Background:Atopic eczema is the most common type of skin disorder in both children and adults.It is characterized by erythema,pruritus,papules,xeransis,and lichenification.The KangminⅠdecoction,a Chinese herbal medic...Background:Atopic eczema is the most common type of skin disorder in both children and adults.It is characterized by erythema,pruritus,papules,xeransis,and lichenification.The KangminⅠdecoction,a Chinese herbal medicine prepared with several ingredients and used to treat eczema,was formulated according to traditional Chinese medicine theory.Objectives:To investigate the efficacy and safety of KangminⅠdecoction for treating atopic eczema compared to that of loratadine.Methods:90 patients were enrolled at the Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine and randomly divided into the KangminⅠdecoction treatment group(n=45)and loratadine control group(n=45).Clinical efficacy was evaluated using the Eczema Area and Severity Index(EASI),Dermatology Life Quality Index(DLQI),adverse events(AEs),and recurrence rates,which were compared between the groups.Results:Compared to the loratadine control group(51.16%,18.60%),the KangminⅠdecoction group(7.72%,4.55%)displayed a significantly reduced effective rate(x^(2)=8.324,P=0.040)and recurrence rate(x^(2)=4.225,P=0.040).The incidence of AEs was similar between the groups(P=0.502).Conclusions:These results support further development of KangminⅠdecoction for the treatment of eczema.The KangminⅠdecoction showed good efficacy with a low recurrence rate and tolerable AEs.The main limitations of this study include the small sample size and the short treatment and follow-up periods.Larger controlled studies are needed to more adequately evaluate both safety and efficacy.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of acupressure on postpartum low back pain(LBP),salivary cortisol,physical limitations,and postpartum depression.METHODS:Participants were 70 postpartum women who were randomly assi...OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of acupressure on postpartum low back pain(LBP),salivary cortisol,physical limitations,and postpartum depression.METHODS:Participants were 70 postpartum women who were randomly assigned to either an intervention(n=35)or a control(n=35)group.The intervention group received 10 acupressure sessions(1 session per day,5 d per week).The control group received 10 sham acupressure sessions.Outcomes were assessed using a visual analogue scale(LBP intensity),salivary cortisol values(LBP biomarker),and Chinese versions of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire(daily activity limitations),Oswes-try Disability Index(physical activity limitations),and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale(postpartum depression).RESULTS:Participants in the intervention group had significantly lower levels of LBP intensity,daily activity limitations,physical activity limitations,and postpartum depression than those in the control group.There was no significant between-group difference in salivary cortisol.CONCLUSION:Acupressure may reduce postpartum LBP intensity and limitations in daily and physical activity,and alleviate postpartum depressive symptoms.Acupressure should be offered in postpartum care settings as an alternative treatment for postpartum women with LBP.展开更多
In hydraulic area,independent metering control(IMC)technology is an effective approach to improve system efficiency and control flexibility.In addition,digital hydraulic technology(DHT)has been verified as a reasonabl...In hydraulic area,independent metering control(IMC)technology is an effective approach to improve system efficiency and control flexibility.In addition,digital hydraulic technology(DHT)has been verified as a reasonable method to optimize system dynamic performance.Integrating these two technologies into one component can combine their advantages together.However,few works focused on it.In this paper,a twin spools valve with switching technologycontrolled pilot stage(TSVSP)is presented,which applied DHT into its pilot stage while appending IMC into its main stage.Based on this prototype valve,a series of numerical and experiment analysis of its IMC performance with both simulated load and excavator boom cylinder are carried out.Results showed fast and robust performance of pressure and flow compound control with acceptable fluctuation phenomenon caused by switching technology.Rising time of flow response in excavator cylinder can be controlled within 200 ms,meanwhile,the recovery time of rod chamber pressure under suddenly changed condition is optimized within 250 ms.IMC system based on TSVSP can improve both dynamic performance and robust characteristics of the target actuator so it is practical in valve-cylinder system and can be applied in mobile machineries.展开更多
