association determined between malignancy rate and various clinical, histopathological, and radiological characteristics. ConclusionThe malignancy rates in Bethesda category III and IV thyroid nodules in this study are significantly higher than that initially suggested by the Bethesda consensus publication but is comparable to international data present.

Improving potential economic growing rate of china in the new normal based on artificial intelligence with fuzzy integration

As we know, AI is deeply integrated with all walks of life. While upgrading traditional products and transforming traditional industries, a large number of new products, new industries and new formats have emerged in large numbers, and new industrial space has been further expanded. The potential for steady economic growth remains huge. However, the influence of merelygrowing capital asset and labor force dimension in terms of boosting economic progress has been waning globally. Considering the China’s data panel data outlying areas during 1978–2017 as the research sample, possible economic growing rate of Chinahas been calculated in detail according to the labor-intensive structural time-varying elastic model. It shows a U-shaped development track during 2018–2027, with an average growth rate between 5.00%and 6.00%. There are also great variances in the probable economy growing rates in different regions in China. It shows that relying solely on traditional factors of production to drive potential economic growth, China has been unable to maintain the prosperity of stable development over the past few decades. Based on the experience of typical representative countries, this paper also puts forward some relevant countermeasures and suggestions including focusing on a new round of technological revolutions such as big data, new generation AI, 5 G, IOT, cloud computing, robotics, and blockchain to progress economical growing rate of China in the future.

Prevalence and cross states comparison of case fatality rate and recovery rate of COVID 19/SARS-COV-2 in India.

Background and aim:CFR and RR are important indicator of disease pandemic. As of now no data is available about cross-states analysis of these. We aimed to evaluate CFR and RR of COVID-19 across majorly affected States in India.Method:We observed and compared data of confirmed COVID-19 cases, number of deaths, number of recovered/discharged cases and calculated CFR and RR across majorly affected States/UT in India from official database of Government of India, State Government official bulletin, accurate database worldometer.Results:The data showed that Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal reported highest CFR on 8th April, 22nd April, 6th May, 1st June 2020 (95% CI 4.91 – 6.99). Kerala showed encouraging recovery rates 24.32%, 70.31%, 93.24%, 45.81% on 8th and 22nd April, 6th May and 1st June 2020 respectively. India had an average estimated weekly Recovery rate of newly discharged/recovered cases was 32.68% from 19th March to 1st June 2020. (95% CI 20- 45.4%). (The Recovery rate across India was 80.83% as on 22nd September 2020.).Conclusion:The CFR of a disease varies greatly in different regions of the same Country and is influenced by numerous factors such as health control policies, medical standards, and detection efficiency and protocols apart from number of screening tests done. This comparison discusses need of evaluating policies with optimal reporting of medical history of affected persons when comparing COVID-19 case and fatality rates in different regions of the Country.

Prevalence of Comorbidities in COVID-19 Patients

Coronaviruses are known to cause fatal diseases like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and recently recognised coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). It is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a single-stranded RNA virus. This review is done to study the clinical presentation, comorbid conditions in COVID-19 patients. The relevant articles were searched in PubMed, Science direct and special issues in JAMA, and the New England Journal of Medicine. Only selected papers were used for data extraction and synthesis. The exact source of current pandemic of Covid-19 is not known. The main clinical symptoms include fever, dry cough, myalgia, dyspnoea. Other symptoms presented are headache, malaise, chills/rigor and diarrhoea. The mortality rate was high in above 60 years of age with the comorbid conditions. The data analysis revealed varied mortality rates in different regions. The mortality rate of COVID-19 has been highest among elderly individuals with the comorbid conditions.

