Scan Test Research Articles

Normative Data for the D-KEFS Color-Word Interference and Trail Making Tests Adapted in Greek Adult Population 20-49 Years Old.

This study was designed to adapt the Delis-Kaplan Executive System (D-KEFS) version of the Color-Word Interference (CWIT) and Trail Making Tests (TMTs) for the Greek adult population from 20 to 49 years old, since it is of research as well as clinical importance to detect executive functions' impairment in young adults with neurological or/and psychiatric conditions. Norms for the Greek adult population have been calculated to be available for neuropsychologists and health professionals who work in relevant settings. The study sample consisted of 101 healthy adults (41% male and 60% female) aged 20 to 49 years (M = 32.16, SD = 11.57) with education from 12 to 19 years of schooling (M = 14.51, SD = 0.89). A Pearson correlation test as well as a chi square test were conducted to examine potential associations between gender, age, education, and participants' performance. Afterwards, we calculated normative data using raw scores and transformed them into percentile scores. Finally, Greek norms were compared to the original raw scores, which were transformed into scaled scores by Delis et al. (2001). The findings showed that age was the only variable which affected CWIT, whereas level of education as well as age were predictive factors for most TMT conditions, except for the visual scanning test (Condition 1). Gender did not affect both tests. Finally, D-KEFS norms for CWIT and TMT are available for the Greek adult population to help clinicians detect executive functions' deficits and therefore adjust tailored therapeutic strategies. Additionally, it is of great importance to use these tests for research purposes. Given that executive functions are assumed as high-level skills, which are highly related to everyday functionality, adapted tests contribute not only to assess the progression of any existing neurological as well as psychiatric disorders, but they can also be used to evaluate patients' ability to live independently, as well as their access to work.

Study on the Effects of CeO2 on the Micro-Structure and Wear Resistance of CuCrZr Plasma Cladding Coatings

The electromagnetic railgun, a novel kinetic energy weapon, has found utility in military operations due to its enhanced safety features and superior precision. This study investigates the enhancement of wear resistance in CuCrZr rails through the plasma cladding of CuCrZr-CeO2 coatings with a varying Cerium dioxide (CeO2) content. To enhance the wear resistance of the CuCrZr track, plasma cladding of CuCrZr-CeO2 coatings with varying CeO2 content was investigated. The impact of CeO2 content (0%, 0.1%, 0.15%, 0.2%, 0.25%, 0.3%) on the microstructure, phase composition, and mechanical properties of the CuCrZr coating was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), EDS(Energy Dispersive Spectrometer) surface scanning, friction and wear tests, and hardness analysis. The findings indicate that a CeO2 content of 0.15% leads to a transition in the coating’s microstructure from columnar to equiaxed crystals, with the densest grain structure. Beyond 0.15% CeO2, pore defects in the coating increase, compromising mechanical properties. The coating containing 0.15% CeO2 exhibits optimal performance, with a hardness of 75.3, representing a 5.31% increase compared to CeO2-free CuCrZr coatings. Under a 10 N load, the friction coefficient decreases by approximately 17.9% to about 0.64. Moreover, the minimum wear mass is reduced by 44.7% to 3.87 mg. The aforementioned research findings hold immense importance in extending the lifespan of the electromagnetic railgun and improving its operational efficiency.

Association of precuneus Aβ burden with default mode network function.

It remains unclear whether the local amyloid-beta (Aβ) burden in key regions within the default mode network (DMN) affects network and cognitive functions. Participants included 1002 individuals from the Chinese Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease Study cohort who underwent 18F-florbetapir positron emission tomography resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning and neuropsychological tests. The correlations between precuneus (PRC) Aβ burden, DMN function, and cognitive function were investigated. In individuals with high PRC Aβ burden, there is a bidirectional relationship between DMN local function or functional connectivity and PRC Aβ deposition across various cognitive states, which is also linked to cognitive function. Even below thePRC Aβ threshold, DMN function remains related to PRC Aβ deposition and cognitive performance. The findings reveal the critical role of PRC Aβ deposition in disrupting neural networks associated with cognitive decline and the necessity of early detection and monitoring of PRC Aβ deposition. Precuneus (PRC) Aβ burden impacts DMN function in different cognitive stages. High PRC Aβ burden is linked to early neural compensation and subsequent dysfunction. Low PRC Aβ burden correlates with neural changes before significant Aβ accumulation. Changes in DMN function and connectivity provide insights into AD progression. Early detection of regional Aβ burden can help monitor the risk of cognitive decline.