The purpose of this study was to pilot an innovative and supported intervention for individuals with a stroke. A pilot control trial with qualitative interviews was undertaken within a university- community setting. T...The purpose of this study was to pilot an innovative and supported intervention for individuals with a stroke. A pilot control trial with qualitative interviews was undertaken within a university- community setting. Thirteen individuals who had experienced a stroke for periods of least 6 months (6 male, average 71 years) were assigned to the intervention group and 7 individuals (2 male, average age 67.9 years) assigned to the control group. Eight individuals from the intervention group completed a single interview. The procedures that related to recruitment and retention and data collection methods were considered. Outcome measures including;self-efficacy, falls self-efficacy and group membership, for both groups were taken at baseline, 11 weeks, 22 weeks. There was an additional assessment at 52 weeks for the intervention group. The structured interview was designed to focus on experiences of the intervention. Self-efficacy remained stable across time for both groups. An improvement in falls self-efficacy was noted in the intervention group at 11 weeks. Consistent improvement (from baseline) was observed in the identity scale across the 52 weeks. Qualitative data provided additional findings related to identity and confidence. Details considering recruitment and retention are also provided. This pilot study provided data that can be used for a further full-scale trial to be considered.展开更多
This paper presents a method to predict the pilot workload in helicopter landing after one engine failure.The landing procedure is simulated numerically via applying nonlinear optimal control method in the form of per...This paper presents a method to predict the pilot workload in helicopter landing after one engine failure.The landing procedure is simulated numerically via applying nonlinear optimal control method in the form of performance index,path constraints and boundary conditions based on an augmented six-degree-of-freedom rigid-body flight dynamics model,solved by collocation and numerical optimization method.UH-60 A helicopter is taken as the sample for the demonstration of landing after one engine failure.The numerical simulation was conducted to find the trajectory of helicopter and the controls from pilot for landing after one engine failure with different performance index considering the factor of pilot workload.The reasonable performance index and corresponding landing trajectory and controls are obtained by making a comparison with those from the flight test data.Furthermore,the pilot workload is evaluated based on wavelet transform analysis of the pilot control activities.The workloads of pilot control activities for collective control,longitudinal and lateral cyclic controls and pedal control during the helicopter landing after one engine failure are examined and compared with those of flight test.The results show that when the performance index considers the factor of pilot workload properly,the characteristics of amplitudes and constituent frequencies of pilot control inputs in the optimal solution are consistent with those of the pilot control inputs in the flight test.Therefore,the proposed method provides a tool of predicting the pilot workload in helicopter landing after one engine failure.展开更多
An augmented flight dynamics model is developed to extend the existing flight dynamics model of tilt-rotor aircraft for optimal landing procedure analysis in the event of one engine failure.Compared with the existing ...An augmented flight dynamics model is developed to extend the existing flight dynamics model of tilt-rotor aircraft for optimal landing procedure analysis in the event of one engine failure.Compared with the existing flight dynamics model, the augmented model involves with more pilot control information in cockpit and is validated against the flight test data. Based on the augmented flight dynamics model, the optimal landing procedure of XV-15 tilt-rotor aircraft after one engine failure is formulated into a Nonlinear Optimal Control Problem(NOCP), solved by collocation and numerical optimization method. The time histories of pilot controls in cockpit during the optimal landing procedure are obtained for the evaluation of pilot workload. An evaluation method which can synthetically quantify the pilot workload in time and frequency domains is proposed with metrics of aggressiveness and cutoff frequencies of pilot controls. The scale of the pilot workload is compared with those of the shipboard landing procedures, bob-up/bob-down and dash/quickstop maneuvers of UH-60 helicopter. The results show that the aggressiveness of pilot collective and longitudinal controls for the tilt-rotor aircraft optimal landing procedure after one engine failure are higher than those for UH-60 helicopter shipboard landing procedures up to the condition of sea state 4, while the pilot cutoff frequency of collective control is lower than that of the bob-up/bob-down maneuver but the pilot cutoff frequency of longitudinal control is higher than that of the dash/quick-stop maneuver. The evaluated pilot workload level is between Cooper–Harper HQR Level 2 and Level 3.展开更多
