Dynamics of an epidemic model with relapse over a two-patch environment.

In this paper, with the assumption that infectious individuals, once recovered for a period of fixed length, will relapse back to the infectious class, we derive an epidemic model for a population living in a two-patch environment (cities, towns, or countries, etc.). The model is given by a system of delay differential equations with a fixed delay accounting for the fixed constant relapse time and a non-local term caused by the mobility of the individuals during the recovered period.

Dynamic analysis of the recurrent epidemic model.

In this work, an SIRS model with age structure is proposed for recurrent infectious disease by incorporating temporary immunity and delay. We formulate the model as an abstract non-densely defined Cauchy problem and derive the conditions for the global stability of disease free equilibrium, the local stability of endemic equilibrium, and the existence of Hopf bifurcation. Both non-periodic and periodic behaviors are possible when the disease persists in population, where time delay plays an important role.

[Basic soil productivity in the double rice cropping system under long-term fertilization regimes in the Poyang Lake region, China].

We aimed to explore changes in basic soil productivity (BSP) under different fertilization regimes in the Poyang Lake region, Jiangxi Province, China. Soil samples were collected from a long-term fertilization experiment (since 1981) that included treatments of no fertilization (CK), chemical fertilization (NPK), and combined chemical and organic fertilization (NPKM). Then, a three-year pot experiment (from 2012 to 2014) with double rice cropping was conducted with two different fertilization regimes (no fertilization, F; fertilization, F) using CK, NPK and NPKM soils.

Patient-specific instrumentation does not improve accuracy in total knee arthroplasty.

Patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) has been introduced as a tool to increase the accuracy of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) compared with conventional instrumentation (CLI). However, previous studies have shown inconsistent results. The authors conducted a meta-analysis to compare the performance of PSI to CLI in TKA.

Does immobilization after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair increase tendon healing? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: To determine whether immobilization after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair improved tendon healing compared with early passive motion.

Materials And Methods: A systematic electronic literature search was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing early passive motion with immobilization after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The primary outcome assessed was tendon healing in the repaired cuff.

[Problems and solutions in minimally invasive process of posterior discectomy for lumbar disc herniation].

Objective: To analyze the problems and complications of posterior discectomy for lumbar disc herniation.

Methods: From January 2005 to June 2010, 497 patients with lumbar disc herniation were treated by posterior discectomy, which data were analyzed retrospectively. There were 395 males and 102 females,ranging in age from 20 to 78 years with an average of 43.

[Effects of irrigation with treated wastewater on nutrient distribution in cucumber and tomato plants and their fruit quality].

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of irrigation with treated wastewater on the nutrient distribution in cucumber and tomato plants and their fruit quality. Irrigation with treated wastewater promoted tomato growth significantly, but had definite inhibition effect on cucumber growth. After the irrigation with treated wastewater, the nitrogen in plants had the characteristics of upward translocation, potassium was easily to be accumulated in cucumber leaf but not accumulated in tomato root, and sodium was mostly accumulated in root but less enriched in leaf, not giving damage to the plants.