As-Cast Structure and Temperature Field of Direct-Chill Cast 2024 Alloy Ingot at Different Casting Speeds

The ingot was prepared at different casting speeds, and temperature measurements were taken during the direct-chill (DC) casting process. The results showed that the grain size of the equiaxed grains decreases, the volume fraction of the floating grains increases, and the negative centerline segregation becomes more serious as the casting speed increases. Moreover, the vertical widths and the cooling rates of different regions during the solidification process were analyzed through temperature measurements. At the casting speed of 50 mm/min, the vertical widths of the transition, slurry and mushy regions in the ingot center are relatively small (51, 15, and 36 mm, respectively). As the casting speed increases to 65 mm/min, the vertical widths of the transition, slurry, and mushy regions in the ingot center increase to 70, 29, and 41 mm, respectively. The increase in the vertical width of the slurry region is considered to be the main reason for the increase in the volume fraction of the floating grains. Besides, as the casting speed increases, the cooling rate in the mushy region and the region above the liquidus increases, so the grain size of equiaxed grain decreases.

The evolutionary history and global spatio-temporal dynamics of potato virus Y.

Potato virus Y (PVY) is a destructive plant pathogen that causes considerable losses to global potato and tobacco production. Although the molecular structure of PVY is well characterized, the evolutionary and global transmission dynamics of this virus remain poorly understood. We investigated the phylodynamics of the virus by analysing 253 nucleotide sequences of the genes encoding the third protein (P3), cylindrical inclusion protein (CI), and the nuclear inclusion protein (NIb). Our Bayesian phylogenetic analyses showed that the mean substitution rates of different regions of the genome ranged from 8.50 × 10−5 to 1.34 × 10−4 substitutions/site/year, whereas the time to the most recent common ancestor of PVY varied with the length of the genomic regions and with the number of viral isolates being analysed. Our phylogeographic analysis showed that the PVY population originated in South America and was introduced into Europe in the 19th century, from where it spread around the globe. The migration pathways of PVY correlate well with the trade routes of potato tubers, suggesting that the global spread of PVY is associated with human activities.

The ultrasound effects on the formation of the solidification structure of A356 ingots processed via a 2-zone induction melting furnace

To study the formation of the solidification structure including the columnar-to-equiaxed transition (CET) under the influence of ultrasound, a 2-zone furnace system and an ultrasound equipment were utilized. The 2-zone furnace system consists of an induction furnace with a top coil and a bottom coil, a graphite crucible, and. a water-cooled chill block located at the bottom of the crucible. By controlling both the top and bottom coil output power independently, the furnace can create various temperature gradients and cooling rates in different regions of the graphite crucible. The ultrasound probe was inserted at the top of the crucible. The top of the crucible was also thermally insulated. Temperature measurements were performed at different locations in the crucible. Optical microscopy was used to characterize the microstructure of the A356 cylindrical ingots. The effects of ultrasound on the microstructure formation during solidification of A356 alloy was studied. A numerical model was developed to compute the temperature gradients and mushy zone evolution in the crucible and to assist in developing of solidification maps.

Long-term retrospective observation reveals stabilities and variations of hantavirus infection in Hebei, China

BackgroundHemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is an emerging zoonotic infectious disease caused by hantaviruses which circulate worldwide. So far, it was still considered as one of serious public health problems in China. The present study aimed to reveal the stabilities and variations of hantavirus infection in Hebei province located in North China through a long-term retrospective observation.MethodsThe epidemiological data of HFRS cases from all 11 cities of Hebei province since 1981 through 2016 were collected and descriptively analyzed. The rodent densities, species compositions and virus-carrying rates of different regions were collected from six separated rodent surveillance points which set up since 2007. The molecular diversity and phylogenetic relationship of hantaviruses circulating among rodents were analyzed based on partial viral glycoprotein gene.ResultsHFRS cases have been reported every year in Hebei province, since the first local case was identified in 1981. The epidemic history can be artificially divided into three phases and a total of 55,507 HFRS cases with 374 deaths were reported during 1981–2016. The gender and occupational factors of susceptible population were invarible throughout, however age of that was gradually aging. The annual outbreak peak always present in spring, while the main epidemic region had gradully altered from south to northeast. Surveillance of rodents revealed that residential rodents significantly possessed higher density and virus-carring rate than field rodents. The house rat, Rattus norvegicus, was the dominant rodent species and Seoul virus S3 sub-genotype which is continued but slightly evolving perhaps to be the sole pathogen for local HFRS cases of Hebei province.ConclusionsThis long-term province-wide surveillance and epidemiological analysis has revealed the stabilities and variations of hantavirus infection in North China. In order to improve current prevention and control strategies of HFRS in China, all surveillance should be continuously enhanced and variations should be paid more attentions.