Despite effective treatment options, more than 40% of cancer patients receive inadequate pain management. Our previous pilot study resulted in substantial adaptations of a cancer pain self-management intervention, the...Despite effective treatment options, more than 40% of cancer patients receive inadequate pain management. Our previous pilot study resulted in substantial adaptations of a cancer pain self-management intervention, the German PRO-Self? Plus Pain Control Program originally developed in the United States. This program will be implemented into clinical practice at the Medical Center-University of Freiburg. The purpose of this multiple methods pilot study is to test the implementation regarding feasibility and effects in clinical practice. In a randomized, wait-list controlled pilot study, adult oncology in-patients of a palliative care consultation service with pain >3/10 will be recruited. The intervention will be performed by a specialized advanced practice nurse with an in-hospital visit and, after discharge, via phone calls and visits. The follow-up will be personalized according to a clinical algorithm that factors in pain intensity, satisfaction with pain management, and patient adherence. The intervention includes structured and tailored components and is based on three key strategies: information, skill building and nurse coaching. The specific aims of this study are threefold: 1) to test the feasibility of the study and intervention procedures;2) to establish effect sizes of main outcome variables (e.g. decrease pain intensity, reduce the number of patients with pain as main symptom) for subsequent power calculation;3) to explore participants’ experiences with pain self-management support and their view of burden and benefit from study participation in a qualitative substudy. During the study period, which includes three data collection time points (T0 before, T1 one week and T2 six weeks after discharge), data will be collected via field notes of study nurses and questionnaires of patients. The results of this pilot study will build the basis for a larger comparative effectiveness study in which long term outcomes of a cancer pain self-management intervention in clinical practice will be evaluated.展开更多
Loss of Control (LOC) is the primary factor responsible for the majority of fatal air accidents during past decade. LOC is characterized by the pilot’s inability to control the aircraft and is typically associated wi...Loss of Control (LOC) is the primary factor responsible for the majority of fatal air accidents during past decade. LOC is characterized by the pilot’s inability to control the aircraft and is typically associated with unpredictable behavior, potentially leading to loss of the aircraft and life. In this work, the minimum time dynamic optimization problem to LOC is treated using Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle (PMP). The resulting two point boundary value problem is solved using stochastic shooting point methods via a differential evolution scheme (DE). The minimum time until LOC metric is computed for corresponding spatial control limits. Simulations are performed using a linearized longitudinal aircraft model to illustrate the concept.展开更多
基金sponsored by the National Key Research and Development Program(No.2024YFC3500314)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82405403)+3 种基金the Shanghai 2022‘Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan’Medical Innovation Research Special Project(No.22Y11922200)the Key Discipline Construction Project of Shanghai’s Three Year Action Plan for Strengthening the Construction of Public Health System(No.GWVI-11.1-24)the Clinical Research plan of Shanghai Shenkang HospitalDevelopment Center(No.SHDC22022302)the High-level Chinese Medicine Key Discipline Construction Project(Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine Clinic)of National Administration of TCM(No.zyyzdxk-2023065).
文摘Background:Atopic eczema is the most common type of skin disorder in both children and adults.It is characterized by erythema,pruritus,papules,xeransis,and lichenification.The KangminⅠdecoction,a Chinese herbal medicine prepared with several ingredients and used to treat eczema,was formulated according to traditional Chinese medicine theory.Objectives:To investigate the efficacy and safety of KangminⅠdecoction for treating atopic eczema compared to that of loratadine.Methods:90 patients were enrolled at the Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine and randomly divided into the KangminⅠdecoction treatment group(n=45)and loratadine control group(n=45).Clinical efficacy was evaluated using the Eczema Area and Severity Index(EASI),Dermatology Life Quality Index(DLQI),adverse events(AEs),and recurrence rates,which were compared between the groups.Results:Compared to the loratadine control group(51.16%,18.60%),the KangminⅠdecoction group(7.72%,4.55%)displayed a significantly reduced effective rate(x^(2)=8.324,P=0.040)and recurrence rate(x^(2)=4.225,P=0.040).The incidence of AEs was similar between the groups(P=0.502).Conclusions:These results support further development of KangminⅠdecoction for the treatment of eczema.The KangminⅠdecoction showed good efficacy with a low recurrence rate and tolerable AEs.The main limitations of this study include the small sample size and the short treatment and follow-up periods.Larger controlled studies are needed to more adequately evaluate both safety and efficacy.