Preparation and Characterization of Temperature-Sensitive Gel Plugging Agent.

In order to use intelligent gel systems to realize deep source water control in medium and high water cut reservoirs, and also to solve the shortcomings of conventional gels, such as the high chemical dose required, large profile control radius, poor temperature resistance, shear resistance, and plugging performance, a temperature-sensitive gel based on natural cellulose was developed, and the temperature resistance, rheological performance, and plugging performance of the temperature-sensitive gel were tested and evaluated. The results show that the system can maintain a viscosity retention rate of up to 95% after high-temperature aging at 90-120 °C for 50 days. When using medium- to low-salinity calcium chloride formation water for preparation, the gelation effect is good. The rheometer oscillation frequency scanning test shows that the system gel is a strong elastic body dominated by elasticity. The core displacement experiment shows that the highest sealing rate of the system is 97%, and the breakthrough pressure can reach 2.5 MPa at this time. The microstructure of the gel system was tested by infrared, and it was found that the gel system had strong hydrogen bonding and the gel had good stability. The research results contribute to improving the recovery rate of high water cut oil reservoirs.

Severe herpes simplex virus − 1 Kaposi varicelliform eruption and SARS-CoV-2 infection in atopic dermatitis treated with dupilumab

Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1) Kaposi varicelliform eruption (KVE) is a rare and severe cutaneous manifestation, clinically characterized by the presence of widespread vesicles and pustules. A case report details a patient with a history of Atopic Dermatitis (AD) and recent SARS-CoV-2 infection who developed a severe KVE subsequent to the viral illness. The patient, a 35-year-old male, presented with severe atopic dermatitis (AD) subsequent to a SARS-CoV-2 infection. In a period of four months, the dermatological eruption underwent a rapid progression to a severe state, characterised by the presence of extensive vesicles and pustules, in addition to the emergence of symptoms. In conjunction with a chest CT scan, plasma and antigen testing, the patient was confirmed to be positive for HSV-1 positive. The patient exhibited elevated levels of IgE and a notable reduction in the absolute number of immune cells. The patient was treated with valaciclovir, piperacillin-tazobactam, IVIG at the same time. Within seven days of treatment, the blisters had dried up and the scabs had fallen off without any pain, pruritus, or fever. This case highlights the potential for severe viral eruptions, such as KVE in individuals with underlying dermatological conditions following viral infections.

A comprehensive study on the rheological properties of desulfurized rubberized asphalt and establishment of micro-scale mechanical models

Recently, understanding the complex relationship between the mechanical properties and material characteristics of desulfurized rubber asphalt has received significant research attention. In this study, the rheological properties of rubber asphalt prepared by three kinds of desulfurized rubber powder are analyzed, and the mechanical response of rubber asphalt mixture is predicted using various mathematical models. Firstly, the rheological properties of desulfurized rubber asphalt are assessed through multiple stress creep recovery test, linear amplitude scanning test, and low-temperature creep test. The results indicate that the high-temperature performance index of desulfurized rubber asphalt is highly sensitive to the degree of desulfurization. As the degree of desulfurization of the rubber powder increases, the fatigue damage rate of asphalt gradually decreases, leading to an increase in the fatigue life. Notably, the difference between the m-critical temperature and stiffness-critical temperature (ΔTc) for only ML40MA does not exceed the threshold value, indicating that it has the best low-temperature cracking resistance. Additionally, the swelling capacity of desulfurized rubber powder in asphalt is better than that of ordinary rubber powder. Finally, the comprehensive performance of desulfurized rubber asphalt is characterized based on the gray correlation method. The gray correlation coefficient of ML60MA is 0.78, which is higher than that of ML40MA and ML80MA, indicating its best overall performance.

