•The world’s first machine-vision-based method for valve leakage measurement.•The method satisfies the global standards for valve leakage inspection.•Intensity responses were normalized and applied ...to detect bubbles.•A user interface was designed to quickly check the testing information.•The proposed system can reduce the workload by two-thirds for valve inspection.
Valve leakage is a serious safety issue in petroleum and petrochemical production processes. Traditional valve manufacturers examine valve leakage by manual visual inspection, but this method is inefficient and prone to errors. Hence, this paper applies machine vision techniques to develop a measurement method that can detect valve leakage according to the global standards of the petroleum industry, such as those recommended by the American Petroleum Institute. A collection device and machine vision techniques were applied to count leaked bubbles. The results were then compared with traditional human visual counting. The proposed machine vision method can achieve a mean absolute error of less than 1% while also reducing two-thirds of the workload of traditional human visual counting. Experimental results confirmed the effectiveness of this method. This study is the first to adapt machine-vision technology to industrial valve leakage measurement and opens up new possibilities for further exploration of valve leakage.
Bevacizumab combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy is the backbone of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) therapy; however, its treatment efficacy is hampered by therapeutic resistance. Therefore, ...understanding the mechanisms underlying bevacizumab resistance is crucial to increasing the therapeutic efficacy of bevacizumab. The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (dataset, GSE86525) was used to identify the key genes and pathways involved in bevacizumab-resistant mCRC. The GEO2R web tool was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Functional and pathway enrichment analyses of the DEGs were performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery(DAVID). Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were established using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins database(STRING) and visualized using Cytoscape software. A total of 124 DEGs were obtained, 57 of which upregulated and 67 were downregulated. PPI network analysis showed that seven upregulated genes and nine downregulated genes exhibited high PPI degrees. In the functional enrichment, the DEGs were mainly enriched in negative regulation of phosphate metabolic process and positive regulation of cell cycle process gene ontologies (GOs); the enriched pathways were the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-serine/threonine kinase signaling pathway, bladder cancer, and microRNAs in cancer. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A(CDKN1A), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), CD19 molecule (CD19), breast cancer 1, early onset (BRCA1), platelet-derived growth factor subunit A (PDGFA), and matrix metallopeptidase 1 (MMP1) were the DEGs involved in the pathways and the PPIs. The clinical validation of the DEGs in mCRC (TNM clinical stages 3 and 4) revealed that high PDGFA expression levels were associated with poor overall survival, whereas high BRCA1 and MMP1 expression levels were associated with favorable progress free survival(PFS). The identified genes and pathways can be potential targets and predictors of therapeutic resistance and prognosis in bevacizumab-treated patients with mCRC.
The use of non-contact magnetic transmission, such as Coaxial Magnetic Gears (CMGs), has become increasingly significant in the industrial sector. However, designing for high reduction ratios poses ...CMGs with strict challenges in size and manufacturing. This paper proposes a Repulsive-type Cycloidal Magnetic Gear (RCMG) as a means to address the increasing demand for high reduction ratios and longer lifespans prevalent in recent years. Transmission is achieved through the principle of magnetic repulsion, resulting in a reduction ratio of 19:1. In addition, this study explores the two modes of operation of the RCMG through analytical derivations and FEA software. Characteristics such as bearing load, slip torque, and reduction ratio were analyzed. This framework not only achieves a high reduction ratio but also significantly reduces the bearing load. Finally, this paper prototypes a model to validate the slip torque and reduction ratio.