Mass Maldistribution Research of Different Internal Flowing Channels in the Cooling Plate Applied to Electric Vehicle Batteries

As temperature variations will cause electrochemical reactions to proceed at different rates in different regions of the cell, which thereby leads to incomplete energy utilization and inefficient management of battery life, temperature uniformity is becoming a new challenge in thermal management systems of electric vehicle batteries. With the wide application of liquid cooling strategies, temperature uniformity is significantly affected by coolant mass maldistribution, which is significantly affected by the flowing channel configuration in the cooling plate. However, there are few papers on this influence presently. Therefore, this paper presents numerical research on cooling plates with different internal flowing channels. A comparison of the effects among three channel configurations (cavity, parallel, and serpentine) on coolant flowing characteristics is carried out by analyzing their mass maldistribution coefficients and pressure drops. Then, a serpentine channel is selected for further optimization by an orthogonal experiment and range analysis method due to its better comprehensive performance. The study aims to reveal design principles on how channel configuration acts on mass maldistribution, and to demonstrate that significant performance gains can be realized with optimization techniques that can be utilized in battery cooling plates.

Precipitation Concentration in Bangladesh over Different Temporal Periods

Precipitation concentration is an important component of climate, and an unbalanced distribution of precipitation can yield excess or scarcity of water resources, which in turn can influence plant growth, flood risk, and water resource use. The precipitation concentration index (PCI) is a well-known indicator for the measurement of temporal precipitation in a short or long area. The purpose of this study was to analyze precipitation concentration rates in different regions of Bangladesh using the precipitation concentration index (PCI) and the inverse distance weighting method. In this study, the rainfall data from 30 meteorological observatory stations across Bangladesh were collected for the period 1980 to 2011. We defined periods of varying lengths (i.e., annual, supraseasonal, seasonal, and three- and two-month rainfall concentrations) and compared their PCI values. The results showed that precipitation concentrations were mostly irregular when rainfall was concentrated within two to four months of the year. Higher PCI values were mainly identified in the eastern region and have strong seasonal influences, whereas lower PCI values were mostly observed in the northern region. The analyses of periodic variation and precipitation in Bangladesh generally follow through the SW–NE direction due to the summer monsoon, while during the winter monsoon, they follow the N–S direction where JAS and JFM showed higher and lower PCI values. We observed variations in PCI among different regions using the Kruskal–Wallis test of the mean PCI on a decadal scale (1980–1989, 1990–1999, and 2000–2011). The result showed that significant changes in the precipitation occurred during the period of 1980–2011. At a two-month scale, significant changes were identified during transition periods where PCI values were lower from 2000 to 2011 than those in the earlier decades.

Association Between Circular Stapler Diameter and Stricture Rates Following Gastrointestinal Anastomosis: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Stricture is a common complication of gastrointestinal (GI) anastomoses, associated with impaired quality of life, risk of malnutrition, and further interventions. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the association between circular stapler diameter and anastomotic stricture rates throughout the GI tract. A systematic literature search of EMBASE, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library was performed. The primary outcome was the rate of radiologically or endoscopically confirmed anastomotic stricture. Pooled odds ratios (OR) were calculated using random-effects models to determine the effect of circular stapler diameter on stricture rates in different regions of the GI tract. Twenty-one studies were identified: seven oesophageal, twelve gastric, and three lower GI. Smaller stapler sizes were strongly associated with higher anastomotic stricture rates throughout the GI tract. The oesophageal anastomosis studies showed; 21 versus 25mm circular stapler: OR 4.39 ([95% CI 2.12, 9.07]; P < 0.0001); 25 versus 28/29mm circular stapler: OR 1.71 ([95% CI 1.15, 2.53]; P < 0.008). Gastric studies showed; 21 versus 25mm circular stapler: OR 3.12 ([95% CI 2.23, 4.36]; P < 0.00001); 25 versus 28/29mm circular stapler: OR 7.67 ([95% CI 1.86, 31.57]; P < 0.005). Few lower GI studies were identified, though a similar trend was found: 25 versus 28/29mm circular stapler: pooled OR 2.61 ([95% CI 0.82, 8.29]; P = 0.100). The use of larger circular stapler sizes is strongly associated with reduced risk of anastomotic stricture in the upper GI tract, though data from lower GI joins are limited.