Altered structural and functional homotopic connectivity associated with cognitive changes in SLE

ObjectivePrevious studies have revealed functional changes within the cerebral hemispheres of patients with SLE; however the changes between cerebral hemispheres are still unknown. The present study aimed to explore the...

Towards the high RAP dosage obtained by refined processing influence on comprehensive performance of recycled asphalt mixture

The severe agglomeration of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) particles not only leads to high gradation variability during recycling, but also impedes the miscibility between new-old binders. This phenomenon imposes significant limitations on maximizing the utilization of RAP with high content and value. This paper first realized the effective separation of asphalt milling material by the self-developed RAP refined processing equipment to obtain coarse RAP with low binder content and fine RAP with high binder content. The fine RAP with high binder content underwent a deep rejuvenation process, and the recovery efficiency of the asphalt mortar was evaluated by CT scanning test, microscope observation test, and dynamic shear rheology test. Moreover, to investigate the strength formation characteristics of recycled asphalt mixtures with high RAP content, specific tests including wheel tracking test, three-point bending test, Hamburg Wheel Tracking test, dynamic modulus test, and two-point bending fatigue test, were conducted. By using the refined processing equipment, the asphalt film on the RAP can be precisely removed, thereby addressing the issue of aged binder agglomeration. In the coarse RAP with low binder content, the binder content was reduced to 1.48 %, allowing it to be used as a direct substitute for new aggregate, whereas the binder content of fine RAP exceeded 10 %. It was found that the direct incorporation of unrefined RAP enhanced the high-temperature stability and dynamic modulus of recycled asphalt mixture, but impacted their low-temperature cracking resistance, moisture stability, and fatigue performance. After refined processing and differentiated recycling design, the agglomeration of aged binder was reduced and the miscibility of new-old binders was improved, effectively enhancing the comprehensive performance of the recycled asphalt mixture. It should be noted that the mixing homogeneity and miscibility decrease as the RAP content exceeds 75 %, resulting in the reduction of moisture stability, cracking resistance, and fatigue performance of recycled asphalt mixture.

Effect of chemical consolidation on physico-mechanical properties of porous coral reef limestone

Porous coral reef limestone (CRL) is characterized by the low strength and developed pore structure, so improving its physico-mechanical properties is important for marine engineering construction work. Chemically consolidated porous CRL was prepared by taking a non-granular chemical grout (sodium silicate) as the main consolidation material. Then, the chemical consolidation effect was evaluated from two aspects (both the physical and mechanical properties) by conducting computed tomography (CT) scanning and quasi-static uniaxial compression tests. The results indicate that the consolidation material can fill the pores in the CRL, which reduces the porosity of specimens by more than 50%. In addition, the peak strength under quasi-static compression is increased by about 20%. The fragments decrease at failure, and fracture plane slip and crack opening are inhibited. Finally, influences of the special banded shape of consolidation material retained in the specimens on the failure process and failure mode of specimens were investigated. The chemical consolidation mechanism of porous CRL was revealed by combining with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. Research results indicate that the non-granular chemical material (sodium silicate) improves the physico-mechanical properties of porous CRL. The research provides reference for the foundation treatment in coral reefs and the design of consolidation schemes for surrounding rocks of underground spaces in marine engineering operations.

