Domain randomization is a widely adopted technique in deep reinforcement learning(DRL)to improve agent generalization by exposing policies to diverse environmental conditions.This paper investigates the impact of diff...Domain randomization is a widely adopted technique in deep reinforcement learning(DRL)to improve agent generalization by exposing policies to diverse environmental conditions.This paper investigates the impact of different reset strategies,normal,non-randomized,and randomized,on agent performance using the Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient(DDPG)and Twin Delayed DDPG(TD3)algorithms within the CarRacing-v2 environment.Two experimental setups were conducted:an extended training regime with DDPG for 1000 steps per episode across 1000 episodes,and a fast execution setup comparing DDPG and TD3 for 30 episodes with 50 steps per episode under constrained computational resources.A step-based reward scaling mechanism was applied under the randomized reset condition to promote broader state exploration.Experimental results showthat randomized resets significantly enhance learning efficiency and generalization,with DDPG demonstrating superior performance across all reset strategies.In particular,DDPG combined with randomized resets achieves the highest smoothed rewards(reaching approximately 15),best stability,and fastest convergence.These differences are statistically significant,as confirmed by t-tests:DDPG outperforms TD3 under randomized(t=−101.91,p<0.0001),normal(t=−21.59,p<0.0001),and non-randomized(t=−62.46,p<0.0001)reset conditions.The findings underscore the critical role of reset strategy and reward shaping in enhancing the robustness and adaptability of DRL agents in continuous control tasks,particularly in environments where computational efficiency and training stability are crucial.展开更多
Objective:Acute ischemic stroke(AIS)is characterized by high morbidity and high mortality.In recent years,complementary and alternative medicine has gradually been widely accepted and applied.At present,traditional Ch...Objective:Acute ischemic stroke(AIS)is characterized by high morbidity and high mortality.In recent years,complementary and alternative medicine has gradually been widely accepted and applied.At present,traditional Chinese medicine therapy and standard treatments are used for the treatment of AIS.Xingnao-Jianshen prescriptions(XNJS)is an effective prescription for the clinical treatment of AIS,but there is a lack of large-scale clinical evidence to confirm its clinical efficacy.Therefore,our team designed this protocol to evaluate the initial therapeutic effect of XNJS.Methods:The protocol for a non-randomized controlled trial is designed in which 72 eligible patients will be allocated to one of two groups.The control group(n=36)will receive standard treatment for AIS,the test group(n=36)will receive XNJS and standard treatment.Patients will be recruited after stroke onset and will receive the intervention continuously over 10±1 days,with a follow-up period of 90 days.The primary outcome will be the change in the NIHSS,BI,mRS scores.All outcome measures will be assessed at inception,after the intervention(10±1 days),and at the follow-up(90 days).The results will be disseminated to the public through peerreviewed journals and academic conferences.Discussion:The study will provide evidence of the preliminary effects.展开更多
Objective： To evaluate the effect and safety of acupuncture therapy on patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis. Methods： A non-randomized controlled design was used to compare between the acupuncture grou...Objective： To evaluate the effect and safety of acupuncture therapy on patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis. Methods： A non-randomized controlled design was used to compare between the acupuncture group and the medication group. The acupuncture group received 8-week acupuncture therapy, and the medication group received budesonide nasal spray with cetirizine tablets for 8 weeks. The clinical symptoms and signs were analyzed before treatment, at 4 and 8 weeks after the start of treatment, and at 12 weeks after the end of treatment. Furthermore, the clinical efficacy and safety indicators were compared between the two groups. Results： A total of 76 participants consisting of 38 in each of the two groups were enrolled. The scores of each clinical symptom and sign, including sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, nasal itching, and turbinate edema, and the total scores decreased over time in both groups （all P〈0.05）; and no difference was found in the scores between the two groups （P〉0.05）. There was no statistically significant difference in the effective rates of the acupuncture group at 4 and 8 weeks after the start of treatment as well as at 12-week follow-up compared with those of the medication group （83.3% vs. 91.2%, and 94.4 % vs. 85.3%; and 80.6 % vs. 82.4%, all P〉0.05）. Experimental items including blood routine, urine routine, aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, urea nitrogen and creatinine were all in the normal reference ranges during the treatment in the acupuncture group. Conclusions： Acupuncture therapy has a comparable effect to the medication treatment on patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis, and it is safe with no severe adverse effects.展开更多
Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate health education using videos and leaflets for preconception care (PCC) awareness among adolescent females up to six months after the health education. Methods: The...Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate health education using videos and leaflets for preconception care (PCC) awareness among adolescent females up to six months after the health education. Methods: The subjects were female university students living in the Kinki area. A longitudinal survey was conducted on 67 members in the intervention group, who received the health education, and 52 members in the control group, who did not receive the health education. The primary outcome measures were knowledge of PCC and the subscales of the Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile. Surveys were conducted before, after, and six months after the intervention in the intervention group, and an initial survey and survey six months later were conducted in the control group. Cochran’s Q test, Bonferroni’s multiple comparison test, and McNemar’s test were used to analyze the knowledge of PCC data. The Health Awareness, Nutrition, and Stress Management subscales of the Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile were analyzed by paired t-test, and comparisons between the intervention and control groups were performed using the two-way repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: In the intervention group of 67 people, the number of subjects who answered “correct” for five of the nine items concerning knowledge of PCC increased immediately after the health education (P = 0.006) but decreased for five items from immediately after the health education to six months later (P = 0.043). In addition, the number of respondents who answered “correct” for “low birth weight infants and future lifestyle-related diseases” (P = 0.016) increased after six months compared with before the health education. For the 52 subjects in the control group, there was no change in the number of subjects who answered “correct” for eight out of the nine items after six months. There was also no increase in scores for the Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile after six months for either the intervention or control group. Conclusion: Providing health education about PCC using videos and leaflets to adolescent females was shown to enhance the knowledge of PCC immediately after the education.展开更多
The security of information transmission and processing due to unknown vulnerabilities and backdoors in cyberspace is becoming increasingly problematic.However,there is a lack of effective theory to mathematically dem...The security of information transmission and processing due to unknown vulnerabilities and backdoors in cyberspace is becoming increasingly problematic.However,there is a lack of effective theory to mathematically demonstrate the security of information transmission and processing under nonrandom noise(or vulnerability backdoor attack)conditions in cyberspace.This paper first proposes a security model for cyberspace information transmission and processing channels based on error correction coding theory.First,we analyze the fault tolerance and non-randomness problem of Dynamic Heterogeneous Redundancy(DHR)structured information transmission and processing channel under the condition of non-random noise or attacks.Secondly,we use a mathematical statistical method to demonstrate that for non-random noise(or attacks)on discrete memory channels,there exists a DHR-structured channel and coding scheme that enables the average system error probability to be arbitrarily small.Finally,to construct suitable coding and heterogeneous channels,we take Turbo code as an example and simulate the effects of different heterogeneity,redundancy,output vector length,verdict algorithm and dynamism on the system,which is an important guidance for theory and engineering practice.展开更多
Human orofacial clefts (OFCs) are congenital anomalies that result from the breakdown of normal mechanisms that regulate the formation of the human face. They could be syndromic or non-syndromic, with a global inciden...Human orofacial clefts (OFCs) are congenital anomalies that result from the breakdown of normal mechanisms that regulate the formation of the human face. They could be syndromic or non-syndromic, with a global incidence of 1:700 per live births. Environmental and genetic factors are thought to play various roles in the aetiology of OFCs. This study seeks to establish the diversity, distribution and pattern of inheritance of OFCs as well as environmental and other risk factors associated with OFCs in a Ghanaian population. A family-based, descriptive cross-sectional study that employed an interview-based survey questionnaire was used to obtain information from 467 families with history of OFCs. We employed chi-square statistics to analyse the data and used graphs to interpret the data. All previously reported subphenotypes of OFCs were observed by the present study. Clinically, about 12% of clefts in the study population were syndromic. The most common syndromic forms observed were Pierre Robin Sequence, cleft-with-club foot abnormalities and Van der Woude Syndrome. Only about 5% of clefts in the study cohort were familial. The study also established that lower level of education of parents, poverty, late antenatal care and dietary folate deficiency are major environmental factors associated with clefts in the Ghanaian population. In conclusion, OFCs are non-randomly distributed in Ghana and folate deficiency could likely be a source of genetic mutations and “epimutations” that cause OFCs, since folate is essential for DNA methylation, replication and repair as well as histone modification.展开更多
