Sand cat swarm optimization algorithm and its application integrating elite decentralization and crossbar strategy.

Sand cat swarm optimization algorithm is a meta-heuristic algorithm created to replicate the hunting behavior observed by sand cats. The presented sand cat swarm optimization method (CWXSCSO) addresses the issues of low convergence precision and local optimality in the standard sand cat swarm optimization algorithm. It accomplished this through the utilization of elite decentralization and a crossbar approach. To begin with, a novel dynamic exponential factor is introduced. Furthermore, throughout the developmental phase, the approach of elite decentralization is incorporated to augment the capacity to transcend the confines of the local optimal. Ultimately, the crossover technique is employed to produce novel solutions and augment the algorithm's capacity to emerge from local space. The techniques were evaluated by performing a comparison with 15 benchmark functions. The CWXSCSO algorithm was compared with six advanced upgraded algorithms using CEC2019 and CEC2021. Statistical analysis, convergence analysis, and complexity analysis use statistics for assessing it. The CWXSCSO is employed to verify its efficacy in solving engineering difficulties by handling six traditional engineering optimization problems. The results demonstrate that the upgraded sand cat swarm optimization algorithm exhibits higher global optimization capability and demonstrates proficiency in dealing with real-world optimization applications.

Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of 5,569 Pediatric Burns in Central China From 2013 to 2019.

Background: Pediatric burns of all the ages are prevalent worldwide, posing a severe health risk to children. This study aims to examine pediatric burns' clinical characteristics and epidemiology in central China. Methods: The pediatric patients of the Burn Research Center, Department of the First People's Hospital of Zhengzhou City from 2013 to 2019 were retrospectively studied and the relevant data were collected from the hospitalized medical records [e.g., demographic, etiology, length of stay (LOS), age, gender, burn area and depth, number of surgeries, cost, and outcome]. Results: A total of 5,569 pediatric burn patients were included, accounting for 43.9% of the total burn population. Electric burns represented a relatively small proportion (1.17%) but were more likely to lead to disabilities or death than scalds (90.63%) and flames (5.12%). The median age was 2 years [interquartile range (IQR): 1-4] and the boys/girls ratio ranged from 1.3:1 to 1.6:1. The most commonly burnt anatomic sites were the limbs (38.3%), with a median %TBSA (total body surface area) of 6 (IQR: 4-10). The complications of shock and pneumonia accounted for 7.6 and 19.2%, respectively. The peak months of pediatric burns included January, May, and August and the rural/urban ratio reached 1.61:1. The percentage of burn wounds treated surgically increased considerably from 2013 to 2019 (3.8 vs. 37.8%). The median hospital LOS was 15 days (IQR: 8-28 days), with the three high-risk factors (e.g., more surgeries, more %TBSA, full-thickness skin burns). The median cost of hospitalization was 1,511 USD (IQR: 848-2,648 USD) and the main risk factors consisted of full-thickness burns, more %TBSA, longer LOS, and more surgical procedures. Among all the patients, LA50 was 78.63% (95% CI = 75.12-83.45) and the overall mortality reached 0.1% since seven deaths were recorded. Conclusion: Scalds, flames, contact, and chemicals are the main causes of burns among children aged 1-5 years in central China. Accordingly, various prevention strategies should be employed depending upon the cause of the burn.

Improved fruit fly algorithm on structural optimization.

To improve the efficiency of the structural optimization design in truss calculation, an improved fruit fly optimization algorithm was proposed for truss structure optimization. The fruit fly optimization algorithm was a novel swarm intelligence algorithm. In the standard fruit fly optimization algorithm, it is difficult to solve the high-dimensional nonlinear optimization problem and easy to fall into the local optimum. To overcome the shortcomings of the basic fruit fly optimization algorithm, the immune algorithm self-non-self antigen recognition mechanism and the immune system learn-memory-forgetting knowledge processing mechanism were employed. The improved algorithm was introduced to the structural optimization. Optimization results and comparison with other algorithms show that the stability of improved fruit fly optimization algorithm is apparently improved and the efficiency is obviously remarkable. This study provides a more effective solution to structural optimization problems.

Improved shuffled frog leaping algorithm on system reliability analysis.

With the increase in system complexity, the intelligent heuristic optimization methods have received more and more attention on system reliability analysis. However, the objective functions and constraint conditions of system reliability are nonlinear. Thereby, a hybrid optimization method was proposed, based on the shuffled frog leaping algorithm and bacterial foraging algorithm, to solve the problem of system reliability and redundancy allocation. First, random grouping strategy was added to maintain the diversity of the population. Then, the Levy flight update strategy was used to increase the global search ability. Finally, the method of migration operation was introduced to escape from local optimums. The proposed methodology, a new version of the SFLA algorithm, was then applied to the mathematical test and the operation of the system reliability model, respectively. Results show that compared to the common methods, it can obtain the best solution, with the maximum value of the system reliability.

