The smoothed finite element methods (S-FEM) are a family of methods formulated through carefully designed combinations of the standard FEM and some of the techniques from the meshfree methods. ...Studies have proven that S-FEM models behave softer than the FEM counterparts using the same mesh structure, often produce more accurate solutions, higher convergence rates, and much less sensitivity to mesh distortion. They work well with triangular or tetrahedral mesh that can be automatically generated, and hence are ideal for automated computations and adaptive analyses. Some S-FEM models can also produce upper bound solution for force driving problems, which is an excellent unique complementary feature to FEM. Because of these attractive properties, S-FEM has been applied to numerous problems in the disciplines of material mechanics, biomechanics, fracture mechanics, plates and shells, dynamics, acoustics, heat transfer and fluid–structure interactions. This paper reviews the developments and applications of the S-FEM in the past ten years. We hope this review can shed light on further theoretical development of S-FEM and more complex practical applications in future.
Essentials
Perioperative blood loss and inflammatory response can significantly affect recovery after surgery.
We studied the effects of multiple‐dose oral tranexamic acid on blood loss and ...inflammatory response.
A postoperative four‐dose regimen brought about maximum reduction in postoperative blood loss.
A postoperative four‐dose regimen reduced inflammatory response and promoted early rehabilitation.
Summary
Background
Tranexamic acid (TXA) can reduce blood loss and the inflammatory response at multiple doses in total knee arthroplasty patients. However, the optimal regimen has not been determined.
Objectives
To identify the most effective regimen for achieving maximum reductions in blood loss and the inflammatory response.
Patients/Methods
Two hundred and seventy‐five patients were randomized to receive a placebo (group A), a single 2‐g oral dose of TXA 2 h preoperatively followed by 1 g of oral TXA 3 h postoperatively (group B), a single dose followed by 1 g of oral TXA 3 h and 7 h postoperatively (group C), a single dose followed by 1 g of oral TXA 3 h, 7 h and 11 h postoperatively (group D), or a single dose followed by 1 g of oral TXA 3 h, 7 h, 11 h and 15 h postoperatively (group E). The primary outcome was total blood loss on postoperative day (POD) 3. Secondary outcomes included a decrease in the hemoglobin level, coagulation parameters, inflammatory marker levels, and thromboembolic complications.
Results
Groups D and E had significantly lower blood loss and smaller decreases in hemoglobin level than groups A, B, and C, with no significant difference on POD 3 between groups D and E. Significantly enhanced coagulation was identified for the four multiple‐dose regimens; however, all thromboelastographic parameters remained within normal ranges. Group E had the lowest inflammatory marker levels and pain, and the greatest range of motion. No thromboembolic complications were identified.
Conclusion
The four‐dose regimen yielded the maximum reductions in blood loss and inflammatory response, improved analgesia, and promoted early rehabilitation. Further studies are required to ensure that these findings are reproducible.
The problem of identifying the shortest path along a road network is a fundamental problem in network analysis, ranging from route guidance in a navigation system to solving spatial allocation ...problems. Since this type of problem is solved so frequently, it is important to craft an approach that is as efficient as possible. Based upon past research, it is generally accepted that several efficient implementations of the Dijkstra algorithm are the fastest at optimally solving the 'one-to-one' shortest path problem (Cherkassky et al.
1996
). We show that the most efficient state-of-the-art implementations of Dijkstra can be improved by taking advantage of network properties associated with GIS-sourced data. The results of this paper, derived from tests of different algorithmic approaches on real road networks, will be extremely valuable for application developers and researchers in the GIS community.
Abstract
We theoretically investigate the Andreev reflection of the massive pseudospin-1 Dirac fermions including the +
U
-type, the −
U
-type, and the
S
z
-type mass terms, corresponding to the flat ...band locating at the top, the bottom, and the center of the band gap, respectively. For the ±
U
-type fermions, it is found that the Andreev reflection probability at the oblique incidence can be even larger than that at the normal incidence. For the retro-reflection, such an oblique enhancement occurs in the
n
-doped +
U
-type (
p
-doped −
U
-type) massive fermion systems. While for the specular reflection, the enhancement occurs in the
n
-doped −
U
-type (
p
-doped +
U
-type) systems. For the
S
z
-type massive fermions, an ideal Andreev reflection with all-angle unit efficiency is predicted in an undoped junction with the incident energy equal to the superconducting gap.