Introduction: Despite the enormous resources deployed and the success achieved in vaccination, reducing the number of children who remain unvaccinated remains a major operational challenge in certain countries. In 201...Introduction: Despite the enormous resources deployed and the success achieved in vaccination, reducing the number of children who remain unvaccinated remains a major operational challenge in certain countries. In 2014, the Kalemie Expanded Program of Immunization outpost in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was faced with a high number of unvaccinated children. They instituted a “token” catch-up system based on a collaborative approach with community health workers. This study aims to document the effects of this strategy on vaccination coverage. Methods: This study was a comparative quasi-experimental test/control study. The “test” health area was Undugu where the catch-up strategy was implemented and the “control” health area was Kanunka. A vaccination coverage survey was conducted according to the WHO method in both health areas, examining children aged 12 to 23 months. The proportions were compared using a Pearson chi-square test and the odds ratios were estimated. Results: Vaccine coverage was significantly higher in the “test” health area for all the antigens. Full vaccination coverage was 69.4% in the “test” health area versus 31% in the “control” health area, with a 4.7 times greater chance of being fully vaccinated in the “test” health area (OR: 4.7;CI 95% [3.1 - 7.2];p = 0.0001). Conclusion: This study demonstrates the value of a strategy that can increase access to vaccination and use of vaccination services, leading to a reduction in inequality in this area. However, this is linked to adapting the collaborative model on which it is based. This must be taken into consideration in plans to reproduce the findings.展开更多
The extent to which sexual selection is involved in speciation with gene flow remains an open question and the sub- ject of much research. Here, we propose that some insight can be gained from considering the concept ...The extent to which sexual selection is involved in speciation with gene flow remains an open question and the sub- ject of much research. Here, we propose that some insight can be gained from considering the concept of magic traits （i.e., traits involved in both reproductive isolation and ecological divergence）. Both magic traits and other, ＂non-magic＂, traits can contribute to speciation via a number of specific mechanisms. We argue that many of these mechanisms are likely to differ widely in the ex- tent to which they involve sexual selection. Furthermore, in some cases where sexual selection is present, it may be prone to in- hibit rather than drive speciation. Finally, there are a priori reasons to believe that certain categories of traits are much more ef- fective than others in driving speciation. The combination of these points suggests a classification of traits that may shed light on the broader role of sexual selection in speciation with gene flow. In particular, we suggest that sexual selection can act as a driver of speciation in some scenarios, but may play a negligible role in potentially common categories of magic traits, and may be likely to inhibit speciation in common categories of non-magic traits [Current Zoology 58 （3）： 510-516, 2012].展开更多
The non-random two liquids （NRTL） equation together with the Pitzer/Curl Virial equation of state are used to investigate the simultaneous representation of excess enthalpies （h^E） and vapour-liquid equilibria （...The non-random two liquids （NRTL） equation together with the Pitzer/Curl Virial equation of state are used to investigate the simultaneous representation of excess enthalpies （h^E） and vapour-liquid equilibria （VLE） and the VLE prediction from h^E data. The calculation strategy for properly determining NRTL parameters and the effect of their temperature dependence on the simultaneous correlation of h^E and VLE data and the VLE extrapolation are analysed in detail.展开更多
Isobaric vapor-liquid equilibrium(VLE) data for acetic acid + sec-butyl acetate and water+acetic acid + sec-butyl acetate systems were determined at 101.3 kPa using a modified Rose type.The nonideality of the vapor ph...Isobaric vapor-liquid equilibrium(VLE) data for acetic acid + sec-butyl acetate and water+acetic acid + sec-butyl acetate systems were determined at 101.3 kPa using a modified Rose type.The nonideality of the vapor phase caused by the association of the acetic acid was corrected by the chemical theory and Hayden-O'Connell method.Thermodynamic consistency was tested for the binary VLE data.The experimental data were correlated successfully with the Non-Random Two Liquids(NRTL) model.The Root Mean Square Deviation(RMSD) of the ternary system was 0.0038.The saturation vapor pressure of sec-butyl acetate at 329 to 385 K was measured by means of two connected equilibrium cells.The vapor pressures of water and sec-butyl acetate were correlated with the Antoine equation.The binary interaction parameters and the ternary VLE data were obtained from this work.展开更多
Liquid–Liquid Equilibrium(LLE) data for three Ternary Systems comprising cis-1,2-dimethylcyclohexane +toluene + sulfolane were measured at 298.15, 313.15 and 328.15 K under atmospheric pressure. The phase diagrams fo...Liquid–Liquid Equilibrium(LLE) data for three Ternary Systems comprising cis-1,2-dimethylcyclohexane +toluene + sulfolane were measured at 298.15, 313.15 and 328.15 K under atmospheric pressure. The phase diagrams for the ternary systems were presented. The reliability of the experiment data was tested using the Othmer–Tobias correlation. The LLE data were then correlated with the universal functional activity coefficient for liquid–liquid systems(UNIF-LL) and non-random two liquid using dataset 2(NRTL/2) activity coefficient models to obtain the binary interaction parameters as programmed by the Aspen Plus simulation. The results showed that the experimental data were satisfactorily represented by both the UNIF-LL and the NRTL/2 models as revealed from the very small values of the root mean square error and the absolute deviation in composition.展开更多