Introduction to the Investigation of reproduction of the real geometry of UBM panels

The article concisely describes UBM technology (Ultimate Building Machine), that can be used as a solution for buildings and roof structures. The structure of this technology is made of double corrugated thin-walled steel profiles manufactured on the construction site by a self-contained UBM manufacturing factory on wheels. These panels serve as both the building envelope and the structural system. The specificity of the construction poses many design problems, especially the determination of the strength parameters and stiffness of the double-corrugated panels from which the structure is made. The article presents the results of spatial scanning tests of double-corrugated steel sheets, which were carried out using commonly available 3D scanning devices: Leica 3D Disto and MagiScan app. Additionally, results of numerical analyses performed on scanned samples and a comparison of these results with preliminary laboratory tests have been presented in the article. The purpose of scanning was to obtain an accurate and real geometry of the UBM panels, to implement it into a numerical software, and then to perform numerical analyses. Commonly available 3D scanning devices were used because using advanced 3D scanners is not popular nowadays for economic reasons, and hand-built geometric models pose a lot of problems and are not accurate enough. Promising results were obtained, which form the basis for further research.

Characteristics of coal crack development and gas desorption in the stress affected zone of rock pillar

Coal (Rock) pillar retaining in the mining of protective layer would cause gas dynamic disaster in the protected layer. Based on the gas geological conditions of the two-layer coal seam in Jinhe Coal Mine of Yaojie Mining District, the stress evolution law of coal seam in the rock pillar affected area was studied by theoretical analysis and numerical simulation, and the crack development law of coal seam in different loading stages under conventional triaxial loading was studied by CT scanning technology. With the analysis of the stress evolution and crack development of coal in rock pillar affected area, the gas extraction effect under different stress states and the gas desorption law after pressure relief antireflection were studied on site. The results showed that the stress of coal in the rock pillar affected area is in the approximate elastic stage of the conventional triaxial stress-strain curve, and the cracks of coal are mainly closed at this stage. Meanwhile, the increase of stress leaded to the decrease of coal permeability and the poor gas extraction effect. CT scanning tests under conventional triaxial loading were carried out in the laboratory, and three-dimensional visual models of coal sample cracks were constructed at different loading stages. When loading to the linear elastic stage, the crack volume and surface area were reduced by 74% and 71% compared with the ones in initial state. At the same time, the expression between stress σ and crack density T was further established. After comprehensive control measures such as intensive drilling discharge, presplitting blasting and coal water injection were taken to the coal in rock pillar affected area, the crack density T could reach the crack development level of the conventional triaxial loading softening stage, realizing the crack development of the coal under low stress. The enclosed gas in front of the coal could desorption flow during the roadway driving. And the predict index value K1 also decreased from 0.57 mL/(g·min1/2) to 0.17 mL/(g·min1/2) continuously. The safety of coal roadway in rock pillar affected area was realized, and the accuracy of numerical simulation and laboratory test results was verified, which had certain reference significance for coal roadway excavation under this similar conditions.

The influence of pore throat heterogeneity and fractal characteristics on reservoir quality: A case study of chang 8 member tight sandstones, Ordos Basin

The Chang 8 member of the Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin exhibits extensive development of tight sandstone reservoirs. In comparison to conventional reservoirs, these tight sandstone reservoirs demonstrate smaller pore-throat systems and stronger heterogeneity due to interactions between inherent sedimentary components and various diagenetic processes. To further investigate the influence of microscopic pore throat structure on macroscopic physical properties and oil content within the reservoir, a comprehensive study was conducted utilizing high pressure mercury injection, nuclear magnetic resonance, X-CT scanning, and other pore throat testing methods. This study was complemented by observation techniques such as polarizing microscope, scanning electron microscopy, and laser confocal imaging, to study the pore throat system of reservoirs under the influence of different sedimentary components and diagenesis. By comparison, it is observed that the radius of the primary pore throat system in the tight sandstone reservoir ranges from 0.01 to 1 μm. The structural characteristics of the pore throat system significantly impact the macroscopic physical properties of the reservoir. Due to variations in testing methods, high pressure mercury injection, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and X-ray computed tomography (X-CT) reveal different fractal dimensions of the reservoir's pore throat system. Therefore, it is better to respectively utilize fractal dimension Df2, Df2-NMR, Df2-CT, and pore throat parameters to characterize the microscopic pore throat system with a radius ranging from 0.01 to 1 μm. The decrease in the average pore throat radius and the increased irregularity of pore shape contribute to heightened heterogeneity in the micro-pore throat structure within the reservoir. This negatively impacts its physical properties and oil content. Furthermore, it is important to note that the minimum threshold of pore throat radius plays a crucial role as a primary factor determining the fluid seepage capacity within this reservoir. Moreover, when isolated pores exist, reduced fluid mobility ensues, which further worsens the seepage conditions of the reservoir. The chlorite rims development reservoir shows a low fractal dimension in its micro-pore throats, contributing to superior macroscopic petrophysical properties and oil content. However, compression, siliceous cementation, and calcite cementation negatively impact the average pore throat radius by increasing micropores, inaccessible pores, and narrow throat content. This results in a stronger heterogeneity of the pore throat structure, leading to poor seepage conditions and lower oil content.