We theoretically investigate the nonlocal transport in the ferromagnet/
s
-wave superconductor/Rashba spin-orbit coupled region/ferromagnet hybrid junction composed of the gapped graphene lattices. ...The equal-spin crossed Andreev reflection (ECAR) and the opposite-spin crossed Andreev reflection (OCAR) can be generated separately. The ECAR dominant transport and the OCAR dominant one appear for the junction with antiparallel and parallel magnetization of two ferromagnetic leads, respectively. The pure ECAR (OCAR) is achieved not only at the Dirac point but over a large voltage range, suggesting the highly efficient nonlocal splitting of the Cooper pairs with spin-triplet (spin-singlet) pairing correlations.
Graphic abstract
Background
Several previous researches had found artery stiffness associated skeletal muscle mass, but not considering muscle strength and physical performance, which also were compositions of ...sarcopenia. This study aims to reveal the relationship of artery stiffness and sarcopenia using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria.
Methods
Study was performed on 1002 Chinese community dwelling participants aged ≥65 years from November 2016 to March 2017. Body composition, muscle strength, physical performance, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) considering as artery stiffness index were measured.
Results
In multiple regression analysis, baPWV was associated with handgrip (β=−0.13, P=0.04) and Relative skeletal muscle mass index (ASM/Ht
2
) (β=−0.02, P<0.01), but not with 4-meter velocity (P=0.21). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that 1-SD (3.50m/s) increased in baPWV was still associated with a 11% (CI, 4%–20%; P<0.01) higher odds of being sarcopenia. In the gender subgroup analysis, the relationship of baPWV and sarcopenia remain significant in men (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.07–1.42, P<0.01), but not in women (P=0.07).
Conclusions
High brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity is associated with sarcopenia in Chinese community-dwelling elderly, with gender differences.
Summary
Background
Human skin, which is constantly exposed to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR), has a unique ability to respond by increasing its pigmentation in a protective process driven by ...melanogenesis in human epidermal melanocytes (HEMs). However, the molecular mechanisms used by HEMs to detect and respond to UVR remain unclear.
Objectives
To investigate the function and potential mechanism of opsin 5 (OPN5), a photoreceptor responsive to UVR wavelengths, in melanogenesis in HEMs.
Methods
Melanin content in HEMs was determined using the NaOH method, and activity of tyrosinase (TYR) (a key enzyme in melanin synthesis) was determined by the l‐DOPA method. OPN5 expression in UVR‐treated vs. untreated HEMs and explant tissues was detected by reverse‐transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR), Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Short interfering RNA‐mediated OPN5 knockdown and a lentivirus OPN5 overexpression model were used to examine their respective effects on TYR, tyrosinase‐related protein 1 (TRP1), TRP2 and microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor (MITF) expression, under UVR. Changes in expression of TYR, TRP1 and TRP2 caused by changes in OPN5 expression level were detected by RT‐qPCR and Western blot. Furthermore, changes in signalling pathway proteins were assayed.
Results
We found that OPN5 is the key sensor in HEMs responsible for UVR‐induced melanogenesis. OPN5‐induced melanogenesis required Ca2+‐dependent G protein‐coupled receptor‐ and protein kinase C signal transduction, thus contributing to the UVR‐induced MITF response to mediate downstream cellular effects, and providing evidence of OPN5 function in mammalian phototransduction. Remarkably, OPN5 activation was necessary for UVR‐induced increase in cellular melanin and has an inherent function in melanocyte melanogenesis.
Conclusions
Our results provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of UVR sensing and phototransduction in melanocytes, and may reveal molecular targets for preventing pigmentation or pigment diseases.
What is already known about this topic?
Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) induces a protective response to DNA damage mediated by melanin synthesis in human epidermal melanocytes (HEMs).
Tyrosinase (TYR), with tyrosinase‐related proteins (TRP1, TRP2), are the key enzymes for melanin synthesis.
Microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor regulates key genes for melanocyte development and differentiation, and can stimulate melanogenesis by activating transcription of TYR and other pigmentation genes, including TRP1.
Opsin 5 (OPN5) is known to function as a photoreceptor responsive to wavelengths in the near UV spectrum.