Vapor pressures were measured for acetonitrile+1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride([C4mim][Cl]),+1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate([C4mim][BF4])and+1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride([C6mim][Cl])at temp...Vapor pressures were measured for acetonitrile+1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride([C4mim][Cl]),+1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate([C4mim][BF4])and+1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride([C6mim][Cl])at temperatures of 313 to 353 K by a quasi-static method.The experimental data for the binary systems were correlated by the non-random two liquid(NRTL)equation with an average absolute relative deviation(AARD)of within 1.84%.The results indicate that the three ionic liquids(ILs)can result in a negative deviation from the Raoult's law for the binary solutions containing acetonitrile,and the affinity between ILs and acetonitrile molecules follows the order[C4mim][BF4]+acetonitrile N[C4mim][Cl]+acetonitrile N[C6mim][Cl]+acetonitrile.展开更多
The work illustrates the impossibility of decreasing entropy in a strictly random thermodynamic process in a non-isolated system using the example of heating a planet by solar radiation flux without and taking into ac...The work illustrates the impossibility of decreasing entropy in a strictly random thermodynamic process in a non-isolated system using the example of heating a planet by solar radiation flux without and taking into account its rotation around its own axis. That is, the second law of thermodynamics formulated for isolated systems continues to govern such systems. We have shown that in order to achieve a stationary state at lower values of temperature and entropy far from thermodynamic equilibrium at a maximum of temperature and entropy, it is necessary to have regular factors of nonrandom nature, one of which in this example is the rotation of the planet around its own axis. This means that the reason for the appearance of ordered structured objects in non-isolated thermodynamic systems is not the random process itself, but the action of dynamic control mechanisms, such as periodic external influences, nonlinear elements with positive feedback, catalysts for chemical reactions, etc. We present the plots with dependences of temperature and entropy versus time in non-isolated systems with purely random processes and in the presence of a control factor of non-random nature-rotation.展开更多
Objective： To study the effects of acupuncture on Chinese medicine syndromes of vascular dementia （VaD）. Methods： Sixty-three VaD patients were divided into three groups. Those willing to be randomized were random...Objective： To study the effects of acupuncture on Chinese medicine syndromes of vascular dementia （VaD）. Methods： Sixty-three VaD patients were divided into three groups. Those willing to be randomized were randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture （random acupuncture group, 24 cases） or rehabilitation training （guided rehabilitation group, 24 cases） for 6 weeks. Those unwilling to be randomized also received acupuncture for 6 weeks （non-random acupuncture group, 19 cases）. Patient syndromes and their severity were evaluated before treatment （baseline）, at the end of treatment, and at 4-week follow-up after the completion of treatment using a CM scoring system （scale of differentiation of syndromes of vascular dementia, SDSVD）. The SDSVD scores of the random and non-random acupuncture groups, and of all patients who received acupuncture （combined acupuncture group, 43 cases）, were compared with those in the guided rehabilitation group. Results： In the random, non-random, and combined acupuncture groups, SDSVD scores were significantly reduced at the end of treatment and at follow- up than at baseline. In the guided rehabilitation group, SDSVD scores were similar to baseline scores at the end of treatment and at follow-up. However, there were no significant differences in SDSVD scores among the three groups or between the combined acupuncture group and the guided rehabilitation group at any time points. In the non-random and combined acupuncture groups, SDSVD scores were significantly reduced at the end of treatment than at baseline in patients with hyperactivity of Liver （Gan）-yang or phlegm obstruction of the orifices. Conclusions： Acupuncture reduced the severity of VaD. The improvement was the greatest in patients undergoing their treatment of choice. Treatments in this study were more effective for excess syndromes, such as Liver-yang hyperactivity or phlegm obstruction of the orifices than deficiency syndromes, such as Kidney （Shen）-essence deficiency.展开更多
In 1975, B. B. Mandelbrot presented the Fractal Geometry through careful observation and comprehensive analysis of many irregular bodies with complicated shapes in nature. Metal fracture is a crack propagation process...In 1975, B. B. Mandelbrot presented the Fractal Geometry through careful observation and comprehensive analysis of many irregular bodies with complicated shapes in nature. Metal fracture is a crack propagation process along a zigzag path, while fractured surfaces are approximately fractal, i. e. 'self-similar'. Recently, fractal analysis in metal fractured surfaces has been widely applied, and the relationships between the fractal dimension of the frac-展开更多
基金supported by the Deputyship for Research&Innovation,Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia(Project No.MoE-IF-UJ-R2-22-04220773-1).