基金Supported by the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital:the Effects of Acupressure on Postpartum Low Back Pain(No.CMRPG8G0941).
文摘OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of acupressure on postpartum low back pain(LBP),salivary cortisol,physical limitations,and postpartum depression.METHODS:Participants were 70 postpartum women who were randomly assigned to either an intervention(n=35)or a control(n=35)group.The intervention group received 10 acupressure sessions(1 session per day,5 d per week).The control group received 10 sham acupressure sessions.Outcomes were assessed using a visual analogue scale(LBP intensity),salivary cortisol values(LBP biomarker),and Chinese versions of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire(daily activity limitations),Oswes-try Disability Index(physical activity limitations),and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale(postpartum depression).RESULTS:Participants in the intervention group had significantly lower levels of LBP intensity,daily activity limitations,physical activity limitations,and postpartum depression than those in the control group.There was no significant between-group difference in salivary cortisol.CONCLUSION:Acupressure may reduce postpartum LBP intensity and limitations in daily and physical activity,and alleviate postpartum depressive symptoms.Acupressure should be offered in postpartum care settings as an alternative treatment for postpartum women with LBP.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.52005441,51890885)open Foundation of the State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems(Grant No.GZKF-201906)+1 种基金Zhejiang Province Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.LQ21E050017)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant Nos.2021M692777,2021T140594).
文摘In hydraulic area,independent metering control(IMC)technology is an effective approach to improve system efficiency and control flexibility.In addition,digital hydraulic technology(DHT)has been verified as a reasonable method to optimize system dynamic performance.Integrating these two technologies into one component can combine their advantages together.However,few works focused on it.In this paper,a twin spools valve with switching technologycontrolled pilot stage(TSVSP)is presented,which applied DHT into its pilot stage while appending IMC into its main stage.Based on this prototype valve,a series of numerical and experiment analysis of its IMC performance with both simulated load and excavator boom cylinder are carried out.Results showed fast and robust performance of pressure and flow compound control with acceptable fluctuation phenomenon caused by switching technology.Rising time of flow response in excavator cylinder can be controlled within 200 ms,meanwhile,the recovery time of rod chamber pressure under suddenly changed condition is optimized within 250 ms.IMC system based on TSVSP can improve both dynamic performance and robust characteristics of the target actuator so it is practical in valve-cylinder system and can be applied in mobile machineries.
文摘The purpose of this study was to pilot an innovative and supported intervention for individuals with a stroke. A pilot control trial with qualitative interviews was undertaken within a university- community setting. Thirteen individuals who had experienced a stroke for periods of least 6 months (6 male, average 71 years) were assigned to the intervention group and 7 individuals (2 male, average age 67.9 years) assigned to the control group. Eight individuals from the intervention group completed a single interview. The procedures that related to recruitment and retention and data collection methods were considered. Outcome measures including;self-efficacy, falls self-efficacy and group membership, for both groups were taken at baseline, 11 weeks, 22 weeks. There was an additional assessment at 52 weeks for the intervention group. The structured interview was designed to focus on experiences of the intervention. Self-efficacy remained stable across time for both groups. An improvement in falls self-efficacy was noted in the intervention group at 11 weeks. Consistent improvement (from baseline) was observed in the identity scale across the 52 weeks. Qualitative data provided additional findings related to identity and confidence. Details considering recruitment and retention are also provided. This pilot study provided data that can be used for a further full-scale trial to be considered.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.11672128)。