What does this study add?
UVR induces melanogenesis in HEMs via OPN5.
OPN5 regulates expression of TYR, TRP1 and TRP2 through the calcium‐dependent G protein‐coupled and protein kinase C signalling pathways.
OPN5 has an inherent role in HEMs in mediating melanogenesis.
What is the translational message?
OPN5 was discovered as a key sensor for UVR‐induced melanogenesis in human skin melanocytes.
It could be a target for early treatment of pigmentation or pigment diseases, to provide a more personalized and economically feasible method.
Linked Comment: L.V.M. de Assis and A.M. de Lauro Castrucci. Br J Dermatol 2021; 185:249–250.
Plain language summary available online
To investigate the changes in paraspinal muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and composition, using the digital data from lumbar spine MRIs of patients with acute and chronic low back pain (LBP).
In ...total, 178 patients with unilateral LBP who had lumbar MRI examination were recruited. The data were obtained by a retrospective documentation audit. The CSAs and mean signal intensities of the bilateral paraspinal muscles psoas major (PM), quadratus lumborum, multifidus (MF) and erector spinae (ES) were measured, and the percentage of fat infiltration was calculated. The data between the painful side and non-painful side were compared, and between-group comparisons were tested. 42 patients with chronic unilateral LBP could indicate the problem level, and the CSA and mean signal intensity of the MF muscle were analysed at the problem level, and one vertebral above and one vertebral level below the problem level.
The CSAs of the PM and ES muscles were significantly decreased in the acute LBP group, while in the chronic LBP group, significant reduction in CSA was found in the MF and ES muscles on the painful side compared with the non-painful side. The mean signal intensity and fat content of the ES muscle on the painful side in the chronic LBP group was significantly higher than that on the painful side in the acute LBP group. The significant decrease of CSA in the MF muscle was found at multiple levels on the painful side.
The present findings show that there is selective ipsilateral atrophy of paraspinal muscles, specific to the symptomatic side, in patients with acute and chronic LBP. The reduction of the muscle CSA and increased fatty infiltration occurred synchronously, and the extent of change is significantly greater in chronic LBP in the ES muscle. Atrophy of the MF muscle appears to be at multiple levels but side specific in relation to symptoms in patients with chronic LBP, and the decreased muscle CSA may occur prior to fatty infiltration.
There are specific paraspinal muscles undergoing atrophy and fatty infiltration in patients with acute and chronic LBP on the symptomatic side. The CSA of the MF muscle decreased at multiple levels on the symptomatic side in patients with chronic unilateral LBP, which may occur prior to fatty infiltration.
The transport properties of the graphene-based antiferromagnet/insulator/ferromagnet/superconductor junction with noncollinear magnetic moments are theoretically investigated under the Bogoliubov-de ...Gennes equation. By introducing a mass term into the antiferromagnetic region, the spin-polarized equal-spin Andreev reflection (EAR) can be achieved for all voltages in the subgap region, free from any interference from the opposite-spin Andreev reflection (OAR). The transition from the retro EAR to the specular EAR can be realized by adjusting the Fermi level within the antiferromagnetic region. The perfect EAR can be obtained, suggesting an efficient equal-spin pairing correlation. Furthermore, we note that the EAR exhibits magnetoisotropy with an in-plane ferromagnetic exchange field, which is opposite to the results in a ferromagnet/ferromagnet/superconductor junction.
Graphical abstract
ABSTRACT
Basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slag and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) residues both are industrial wastes. Research on using BOF slag as a novel aggregate and FGD residues as a filler in road ...construction has benefits both in environment and economics. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of FGD residues and BOF slag on the fatigue performance and moisture resistance of asphalt mixtures. The fatigue performance of asphalt mixture was conducted by means of indirect tensile fatigue test. Stress loading control mode, with four stress levels (300, 400, 500 and 600 kPa), was used in this research. Statistic t‐test was adopted, and it had approved the positive effect of BOF slag and FGD residues on the fatigue lives of asphalt mixture. Moisture resistance of asphalt mixture was investigated by retained Marshall stability test and tensile strength ratio test. Research results indicate that BOF slag and FGD residues can improve the fatigue and moisture resistance, when the BOF slag and FGD residues based asphalt mixture was designed properly.
PDF