32 - Research on the correlation between emphysema severity measured by CT COPD AI software on CT scan and spirometry test

32 - Research on the correlation between emphysema severity measured by CT COPD AI software on CT scan and spirometry test

Apelin-13's Actions in Controlling Hypertension-Related Cardiac Hypertrophy and the Expressions of Inflammatory Cytokines.

As a key molecule for improving cardiovascular diseases, Apelin-13 was surveyed in this work to explain its actions in controlling inflammation, pyroptosis, and myocardial hypertrophy. First, mouse models with myocardial hypertrophy were established. Then, assessments were made on the pathological variation in the heart of mouse, on the cardiac functions, as well as on the expressions of cardiac hypertrophy markers (β-MHC, ANP, and BNP), inflammatory factors (TNF-α, COX2, IL-6, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1), myocardial cell pyroptosis markers (NLRP3, ASC, c-caspase-1, and GSDMD-N), and Hippo pathway proteins (p-YAP, YAP, LATS1, and p-LATS1) by HE staining, echocardiography scanning, and western blot tests separately. The expressions of such inflammatory factors as in myocardial tissue were acquired by ELISA. After inducing the phenotype of H9c2 cell hypertrophy by noradrenaline, we used CCK-8 kits to know about the activity of H9c2 cells treated with Apelin-13, and performed ɑ-actinin staining to measure the changes in volumes of such cells. As unraveled through this work, Apelin-13 refrained the activation of the Hippo pathway, which in turn attenuated the hypertrophy, inflammation, and pyroptosis of myocardial tissue and H9c2 cells. Hence, Apelin-13 can be considered as a target for hypertension treatment.

Laboratory investigation on fracture initiation and propagation behaviors of hot dry rock by radial borehole fracturing

Creating complex and interconnected fracture networks between injection and production wells is crucial for exploiting hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal energy. However, the simple planar fractures created by conventional hydraulic fracturing, primarily controlled by in situ stress, fail to connect directionally with the target well. This study proposes a novel stimulation method, i.e. radial borehole fracturing, which shows great potential for guiding the directional propagation of fractures. The fracture initiation and propagation behaviors of high-temperature granite under radial borehole fracturing are investigated and compared with those of conventional fracturing. Three-dimensional morphological scanning and reinjection tests are used to quantitatively evaluate fracturing performance. Additionally, the influences of key parameters, including rock temperature, in situ stress, injection rate, fluid viscosity, azimuth of the radial borehole, and the number of radial boreholes on the fracture morphology and breakdown pressure are investigated. The results show that radial borehole fracturing can effectively guide the initiation and propagation of fractures along the radial borehole. The breakdown pressure of radial borehole fracturing can be reduced by 14.1%–43.7% compared to conventional fracturing. A higher fluid-rock temperature difference reduces the directional propagation range of fractures guided by the radial borehole. Increases in the vertical density of radial boreholes, injection rate, and fluid viscosity enhance the guiding ability of radial boreholes. Furthermore, there is a competitive relationship between in situ stress and the azimuth of radial boreholes in controlling fracture propagation. This research provides a viable alternative for the directional connection of injection-production wells in HDR reservoirs.