文摘This paper presents a method to predict the pilot workload in helicopter landing after one engine failure.The landing procedure is simulated numerically via applying nonlinear optimal control method in the form of performance index,path constraints and boundary conditions based on an augmented six-degree-of-freedom rigid-body flight dynamics model,solved by collocation and numerical optimization method.UH-60 A helicopter is taken as the sample for the demonstration of landing after one engine failure.The numerical simulation was conducted to find the trajectory of helicopter and the controls from pilot for landing after one engine failure with different performance index considering the factor of pilot workload.The reasonable performance index and corresponding landing trajectory and controls are obtained by making a comparison with those from the flight test data.Furthermore,the pilot workload is evaluated based on wavelet transform analysis of the pilot control activities.The workloads of pilot control activities for collective control,longitudinal and lateral cyclic controls and pedal control during the helicopter landing after one engine failure are examined and compared with those of flight test.The results show that when the performance index considers the factor of pilot workload properly,the characteristics of amplitudes and constituent frequencies of pilot control inputs in the optimal solution are consistent with those of the pilot control inputs in the flight test.Therefore,the proposed method provides a tool of predicting the pilot workload in helicopter landing after one engine failure.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 11672128)
文摘An augmented flight dynamics model is developed to extend the existing flight dynamics model of tilt-rotor aircraft for optimal landing procedure analysis in the event of one engine failure.Compared with the existing flight dynamics model, the augmented model involves with more pilot control information in cockpit and is validated against the flight test data. Based on the augmented flight dynamics model, the optimal landing procedure of XV-15 tilt-rotor aircraft after one engine failure is formulated into a Nonlinear Optimal Control Problem(NOCP), solved by collocation and numerical optimization method. The time histories of pilot controls in cockpit during the optimal landing procedure are obtained for the evaluation of pilot workload. An evaluation method which can synthetically quantify the pilot workload in time and frequency domains is proposed with metrics of aggressiveness and cutoff frequencies of pilot controls. The scale of the pilot workload is compared with those of the shipboard landing procedures, bob-up/bob-down and dash/quickstop maneuvers of UH-60 helicopter. The results show that the aggressiveness of pilot collective and longitudinal controls for the tilt-rotor aircraft optimal landing procedure after one engine failure are higher than those for UH-60 helicopter shipboard landing procedures up to the condition of sea state 4, while the pilot cutoff frequency of collective control is lower than that of the bob-up/bob-down maneuver but the pilot cutoff frequency of longitudinal control is higher than that of the dash/quick-stop maneuver. The evaluated pilot workload level is between Cooper–Harper HQR Level 2 and Level 3.
文摘Despite effective treatment options, more than 40% of cancer patients receive inadequate pain management. Our previous pilot study resulted in substantial adaptations of a cancer pain self-management intervention, the German PRO-Self? Plus Pain Control Program originally developed in the United States. This program will be implemented into clinical practice at the Medical Center-University of Freiburg. The purpose of this multiple methods pilot study is to test the implementation regarding feasibility and effects in clinical practice. In a randomized, wait-list controlled pilot study, adult oncology in-patients of a palliative care consultation service with pain >3/10 will be recruited. The intervention will be performed by a specialized advanced practice nurse with an in-hospital visit and, after discharge, via phone calls and visits. The follow-up will be personalized according to a clinical algorithm that factors in pain intensity, satisfaction with pain management, and patient adherence. The intervention includes structured and tailored components and is based on three key strategies: information, skill building and nurse coaching. The specific aims of this study are threefold: 1) to test the feasibility of the study and intervention procedures;2) to establish effect sizes of main outcome variables (e.g. decrease pain intensity, reduce the number of patients with pain as main symptom) for subsequent power calculation;3) to explore participants’ experiences with pain self-management support and their view of burden and benefit from study participation in a qualitative substudy. During the study period, which includes three data collection time points (T0 before, T1 one week and T2 six weeks after discharge), data will be collected via field notes of study nurses and questionnaires of patients. The results of this pilot study will build the basis for a larger comparative effectiveness study in which long term outcomes of a cancer pain self-management intervention in clinical practice will be evaluated.
文摘Loss of Control (LOC) is the primary factor responsible for the majority of fatal air accidents during past decade. LOC is characterized by the pilot’s inability to control the aircraft and is typically associated with unpredictable behavior, potentially leading to loss of the aircraft and life. In this work, the minimum time dynamic optimization problem to LOC is treated using Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle (PMP). The resulting two point boundary value problem is solved using stochastic shooting point methods via a differential evolution scheme (DE). The minimum time until LOC metric is computed for corresponding spatial control limits. Simulations are performed using a linearized longitudinal aircraft model to illustrate the concept.