Meta analysis on HBsAg-positive rate among general populations aged 1-59 years, 2007-2016, China

Objective: To perform a Meta-analysis on hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive rates among general Chinese population aged 1-59 years. Methods: We systemically reviewed the related data (January 2007 to August 2016) published from Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP, and PubMed. We also assessed the HBsAg-positive rates among general Chinese populations aged 1-59 years, using a random effects regression model with the comprehensive Meta-analysis software 2.2. Results: A total of 46 papers were finally included, with a total sample size of 625 053 individuals. Results from the Meta-analysis showed that the overall combined HBsAg-positive rate was 5.7% (95%CI: 4.8%-6.6%) among general Chinese populations aged 1-59 years. When comparing the HBsAg-positive rates in different regions, data showed that the HBsAg-positive rate of was higher in the mid-western areas (6.3%, 95%CI: 4.9%-8.0%) than in the eastern areas (5.5%, 95%CI: 4.4%-6.8%). Results showed that HBsAg-positive rates was higher in males (6.1%, 95%CI: 5.3%-7.0%) than in females (4.8%, 95%CI: 4.2%-5.5%). As for the HBsAg-positive rates in different time periods, data showed positive rate of 6.3% (95%CI: 5.5%-7.2%) in 2007-2009, 5.9% (95%CI: 4.4%-8.0%) in 2010-2012 and 3.5% (95%CI: 2.0%-6.1%) in 2013- 2016, respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection was decreasing between 2007 and 2016 in China, making the country an intermediate endemic area on HBV.

Measurement and Convergence in Development Performance of China’s High-tech Industry

In China’s high-tech industry development, there exist regional scale and regional performance differences, of which the latter will influence resource allocation in regional high-tech industry and upgrading process of industrial structure.1 Hence, the article conducts a systematic research of measurement and convergence analysis in development performance of China’s high-tech industry. The article contains two main research parts. First, in terms of measurement, by adopting the Malmquist index methods, the article measures the comprehensive performance of China’s high-tech industry development. Second, to conduct convergence analysis, it studies agglomeration patterns characteristics, absolute β convergence and its converging mechanism of China’s provincial high-tech industry development performance from 2001 to 2013 by adopting a spatial autoregressive (SAR) panel data model. The results indicate distinct absolute β convergence in China’s high-tech industry development performance is due to technology diffusion. In addition, convergence rates of different regions vary.

The effects of carbon reduction on sectoral competitiveness in China: A case of Shanghai

The Chinese government has committed to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions per unit gross domestic product by 60–65% from 2005 levels by 2030. In order to achieve this commitment, various measures should be taken. Due to the complex relationship between carbon emission and economic development, it is critical to quantify the impacts of different measures. Under such a circumstance, this paper is to identify the effects of carbon tax on the sectoral competitiveness in Shanghai by 2030 under unequal imposition of carbon tax between Shanghai and the rest of China by using a two-region dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model. Research results show that different carbon tax rates in different regions would affect GDP of Shanghai and the outcomes are different under different scenarios. In general, a lower carbon tax rate can lead to a higher output and these output changes could further influence the sectoral competitiveness. Under the tax44 scenario, sectors such as agriculture, textile, transport equipment, and electronics are the winners in Shanghai, with outputs increased by 2.02%, 1.47%, 1.08% and 3.05%, respectively; while food production, petrol oil, chemicals and non-metal are the losers, with outputs decreased by 2.02%, 0.87%, 0.03% and 2.39%, respectively. This study also reveals that price and scale effects are the key factors influencing the changes of sectoral outputs. Such findings provide useful insights to those policy makers to allocate appropriate carbon reduction targets to different regions.