文摘Domain randomization is a widely adopted technique in deep reinforcement learning(DRL)to improve agent generalization by exposing policies to diverse environmental conditions.This paper investigates the impact of different reset strategies,normal,non-randomized,and randomized,on agent performance using the Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient(DDPG)and Twin Delayed DDPG(TD3)algorithms within the CarRacing-v2 environment.Two experimental setups were conducted:an extended training regime with DDPG for 1000 steps per episode across 1000 episodes,and a fast execution setup comparing DDPG and TD3 for 30 episodes with 50 steps per episode under constrained computational resources.A step-based reward scaling mechanism was applied under the randomized reset condition to promote broader state exploration.Experimental results showthat randomized resets significantly enhance learning efficiency and generalization,with DDPG demonstrating superior performance across all reset strategies.In particular,DDPG combined with randomized resets achieves the highest smoothed rewards(reaching approximately 15),best stability,and fastest convergence.These differences are statistically significant,as confirmed by t-tests:DDPG outperforms TD3 under randomized(t=−101.91,p<0.0001),normal(t=−21.59,p<0.0001),and non-randomized(t=−62.46,p<0.0001)reset conditions.The findings underscore the critical role of reset strategy and reward shaping in enhancing the robustness and adaptability of DRL agents in continuous control tasks,particularly in environments where computational efficiency and training stability are crucial.
基金Changchun Science and Technology Development Project(No.21ZGM32)Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province(No.20200201412JC).All funds conflict-free.
文摘Objective:Acute ischemic stroke(AIS)is characterized by high morbidity and high mortality.In recent years,complementary and alternative medicine has gradually been widely accepted and applied.At present,traditional Chinese medicine therapy and standard treatments are used for the treatment of AIS.Xingnao-Jianshen prescriptions(XNJS)is an effective prescription for the clinical treatment of AIS,but there is a lack of large-scale clinical evidence to confirm its clinical efficacy.Therefore,our team designed this protocol to evaluate the initial therapeutic effect of XNJS.Methods:The protocol for a non-randomized controlled trial is designed in which 72 eligible patients will be allocated to one of two groups.The control group(n=36)will receive standard treatment for AIS,the test group(n=36)will receive XNJS and standard treatment.Patients will be recruited after stroke onset and will receive the intervention continuously over 10±1 days,with a follow-up period of 90 days.The primary outcome will be the change in the NIHSS,BI,mRS scores.All outcome measures will be assessed at inception,after the intervention(10±1 days),and at the follow-up(90 days).The results will be disseminated to the public through peerreviewed journals and academic conferences.Discussion:The study will provide evidence of the preliminary effects.