The aim of the study was to investigate whether morphology (i.e. compact/diffuse) of brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) correlates with the incidence of hemorrhagic events in patients ...receiving Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) for unruptured bAVMs. This retrospective study included 262 adult patients with unruptured bAVMs who underwent upfront SRS. Hemorrhagic events were defined as evidence of blood on CT or MRI. The morphology of bAVMs was evaluated using automated segmentation which calculated the proportion of vessel, brain tissue, and cerebrospinal fluid in bAVMs on T2-weighted MRI. Compactness index, defined as the ratio of vessel to brain tissue, categorized bAVMs into compact and diffuse types based on the optimal cutoff. Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify the independent factors for post-SRS hemorrhage. The median clinical follow-ups was 62.1 months. Post-SRS hemorrhage occurred in 13 (5.0%) patients and one of them had two bleeds, resulting in an annual bleeding rate of 0.8%. Multivariable analysis revealed bAVM morphology (compact versus diffuse), bAVM volume, and prescribed margin dose were significant predictors. The post-SRS hemorrhage rate increased with larger bAVM volume only among the diffuse nidi (1.7 versus 14.9 versus 30.6 hemorrhage per 1000 person-years in bAVM volume < 20 cm
versus 20-40 cm
versus > 40 cm
; p = 0.022). The significantly higher post-SRS hemorrhage rate of Spetzler-Martin grade IV-V compared with grade I-III bAVMs (20.0 versus 3.3 hemorrhages per 1000 person-years; p = 0.001) mainly originated from the diffuse bAVMs rather than the compact subgroup (30.9 versus 4.8 hemorrhages per 1000 person-years; p = 0.035). Compact and smaller bAVMs, with higher prescribed margin dose harbor lower risks of post-SRS hemorrhage. The post-SRS hemorrhage rate exceeded 2.2% annually within the diffuse and large (> 40 cm
) bAVMs and the diffuse Spetzler-Martin IV-V bAVMs. These findings may help guide patient selection of SRS for the unruptured bAVMs.
Dopamine functioning is an essential mechanism underlying addictive behaviors. This paper evaluates the association of Internet gaming disorder (IGD) with the catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) ...val158met polymorphism and examines the roles of impulsivity and reinforcement sensitivity in this association. Using diagnostic interviews, this study recruited 69 participants with IGD and 138 participants without. All participants underwent diagnostic interviews for IGD and an evaluation for the COMT val158met polymorphism, impulsivity, and reinforcement sensitivity. Among participants with the Val/Val genotype, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for IGD was 2.09 (1.15–3.80). The IGD–Val/Val genotype association was mediated by impulsivity and fun‐seeking. The Val/Val genotype is indicative of low frontal functioning and is a predictive factor of IGD, with this effect being confounded by impulsivity and fun‐seeking. Interventions targeting impulsivity and fun‐seeking might attenuate the risk of IGD, particularly among individuals with the Val/Val genotype. Additional studies are necessary to elucidate the possible role of dopamine functioning.
Aims
Chronic inflammation is linked to cancer. This study aims to evaluate the association between chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) through a Taiwanese nationwide ...database.
Methods
We used the National Health Insurance Research Database between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2012. The starting date is either the date of the first clinical visit or the diagnosis of CRS. Patients were followed up until the first occurrence of target disease or the last date of medical record. Propensity score 1 to 2 matching was used to match pairs of patients with/without CRS.
Results
A total of 951 380 eligible patients were included in our study, with 36 210 patients diagnosed with CRS. After 1 to 2 propensity score matching, non‐CRS cohort consisted of 69 258 patients and CRS cohort consisted of 34 629 patients. CRS was associated with the risk of developing NPC (adjusted OR = 2.23; 95% CI, 1.61–3.09). However, no significant association among CRS and NPC was observed in patients followed up for more than 1 year (adjusted OR = 1.16; 95% CI, 0.76–1.78).
Conclusions
Patients with CRS diagnosis have relationship with developing NPC within 1 year of follow‐up, but not for longer intervals. The short‐term association may be due to reversed causation or biased diagnosis. Accordingly, the study suggests CRS a weak role for NPC.
Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis have relationship with developing nasopharyngeal carcinoma within 1 year of follow‐up, but not for longer intervals. The short‐term association may be due to reversed causation or biased diagnosis.
