An Investigation on the Ball Screw-Based Variable Displacement Mechanism for Axial Piston Pumps with Feedforward Differential Input Control.

This paper proposes a variable mechanism structure based on a ball screw design for precise displacement control in axial piston pumps, with the objective of improving actuator position and velocity control within the displacement-controlled (DC) systems. Traditional valve-controlled cylinder variable mechanisms (VCCVM) often suffer from limited control precision over the swash plate due to numerous uncertain parameters within the hydraulic system. To address this issue, a ball screw is utilized to replace the original valve-controlled cylinder for swash plate control, enhancing accuracy and responsiveness.

Altered synaptic homeostasis: a key factor in the pathophysiology of depression.

Depression, a widespread psychiatric disorder, is characterized by a diverse array of symptoms such as melancholic mood and anhedonia, imposing a significant burden on both society and individuals. Despite extensive research into the neurobiological foundations of depression, a complete understanding of its complex mechanisms is yet to be attained, and targeted therapeutic interventions remain under development. Synaptic homeostasis, a compensatory feedback mechanism, involves neurons adjusting synaptic strength by regulating pre- or postsynaptic processes.

Electroacupuncture restores maternal separation-induced glutamatergic presynaptic deficits of the medial prefrontal cortex in adulthood.

Maternal separation (MS) serves as a critical model of early life stress (ELS) that can lead to mood disorders, such as depression. Our previous studies suggest that MS may disrupt synaptic transmission in adulthood. While electroacupuncture (EA) has demonstrated antidepressant effects in several animal models of stress-induced depression, it remains unclear whether EA can reverse synaptic transmission deficits caused by ELS.

Double-bundle versus single-bundle medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction for recurrent patellar dislocation: A meta-analysis.

Purpose: To compare the clinical efficacy of single-bundle versus double-bundle reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) for recurrent patellar dislocation (RPD) regarding knee function scores, postoperative complications, and imaging assessments.

Methods: A computerized search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Network (CNKI), and VIP Database was performed for single-bundle versus double-bundle reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament for treatment of RPD. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were evaluated for quality using the risk-of-bias evaluation tool recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration Network, and Cohort studies (CSs) were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) scale.

Application of in vivo brain imaging technology in the basic research of acupuncture-moxibustion for encephalopathy.

Acupuncture-moxibustion is remarkably effective on encephalopathy, but its mechanism is unclear. With the continuous development of imaging technology, the in vivo brain imaging technology has been used increasingly in life science research and it also becomes a more effective tool for the basic research of acupuncture-moxibustion in treatment of encephalopathy. The paper summarizes the application of its technology in the basic research of acupuncture-moxibustion for encephalopathy and the characteristics of imaging, as well as the advantages and shortcomings.

[Chemical constituents of diterpenoids from Boswellia carterii].

This paper explored the chemical constituents of Boswellia carterii by column chromatography on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS column chromatography, and semi-preparative HPLC. The structures of the compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectroscopic data such as infrared radiation(IR), ultra violet(UV), mass spectrometry(MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR). Seven diterpenoids were isolated and purified from n-hexane of B.

Inconsistency between overall and subgroup analyses.

Suppose we have a sample of subjects in two treatment groups. To study the difference of the treatment effects, we can analyse the data using all subjects (overall analysis). We may also divide the subjects into several subgroups based on some covariates of interest (eg, gender), and study the treatment effects within each subgroup.

Detrimental health relationship between blood lead and cadmium and the red blood cell folate level.

Increasing studies have demonstrated the association between heavy metal pollution and micronutrients, especially folate. However, the relationship between cadmium and folate remains rarely discussed. In this study, we aim to explore the potential correlation between cadmium and folate in human population and highlight the possible mechanism of cadmium impacting human health.

Graphitic carbon nitride embedded with graphene materials towards photocatalysis of bisphenol A: The role of graphene and mediation of superoxide and singlet oxygen.

Composite photocatalysts comprising graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) and graphene materials were synthesized and evaluated in the photocatalysis of bisphenol A (BPA) with a focus on elucidating the reaction mechanism. Embedding reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to g-CN significantly accelerated the photocatalysis rate of BPA by three folds under visible light irradiation at neutral pH. We showed that rGO synthesized in intimate contact with g-CN increased the surface areas and electrical conductivity of the g-CN composites and promoted the electron-hole pair separation.

Relations among sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of medical tests based on biomarkers.

Diagnostic tests are usually based on some quantitative biomarkers. Two key parameters used to characterise the quality of a test are test sensitivity and specificity. Predictive values of the disease status based on test results are also of interest in medical research and public health management.

Modified distributed Bragg reflector for protecting organic light-emitting diode displays against ultraviolet light.

Sunlight/UV (ultraviolet)-induced degradation is still a critical issue for outdoor applications of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays. Therefore, effective UV-blocking structures that can prevent OLED displays from sunlight/UV degradation and still keep the OLED panels' display performance is necessary. In this report, modified distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) structures having UV-absorbing dielectric materials and adjusted layer/pair thicknesses were developed to realize effective UV blocking properties (nearly 0% transmittance below 400 nm), constantly high transmittance like glass in the visible range (∼92%) required for display applications, and sharp transition in transmission between the UV and the visible ranges.