基金Supported by the Key Project of Zhejiang Province Pharmaceutical Administration,China(No.2010ZZ001)Key Disciplines in Integrative Medicine of Zhejiang Province,China(No.2012-XK-A04)
文摘Objective： To evaluate the effect and safety of acupuncture therapy on patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis. Methods： A non-randomized controlled design was used to compare between the acupuncture group and the medication group. The acupuncture group received 8-week acupuncture therapy, and the medication group received budesonide nasal spray with cetirizine tablets for 8 weeks. The clinical symptoms and signs were analyzed before treatment, at 4 and 8 weeks after the start of treatment, and at 12 weeks after the end of treatment. Furthermore, the clinical efficacy and safety indicators were compared between the two groups. Results： A total of 76 participants consisting of 38 in each of the two groups were enrolled. The scores of each clinical symptom and sign, including sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, nasal itching, and turbinate edema, and the total scores decreased over time in both groups （all P〈0.05）; and no difference was found in the scores between the two groups （P〉0.05）. There was no statistically significant difference in the effective rates of the acupuncture group at 4 and 8 weeks after the start of treatment as well as at 12-week follow-up compared with those of the medication group （83.3% vs. 91.2%, and 94.4 % vs. 85.3%; and 80.6 % vs. 82.4%, all P〉0.05）. Experimental items including blood routine, urine routine, aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, urea nitrogen and creatinine were all in the normal reference ranges during the treatment in the acupuncture group. Conclusions： Acupuncture therapy has a comparable effect to the medication treatment on patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis, and it is safe with no severe adverse effects.
文摘Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate health education using videos and leaflets for preconception care (PCC) awareness among adolescent females up to six months after the health education. Methods: The subjects were female university students living in the Kinki area. A longitudinal survey was conducted on 67 members in the intervention group, who received the health education, and 52 members in the control group, who did not receive the health education. The primary outcome measures were knowledge of PCC and the subscales of the Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile. Surveys were conducted before, after, and six months after the intervention in the intervention group, and an initial survey and survey six months later were conducted in the control group. Cochran’s Q test, Bonferroni’s multiple comparison test, and McNemar’s test were used to analyze the knowledge of PCC data. The Health Awareness, Nutrition, and Stress Management subscales of the Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile were analyzed by paired t-test, and comparisons between the intervention and control groups were performed using the two-way repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: In the intervention group of 67 people, the number of subjects who answered “correct” for five of the nine items concerning knowledge of PCC increased immediately after the health education (P = 0.006) but decreased for five items from immediately after the health education to six months later (P = 0.043). In addition, the number of respondents who answered “correct” for “low birth weight infants and future lifestyle-related diseases” (P = 0.016) increased after six months compared with before the health education. For the 52 subjects in the control group, there was no change in the number of subjects who answered “correct” for eight out of the nine items after six months. There was also no increase in scores for the Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile after six months for either the intervention or control group. Conclusion: Providing health education about PCC using videos and leaflets to adolescent females was shown to enhance the knowledge of PCC immediately after the education.
基金supported by National Key R&D Program of China for Young Scientists:Cyberspace Endogenous Security Mechanisms and Evaluation Methods(No.2022YFB3102800).
文摘The security of information transmission and processing due to unknown vulnerabilities and backdoors in cyberspace is becoming increasingly problematic.However,there is a lack of effective theory to mathematically demonstrate the security of information transmission and processing under nonrandom noise(or vulnerability backdoor attack)conditions in cyberspace.This paper first proposes a security model for cyberspace information transmission and processing channels based on error correction coding theory.First,we analyze the fault tolerance and non-randomness problem of Dynamic Heterogeneous Redundancy(DHR)structured information transmission and processing channel under the condition of non-random noise or attacks.Secondly,we use a mathematical statistical method to demonstrate that for non-random noise(or attacks)on discrete memory channels,there exists a DHR-structured channel and coding scheme that enables the average system error probability to be arbitrarily small.Finally,to construct suitable coding and heterogeneous channels,we take Turbo code as an example and simulate the effects of different heterogeneity,redundancy,output vector length,verdict algorithm and dynamism on the system,which is an important guidance for theory and engineering practice.
文摘Human orofacial clefts (OFCs) are congenital anomalies that result from the breakdown of normal mechanisms that regulate the formation of the human face. They could be syndromic or non-syndromic, with a global incidence of 1:700 per live births. Environmental and genetic factors are thought to play various roles in the aetiology of OFCs. This study seeks to establish the diversity, distribution and pattern of inheritance of OFCs as well as environmental and other risk factors associated with OFCs in a Ghanaian population. A family-based, descriptive cross-sectional study that employed an interview-based survey questionnaire was used to obtain information from 467 families with history of OFCs. We employed chi-square statistics to analyse the data and used graphs to interpret the data. All previously reported subphenotypes of OFCs were observed by the present study. Clinically, about 12% of clefts in the study population were syndromic. The most common syndromic forms observed were Pierre Robin Sequence, cleft-with-club foot abnormalities and Van der Woude Syndrome. Only about 5% of clefts in the study cohort were familial. The study also established that lower level of education of parents, poverty, late antenatal care and dietary folate deficiency are major environmental factors associated with clefts in the Ghanaian population. In conclusion, OFCs are non-randomly distributed in Ghana and folate deficiency could likely be a source of genetic mutations and “epimutations” that cause OFCs, since folate is essential for DNA methylation, replication and repair as well as histone modification.