The purpose of this study was to compare how the two different methods of food processing, high pressure processing (HPP) under 300–500 MPa for 3 min and freezing, affect the microbiological, ...chemical, and organoleptic qualities of soy sauce-marinated freshwater clams (Corbicula fluminea) during refrigeration. The aerobic plate count (APC), psychotropic bacteria count (PBC), Salmonella spp., and coliform of high pressure processed soy sauce-marinated clams (HPP marinated-clams) were obviously lower than conventionally frozen soy sauce-marinated clams (frozen marinated-clams), or were not detected. In addition, after all samples’ 15-day refrigeration period, HPP was found to significantly inhibit the growth of APC, PBC, Salmonella spp., and coliform, while the microbial counts of frozen marinated-clams increased gradually with time. However, the surface areas, moisture contents, and salt contents of all samples of both HPP marinated-clams and frozen marinated-clams slightly increased during refrigeration. Furthermore, the results of organoleptic analyses exhibited that the storage life of marinated clams can be increased from 9 days under freezing treatment to 15 days under HPP (300 MPa and 500 MPa). Using high-throughput sequencing, HPP treatment significantly changed the microbiota of marinated clam and delayed the spoilage process. Therefore, the study suggests using HPP at least 300 MPa for 3 min to effectively inhibit the microbial growth and significantly extend the storage life of the samples during the refrigeration period. This is a first study to use HPP technology to replace the traditional freezing technology in the application of raw soy sauce-marinated freshwater clam products, and at the same time, HTS was used to evaluate the changes of microbiota during refrigeration.
•High pressure treatment on marinated clam significantly reduce bacterial loads.•High pressure can delay the microbial growth in marinated clam at 4 °C storage.•HPP at 300 or 500 MPa extended self life from 9 to 15 days via organoleptic test.•Using HTS, HPP changed the microbiota of clam and delayed the spoilage process.•Pressurization ≧300 MPa for 3 min can replace the freezing method for clam shucking.
Azathioprine (AZA) is commonly used for many autoimmune disorders; however, the limitation of its clinical use is due to potential toxicities, including severe leukopenia. Recent studies have ...identified genetic NUDT15 variants strongly associated with AZA‐induced leukopenia in Asian patients. This study aimed to investigate the strength of above genetic association and evaluate the usefulness of prospective screening of the NUDT15 variants to prevent AZA‐induced leukopenia in Chinese patients. AZA‐induced leukopenia in patients with autoimmune disorders were enrolled from multiple medical centers in Taiwan/China between 2012 and 2017 to determine the strength of genetic association of NUDT15 or TPMT variants by whole exome sequencing (WES). Furthermore, a prospective study was conducted between 2018 and 2021 to investigate the incidence of AZA‐induced leukopenia with and without genetic screening. The WES result showed the genetic variants of NUDT15 R139C (rs116855232) (P = 3.7 × 10−25, odds ratio (OR) = 21.7, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 12.1–38.8) and NUDT15 rs746071566 (P = 4.2 × 10−9, OR = 7.1, 95% CI = 3.7–13.7), but not TPMT, were associated with AZA‐induced leukopenia and NUDT15 R139C variant shows the highest sensitivity with 92.5%. Furthermore, the targeted screening of 1,013 participants for NUDT15 R139C enabled those identified as carriers to use alternative immunosuppressants. This strategy resulted in a significant decrease in the incidence of AZA‐induced leukopenia compared with historical incidence (incidence rate = from 7.6% decreased to 0.4%; P = 9.3 × 10−20). In conclusion, the NUDT15 R139C variant was strongly associated with AZA‐induced leukopenia in Chinese patients. The genetic screening of NUDT15 R139C followed by use of alternative immunosuppressants in identified carriers effectively decreased the incidence of AZA leukopenia for patients with autoimmune disorders.
Methamphetamine is garnering concern due to its increasing use worldwide. Depression and sleep quality are major mental health issues in substance users. Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVBFB) ...has shown promising results in terms of reducing depression and increasing sleep quality. The present study aimed to explore the effects of HRVBFB on these two issues in methamphetamine users. Sixty-one methamphetamine users were enrolled and allocated randomly into a treatment as usual (TAU) group and a HRVBFB plus TAU group. The levels of depressive symptoms and sleep quality were assessed at intake, end of the intervention, and end of follow-up. Compared with baseline, the levels of depressive symptoms and poor sleep quality were decreased at the end of the intervention and follow-up in the HRVBFB group. The HRVBFB group exhibited a greater decrease in depressive symptoms and a better improvement in sleep quality than the TAU group. The associations of HRV indices with levels of depressive symptoms and poor sleep quality were different in the two groups. Our results showed that HRVBFB is a promising intervention for reducing depressive symptoms and improving sleep quality in methamphetamine users. The benefits with respect to depressive symptoms and poor sleep quality can extend beyond the end of HRVBFB intervention.
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