Exploring the Need for Region-Specific Calibration Factors

States, or even large cities, may experience different crash rates in different regions or parts of the city. This variation can be attributed to differences in terrain, population, weather, and other unobserved characteristics. Hence, the variation can affect the calibration procedure and consequently the calibration factor when different crash rates are used for a large area. This study first investigated whether region-specific calibration factors were required and justified for large states, such as Texas and Michigan. Next, a procedure was proposed to determine if a specific region needed a different calibration factor from the one developed for the whole state. If it is determined that a separate factor is needed, the agency should derive a region-specific calibration factor with data that are collected within the region. The proposed procedure is based on the general characteristics of data at the network level: the total number of crashes, the mean value of traffic flow (average daily traffic or annual average daily traffic), and the total segment length (or the number of intersections). The procedure was validated for the two states mentioned and showed that the calculated calibration factor matched the factor proposed in the recommended decision-making procedure.

The Suburbanisation of Homelessness in Sydney, Australia

Homelessness in recent decades has been seen as highly spatially concentrated in the inner areas of large cities. Recent research suggests that homelessness remains spatially concentrated, though with some evidence of dispersion and the development of multiple clusters. This study analyses the spatial patterns of different types of homelessness under a relatively broad definition in Sydney, Australia using data from the national Censuses of 2001, 2006 and 2011. Convergence analysis is used to assess whether homelessness rates in different regions of the city have been converging or diverging. Homelessness in private dwellings, particularly in severely crowded dwellings, have indeed created clusters in Sydney’s western suburbs, while homelessness on the streets, in shelters and boarding houses remains concentrated in inner city areas. Growth in severe crowding in these suburban clusters and an increased concentration of boarding houses in inner city areas appears to have increased the spatial concentration of homelessness in Sydney over time. These findings are argued to be important for understanding the relationships between point-in-time homelessness distributions, the dynamics and processes that lead to these distributions and the underlying structural causes of homelessness.

(Invited) Impact of LED Implementation on Rare-Earth Usage in Lighting

Several rare earth elements are used in phosphors for fluorescent lighting: a significant fraction of global demand for yttrium, europium, and terbium have beenfrom lighting applications. Solid-state lighting products based on InGaN light emitting diodes (LEDs) are in the process of taking over the general illumination market due to their higher energy efficiency, lifetime, and packaging flexibility. . While LED phosphors also use yttrium and europium, the quantities required are much lower than what is needed to produce an equivalent amount of light using fluorescent bulbs. This dynamic suggests that rare earth oxide demand for lighting will peak and then decline off of current usage levels. This paper presents a simple order of magnitude analysis to estimate when this peak is expected to occur, based on projected LED adoption rates in different regions. We also discuss some of the implications for the supply-demand balance for rare earth elements.

Government Regulation, Land Marketization and Excess Capacity

This paper discusses the reason of firm excess capacity in China in the aspect of marketization under government regulation, by using the data from World Bank China-enterprise survey 2012 to do empirical study of the relationship between obstacle of accessing land, land marketization and capacity utilization. According to the results, there is a positive correlation between levels of obstacle to access land firm capacity utilization. And the relationship between land marketization and capacity utilization is inverted U shape. When land marketization rate is 49.00%, firm capacity utilization is maximized. This implies that too low or too high land marketization rate will lower obstacle for firms to access land, resulting in excess capacity. In China, there is huge difference between land marketization rates in different regions. Especially, land marketization rates in developed regions are comparably lower, which means level of obstacle to access land is low in China for most firms. This is one key reason for China to suffer from excess capacity. Therefore, the government should formulate proper regulation policies to control land, in order to increase land marketization rate and obstacle to access land. Thereby, enterprise investment can be coordinated; capacity utilization can be improved; and the problem of excess capacity can be relieved.