文摘Introduction: Despite the enormous resources deployed and the success achieved in vaccination, reducing the number of children who remain unvaccinated remains a major operational challenge in certain countries. In 2014, the Kalemie Expanded Program of Immunization outpost in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was faced with a high number of unvaccinated children. They instituted a “token” catch-up system based on a collaborative approach with community health workers. This study aims to document the effects of this strategy on vaccination coverage. Methods: This study was a comparative quasi-experimental test/control study. The “test” health area was Undugu where the catch-up strategy was implemented and the “control” health area was Kanunka. A vaccination coverage survey was conducted according to the WHO method in both health areas, examining children aged 12 to 23 months. The proportions were compared using a Pearson chi-square test and the odds ratios were estimated. Results: Vaccine coverage was significantly higher in the “test” health area for all the antigens. Full vaccination coverage was 69.4% in the “test” health area versus 31% in the “control” health area, with a 4.7 times greater chance of being fully vaccinated in the “test” health area (OR: 4.7;CI 95% [3.1 - 7.2];p = 0.0001). Conclusion: This study demonstrates the value of a strategy that can increase access to vaccination and use of vaccination services, leading to a reduction in inequality in this area. However, this is linked to adapting the collaborative model on which it is based. This must be taken into consideration in plans to reproduce the findings.
文摘The extent to which sexual selection is involved in speciation with gene flow remains an open question and the sub- ject of much research. Here, we propose that some insight can be gained from considering the concept of magic traits （i.e., traits involved in both reproductive isolation and ecological divergence）. Both magic traits and other, ＂non-magic＂, traits can contribute to speciation via a number of specific mechanisms. We argue that many of these mechanisms are likely to differ widely in the ex- tent to which they involve sexual selection. Furthermore, in some cases where sexual selection is present, it may be prone to in- hibit rather than drive speciation. Finally, there are a priori reasons to believe that certain categories of traits are much more ef- fective than others in driving speciation. The combination of these points suggests a classification of traits that may shed light on the broader role of sexual selection in speciation with gene flow. In particular, we suggest that sexual selection can act as a driver of speciation in some scenarios, but may play a negligible role in potentially common categories of magic traits, and may be likely to inhibit speciation in common categories of non-magic traits [Current Zoology 58 （3）： 510-516, 2012].
基金Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft(DFG) (LE 886/4-1)
文摘The non-random two liquids （NRTL） equation together with the Pitzer/Curl Virial equation of state are used to investigate the simultaneous representation of excess enthalpies （h^E） and vapour-liquid equilibria （VLE） and the VLE prediction from h^E data. The calculation strategy for properly determining NRTL parameters and the effect of their temperature dependence on the simultaneous correlation of h^E and VLE data and the VLE extrapolation are analysed in detail.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （21176049） and the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province （2012J01034）.
文摘Isobaric vapor-liquid equilibrium(VLE) data for acetic acid + sec-butyl acetate and water+acetic acid + sec-butyl acetate systems were determined at 101.3 kPa using a modified Rose type.The nonideality of the vapor phase caused by the association of the acetic acid was corrected by the chemical theory and Hayden-O'Connell method.Thermodynamic consistency was tested for the binary VLE data.The experimental data were correlated successfully with the Non-Random Two Liquids(NRTL) model.The Root Mean Square Deviation(RMSD) of the ternary system was 0.0038.The saturation vapor pressure of sec-butyl acetate at 329 to 385 K was measured by means of two connected equilibrium cells.The vapor pressures of water and sec-butyl acetate were correlated with the Antoine equation.The binary interaction parameters and the ternary VLE data were obtained from this work.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21176127)
文摘Liquid–Liquid Equilibrium(LLE) data for three Ternary Systems comprising cis-1,2-dimethylcyclohexane +toluene + sulfolane were measured at 298.15, 313.15 and 328.15 K under atmospheric pressure. The phase diagrams for the ternary systems were presented. The reliability of the experiment data was tested using the Othmer–Tobias correlation. The LLE data were then correlated with the universal functional activity coefficient for liquid–liquid systems(UNIF-LL) and non-random two liquid using dataset 2(NRTL/2) activity coefficient models to obtain the binary interaction parameters as programmed by the Aspen Plus simulation. The results showed that the experimental data were satisfactorily represented by both the UNIF-LL and the NRTL/2 models as revealed from the very small values of the root mean square error and the absolute deviation in composition.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21276073,21136004)the National Basic Research Program of China(2009CB219902)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(222201313001)
文摘Vapor pressures were measured for acetonitrile+1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride([C4mim][Cl]),+1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate([C4mim][BF4])and+1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride([C6mim][Cl])at temperatures of 313 to 353 K by a quasi-static method.The experimental data for the binary systems were correlated by the non-random two liquid(NRTL)equation with an average absolute relative deviation(AARD)of within 1.84%.The results indicate that the three ionic liquids(ILs)can result in a negative deviation from the Raoult's law for the binary solutions containing acetonitrile,and the affinity between ILs and acetonitrile molecules follows the order[C4mim][BF4]+acetonitrile N[C4mim][Cl]+acetonitrile N[C6mim][Cl]+acetonitrile.