Investigating The Clinical Manifestations, Severity And Outcomes Of COVID-19 Among Inpatients With Rheumatic Diseases: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study In Iran

Introduction — Patients with rheumatic diseases (RD) may be at an increased risk of developing severe symptoms of COVID-19. They are likely to have a wide range of manifestations and outcomes that can make it difficult to control the disease. The goal of this study was to investigate the clinical manifestations, severity, and outcomes of adult patients with RD hospitalized for COVID-19. Methods — We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study. Eligible rheumatology patients were confirmed by a rheumatologist in compliance with American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and had COVID-19 confirmed by computed tomography (CT) scan or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Information about their gender, age, and clinical manifestations of COVID-19, along with the variables pertaining to the outcomes of the patients, was collected. Descriptive statistics and Fisher’s exact test were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics software. Results — A total of 105 patients with RD and COVID-19 were included. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was the most common disease (86 patients). Most patients were female (75.2%). The mean age of the participants was 58.97±12.25 years. Myalgia/arthralgia was the predominant symptom of COVID-19 (77.1%), followed by shortness of breath, cough, and fever. Only platelet count exhibited a significant association with the type of RD (p = 0.004). Conclusion — Common adverse outcomes included moderate severity based on CT grading, anemia, oxygen saturation levels (SpO2) below 90%, and severe CT-based grade of severity. The mortality rate was relatively high.

Mechanical property testing and damage assessment of the regenerated rock mass with very weakly bonded cement

The regenerated rock mass is a bearing structure formed by natural compaction in a hollow area, and the investigation of its optimal consolidation material and consolidation parameters is the key to improving the supporting effect and bearing stability of roadways. The effects of consolidation materials and parameters on the stability of the regenerative rock mass were studied using laboratory tests, numerical simulations, and theoretical analyses. Acoustic emission was used to monitor the variation characteristics of energy and ringing count during the process of rock mass failure, and the bonding interface area of the extremely weak cementation regeneration structure was tested by electron microscope scanning. The results show that there is a quadratic function relationship between the water–cement ratio of different cementing materials and the bond strength of the recycled rock mass; the regenerative rock mass with superfine cement exhibited the highest compressive strength and the largest cumulative energy of acoustic emission. This shows that it has the strongest bearing capacity, the highest elastic performance, the most stable micro-fracture development, and the best cementation effect, followed by ordinary cement, gypsum, and laterite. The scanning test showed that the regenerated structure had more internal pores, a loose structure, and poor cementation. Three-dimensional scanning modeling of four representative broken rock blocks was carried out, and the simulation verified that the regenerated structure had macroscopic “X”-shaped shear failure characteristics. The numerical simulation also verified three forms of rupture in the regenerative structure detected by electron microscopy scanning. Exploring the mechanism of action of the regenerative rock mass in the goaf provides a certain reference value for the stability control of the regenerated rock mass roadway.

A Modified and Customized Wingsuit Flying Search (MCWFS)-based Approach for the Circular Scan Architecture

The circular scan architecture (CSA) is a widely used scan design technique in digital circuit testing that involves scanning test data through a circuit in a circular pattern. Several optimization approaches have been suggested so far to lessen the Test Data Volume (TDV), but no one has shown satisfactory results. Therefore, this paper proposes a Modified and Customized Wingsuit Flying Search algorithm to decrease the test data volume time. The proposed MCWFS-SBA-CSA introduces some novel features that distinguish it from traditional circular scan approaches. The concept of wingsuit flying is an innovative approach in the field of scan systems. This allows the scan that moves more dynamically and efficiently, enabling it to cover a larger area in a shorter time than traditional circular-scan approaches. After this phase, only scan-chosen inputs are required to obtain the next test pattern from the captured response. Therefore, required less Automatic test equipment (ATE) memory in this research so there is a Decreased cost in system-on-chip (SOC). The proposed method attains fast global searching capacity. The efficiency of the proposed technique attains 26.42%, 32.45%, and 29.34% higher compression ratio (CR), Test Application Time (TAT) reduction of SC-128 attains 29.45%, 34.67%, and 40.22% higher, TDV of SC-256 attains 32.23%, 36.34%, and 39.23% higher than existing methods, such as TDV for Circular Scan Approaches utilizing Modified Shuffled Shepard Optimization (TDV-CSA-MSSO), Effectual Very-large-scale integration Test data compression system for CSA under modified and colony metaheuristic (ETDC-CSA-MACMH), and Test Data Compression Utilizing Tetrad state Skip System (TDC-DC-TSSC) for Digital Circuits, respectively.