Oncological and functional outcomes in patients over 70 years of age treated with robotic radical prostatectomy: a propensity-matched analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to report on the safety (complications) and efficacy (oncological and functional outcomes) of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), performed at our institution, in patients aged over 70.

Patients And Methods: Review of our prospectively collected database [Cancer Information Systems (CAISIS)] identified two hundred and fifteen (215) patients, aged > 70, who underwent RARP for localized prostate cancer between July 2003 and August 2017. A propensity score-matched analysis, with multiple covariates, was performed to stratify the patients into Age ≤ 70 and Age > 70 comparison groups.

Advanced machine learning methods in psychiatry: an introduction.

Mental health questions can be tackled through machine learning (ML) techniques. Apart from the two ML methods we introduced in our previous paper, we discuss two more advanced ML approaches in this paper: support vector machines and artificial neural networks. To illustrate how these ML methods have been employed in mental health, recent research applications in psychiatry were reported.

Machine learning methods in psychiatry: a brief introduction.

Machine learning (ML) techniques have been widely used to address mental health questions. We discuss two main aspects of ML in psychiatry in this paper, that is, supervised learning and unsupervised learning. Examples are used to illustrate how ML has been implemented in recent mental health research.

The p-value and model specification in statistics.

The p value has been widely used as a way to summarise the significance in data analysis. However, misuse and misinterpretation of the p value is common in practice. Our result shows that if the model specification is wrong, the distribution of the p value may be inappropriate, which makes the decision based on the p value invalid.

The relations among three popular indices of risks.

The relative risk, risk difference, and odds ratio are three major indices of differences in risks of diseases between different groups. Although widely used in research and practice in biomedical and epidemiologic research, misconceptions are not uncommon about their relationships. Many publications offer contradicting advices in how to use them in studies.

Accelerated Skills Acquisition Protocol (ASAP) in optimizing robotic surgical simulation training: a prospective randomized study.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of an accelerated proficiency-based training protocol in robotic simulation practice in delivering durable proficiency compared to conventional training methods.

Methods: Novice medical students (n = 16) were randomized into either the accelerated skills acquisition protocol (ASAP) or conventional training protocol (CTP). Subjects were trained to proficiency on the da Vinci Skills Simulator (dVSS) by an expert trainer.

Multi-institutional Clinical Tool for Predicting High-risk Lesions on 3Tesla Multiparametric Prostate Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Background: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) for prostate cancer detection without careful patient selection may lead to excessive resource utilization and costs.

Objective: To develop and validate a clinical tool for predicting the presence of high-risk lesions on mpMRI.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Four tertiary care centers were included in this retrospective and prospective study (BiRCH Study Collaborative).

Sample sizes based on three popular indices of risks.

Sample size justification is a very crucial part in the design of clinical trials. In this paper, the authors derive a new formula to calculate the sample size for a binary outcome given one of the three popular indices of risk difference. The sample size based on the absolute difference is the fundamental one, which can be easily used to derive sample size given the risk ratio or OR.

Non-inferiority trial of a pedal controlled injection device: a step toward enhancing patient safety and operator independence during neural blockade.

Background And Objectives: Limitations in manpower in health care facilities, both in civilian and military settings, can severely affect patient safety as well as overall outcomes. Regional anesthesia via neural blockade is an effective means of managing uncontrolled acute pain, which has been associated with cardiopulmonary, endocrine, immunologic, and hematologic derangement in addition to the development of potentially life-threatening coagulopathy. We have designed a remote-controlled injection device that may expedite the performance of regional nerve blocks in these situations.

Tests for paired count outcomes.

For moderate to large sample sizes, all tests yielded pvalues close to the nominal, except when models were misspecified. The signed-rank test generally had the lowest power. Within the current context of count outcomes, the signed-rank test shows subpar power when compared with tests that are contrasted based on full data, such as the GEE.

Neonatal gut and respiratory microbiota: coordinated development through time and space.

Background: Postnatal development of early life microbiota influences immunity, metabolism, neurodevelopment, and infant health. Microbiome development occurs at multiple body sites, with distinct community compositions and functions. Associations between microbiota at multiple sites represent an unexplored influence on the infant microbiome.

Comprehensive assessment of T-cell repertoire following autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for treatment of type 1 diabetes using high-throughput sequencing.

Objective: We aimed to investigate T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoires in type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients receiving autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) treatment.

Methods: High-throughput deep TCR beta (TCRB) chain sequencing was performed to assess millions of individual TCRs in five T1D patients receiving AHSCT treatment and another five patients receiving insulin treatment during 12 months of follow-up.

Results: No significant changes in TCRB sequence reads, complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) sequences, or the usage of TCRB VJ gene-segments were observed at 12 months after AHSCT.

Simpson's Paradox: Examples.

Simpson's paradox is very prevalent in many areas. It characterizes the inconsistency between the conditional and marginal interpretations of the data. In this paper, we illustrate through some examples how the Simpson's paradox can happen in continuous, categorical, and time-to-event data.