文摘The work illustrates the impossibility of decreasing entropy in a strictly random thermodynamic process in a non-isolated system using the example of heating a planet by solar radiation flux without and taking into account its rotation around its own axis. That is, the second law of thermodynamics formulated for isolated systems continues to govern such systems. We have shown that in order to achieve a stationary state at lower values of temperature and entropy far from thermodynamic equilibrium at a maximum of temperature and entropy, it is necessary to have regular factors of nonrandom nature, one of which in this example is the rotation of the planet around its own axis. This means that the reason for the appearance of ordered structured objects in non-isolated thermodynamic systems is not the random process itself, but the action of dynamic control mechanisms, such as periodic external influences, nonlinear elements with positive feedback, catalysts for chemical reactions, etc. We present the plots with dependences of temperature and entropy versus time in non-isolated systems with purely random processes and in the presence of a control factor of non-random nature-rotation.
基金Supported by the Program for New Century Excellent Talentsin University(Ministry of Education,No.NCET-09-0007)the Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine Research Program(Tianjin Bureau of Public Health,No.07059)
文摘Objective： To study the effects of acupuncture on Chinese medicine syndromes of vascular dementia （VaD）. Methods： Sixty-three VaD patients were divided into three groups. Those willing to be randomized were randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture （random acupuncture group, 24 cases） or rehabilitation training （guided rehabilitation group, 24 cases） for 6 weeks. Those unwilling to be randomized also received acupuncture for 6 weeks （non-random acupuncture group, 19 cases）. Patient syndromes and their severity were evaluated before treatment （baseline）, at the end of treatment, and at 4-week follow-up after the completion of treatment using a CM scoring system （scale of differentiation of syndromes of vascular dementia, SDSVD）. The SDSVD scores of the random and non-random acupuncture groups, and of all patients who received acupuncture （combined acupuncture group, 43 cases）, were compared with those in the guided rehabilitation group. Results： In the random, non-random, and combined acupuncture groups, SDSVD scores were significantly reduced at the end of treatment and at follow- up than at baseline. In the guided rehabilitation group, SDSVD scores were similar to baseline scores at the end of treatment and at follow-up. However, there were no significant differences in SDSVD scores among the three groups or between the combined acupuncture group and the guided rehabilitation group at any time points. In the non-random and combined acupuncture groups, SDSVD scores were significantly reduced at the end of treatment than at baseline in patients with hyperactivity of Liver （Gan）-yang or phlegm obstruction of the orifices. Conclusions： Acupuncture reduced the severity of VaD. The improvement was the greatest in patients undergoing their treatment of choice. Treatments in this study were more effective for excess syndromes, such as Liver-yang hyperactivity or phlegm obstruction of the orifices than deficiency syndromes, such as Kidney （Shen）-essence deficiency.
文摘In 1975, B. B. Mandelbrot presented the Fractal Geometry through careful observation and comprehensive analysis of many irregular bodies with complicated shapes in nature. Metal fracture is a crack propagation process along a zigzag path, while fractured surfaces are approximately fractal, i. e. 'self-similar'. Recently, fractal analysis in metal fractured surfaces has been widely applied, and the relationships between the fractal dimension of the frac-