Prognostic value of serum amyloid A protein as a biomarker in the diagnosis of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

BackgroundThe current study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of serum amyloid A protein)SAA(protein as a biomarker in diagnosing 2019 novel coronavirus disease)COVID-19(infection. MethodsThe study was conducted on 123 patients with definitive COVID-19 infection referred to Shahid Beheshti and Sina hospitals in Hamedan province, Iran. Five-milliliter blood samples were taken from all included patients and serum was isolated using a centrifuge at 10,000 rpm for 10 min. Laboratory tests were conducted, including c-reactive protein (CRP), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), potassium level, sodium blood test, platelets (PLT), complete blood count (CBC), lymphocyte count, and neutrophil count. The SAA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Kit was applied to measure the SAA level in serum samples. Results123 patients included 73 males and 50 females, age ±50. Sixty-six (53.7 %) patients had negative CRP while 80 (65 %) patients had normal ESR. Potassium levels were not normal among 111 (94.9 %) patients. Seventy-seven (63.1 %) patients had normal CBC, while 108 (87.8 %) patients had neutrophils above the normal range. 94 (97.9 %) patients over the age of 50 were positive for SAA. In terms of gender, men were the most frequent patients with SAA. There was a statistically significant relationship between the serum level of SAA and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 (p = 0.0001). 94 % of patients with SAA ≤50 were recovered from COVID-19 infection. The sensitivity rate of SAA compared to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and computed tomography scan (CT scan) tests was 93 % and 99 %, respectively. Moreover, the accuracy of SAA compared to PCR and CT scan tests was 52 % and 96 %, respectively. ConclusionResults indicate the SAA is a sensitive, but not specific biomarker in the early detection of COVID-19. The quantitative levels of SAA can be useful in predicting treatment outcomes among patients with COVID-19.

Components optimization of polyurethane-modified asphalt binder towards compatibility: Insight from molecular dynamics simulations

Polyurethane-modified asphalt demonstrated the enhanced durability and skid resistance, while remaining the drawback in the compatibility between the polyurethane modifier and asphalt binder in practical use. Herein, a molecular-dynamics-simulations based compatibility evaluation method is proposed for the polyurethane modifier and asphalt binder, thereby achieving the cost-effective and efficient components optimization. Twelve components asphalt molecular model was built in Molecular Dynamics to investigate the interaction of asphalt binder to the polypropylene glycol, toluene diisocyanate, and diphenylmethane diisocyanate, respectively. The molecular model of polyurethane modified asphalt binder was verified by the similar loss modulus temperature from the simulation and temperature scanning tests. The simulation outcomes indicate significant variations in the compatibility of different polyurethanes with asphalt, in which diphenylmethane diisocyanate-type polyurethane exhibits the superior compatibility. The compatibility of various polyurethane concentrations in asphalt shows considerable disparity, suggesting that the compatibility index can serve as a criterion for determining the optimal dosage of the modifier. Temperature also exerts an influence on the compatibility of polyurethane modified asphalt binder. Simulation results indicates that 130 °C potentially may be the optimal temperature for its preparation, which is corroborated by the microscopic characterization. This study provides a fundamental framework for the molecular dynamics simulation-based components optimization of polyurethane-modified asphalt, thereby inspiring the targeted design of asphalt materials.