Assessment of sustainable urban transport development based on entropy and unascertained measure.

To find a more effective method for the assessment of sustainable urban transport development, the comprehensive assessment model of sustainable urban transport development was established based on the unascertained measure. On the basis of considering the factors influencing urban transport development, the comprehensive assessment indexes were selected, including urban economical development, transport demand, environment quality and energy consumption, and the assessment system of sustainable urban transport development was proposed. In view of different influencing factors of urban transport development, the index weight was calculated through the entropy weight coefficient method. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted according to the actual condition. Then, the grade was obtained by using the credible degree recognition criterion from which the urban transport development level can be determined. Finally, a comprehensive assessment method for urban transport development was introduced. The application practice showed that the method can be used reasonably and effectively for the comprehensive assessment of urban transport development.

[Analgesic and sedative effects of inhaling a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen on burn patient during and after dressing change].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the analgesic and sedative effects of inhaling a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen on burn patient during and after dressing change. METHODS: A total of 240 burn patients hospitalized in the Institute of Burn Research of Changhai Hospital Affiliated to the Second Military Medical University, Department of Burns of the First People's Hospital in Zhengzhou, and Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery of General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from October 2011 to September 2012 were enrolled in our study, and they were all in accordance with the inclusion criteria. The 240 patients were divided into control group (n = 60, treated with inhalation of oxygen during dressing change) and treatment group (n = 180, treated with inhalation of a mixture of 65% nitrous oxide and oxygen during dressing change) according to the computer-generated list of random number. The other treatments in control group and treatment group were the same. Before, during, and after dressing change, heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), oxygen saturation (SO2), and adverse effects were observed. The degree of pain and anxiety felt by the patients were respectively evaluated with the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Chinese version of the burn specific pain anxiety scale (C-BSPAS) at the same time points as above. Data were processed with analysis of covariance, chi-square test, analysis of variance, and rank sum test. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between control group and treatment group in the levels of HR, SBP, DBP, and SO2 before dressing change (with F values respectively 0.76, 0.06, 1.11, 0.70, P values all above 0.05). Compared with those of control group, the levels of HR, SBP, DBP, and SO2 in treatment group were significantly ameliorated during dressing change (with F values respectively 81.78, 146.36, 226.44, 205.62, P values all below 0.01). After dressing change, the levels of DBP in the two groups were close (F = 0.31, P > 0.05), but the levels of HR, SBP, and SO2 showed statistical differences (with F values respectively 7.02, 8.69, 12.23, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Before dressing change, the VAS scores were approximate between control group and treatment group (Z = 0.21, P > 0.05). Compared with those in control group (9.4 ± 0.7, 1.7 ± 2.5), the VAS scores were significantly lowered in treatment group during and after dressing change (1.6 ± 1.3, 0.7 ± 1.1, with Z values respectively 11.84, 3.35, P values all below 0.01). There was no significant difference in C-BSPAS score between control group and treatment group before dressing change (Z = 0.62, P > 0.05). Compared with those in control group (75 ± 13, 73 ± 12), the C-BSPAS scores in treatment group were decreased during and after dressing change (9 ± 15, 9 ± 14, with Z values respectively 11.91, 12.28, P values all below 0.01). There were no obvious adverse effects in two groups before, during, and after dressing change. CONCLUSIONS: A mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen seems to have obvious analgesic and sedative effects on burn patients during dressing change, and it can be widely used.

[An experimental study of using chitinous membrane as the culture scaffold for epidermal stem cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of constructing a skin tissue engineering covering on chitinous membrane using rat epidermal stem cells (ESCs). METHODS: Rat ESCs were isolated and cultured by cold digestive method and collagen type IV adherent method. Cell colonies were observed with inverted microscope. Expressions of DNA and RNA of ESCs were detected with laser scanning confocal microscope. Growth curves of cells were determined with Alamar BlueTM colorimetric method. Expressions of surface markers of ESCs (CD29, CD71, CD49d, and CD34) were detected with flow cytometer. Positive expressions of CK15, CK19, and P63 of ESCs were determined by immunohistochemistry. Influence of original chitinous membrane leachate in different dilutions on ESCs was observed. Condition of growth of ESCs on the vehicle was observed. RESULTS: Isolated cultured cells were verified as ESCs, of which the doubling generation time was 48 hs. CD29 and CD49d were positive; CD71 and CD34 were negative; CK19, CK15, and P63 were positive. Compared with that of control group, ESCs cultured in chitinous membrane leachate showed slight cell proliferation when diluted to 1:8-1:512 dilutions, but there was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). The checkerboard-form cell colonies of ESCs could be visualized with naked eyes on the chitinous membrane in 2-4 weeks of culture. A multitude of ESCs were seen to grow on fibres under microscope. CONCLUSIONS: Chitinous membrane may be used as ESCs culture vehicle, and biological compatibility is good.