Refined scale-dependent permutation entropy to analyze systems complexity

Multiscale entropy (MSE) has become a prevailing method to quantify the complexity of systems. Unfortunately, MSE has a temporal complexity in O(N2)O(N2), which is unrealistic for long time series. Moreover, MSE relies on the sample entropy computation which is length-dependent and which leads to large variance and possible undefined entropy values for short time series. Here, we propose and introduce a new multiscale complexity measure, the refined scale-dependent permutation entropy (RSDPE). Through the processing of different kinds of synthetic data and real signals, we show that RSDPE has a behavior close to the one of MSE. Furthermore, RSDPE has a temporal complexity in O(N)O(N). Finally, RSDPE has the advantage of being much less length-dependent than MSE. From all this, we conclude that RSDPE over-performs MSE in terms of computational cost and computational accuracy

Refined composite multiscale permutation entropy to overcome multiscale permutation entropy length dependence

Multiscale permutation entropy (MPE) has recently been proposed to evaluate complexity of time series. MPE has numerous advantages over other multiscale complexity measures, such as its simplicity, robustness to noise and its low computational cost. However, MPE may loose statistical reliability as the scale factor increases, because the coarse-graining procedure used in the MPE algorithm reduces the length of the time series as the scale factor grows. To overcome this drawback, we introduce the refined composite MPE (RCMPE). Through applications on both synthetic and real data, we show that RCMPE is much less dependent on the signal length than MPE. In this sense, RCMPE is more reliable than MPE. RCMPE could therefore replace MPE for short times series or at large scale factors

Refined multiscale Hilbert-Huang spectral entropy and its application to central and peripheral cardiovascular data

Objective: Spectral entropy has been applied in variety of fields. Multiscale spectral entropy (MSSE) has also recently been proposed to take into account structures on several scales. However, MSSE has some drawbacks, such as the coarse-graining procedure performed in the time domain. In this study, we propose a new framework to compute MSSE. This framework is also adapted for nonstationary data. Methods: Our work relies on processing steps performed directly in the frequency domain. For nonstationary signals, the evolution of entropy values with scales is observed along time. Our algorithm is herein evaluated both on synthetic time series (stationary and non-stationary signals) and on data from the cardiovascular system (CVS). For this purpose, heart rate variability (from the central CVS), laser Doppler flowmetry, and laser speckle contrast data (both from the peripheral CVS) are analyzed. Results: The results show that our framework has better performances than the existing algorithms to compute MSSE, both in terms of reliability and computational cost. Moreover, it is able to reveal repetitive patterns on central and peripheral CVS signals. These patterns may be linked to physiological activities. Furthermore, from the processing of microvascular data, it is able to distinguish young from elderly subjects. Conclusion: Our framework outperforms other algorithms to compute MSSE. It also has the advantage of revealing physiological information. Significance: By showing better performances than existing algorithms to compute MSSE, our work is a new and promising way to compute an entropy measure from the spectral domain. It also has the advantage of stressing physiologically linked phenomena

Androgens and coronary artery disease

This chapter reviews data that examine the relationship between androgens and coronary artery disease (CAD) in men. Androgens can exert both beneficial and deleterious actions on a myriad of factors implicated in the pathogenic mechanisms of atherosclerosis and CAD. Androgen/androgen receptor (AR) can modulate arterial disease and vascular function via genomic (AR) or non-genomic mechanisms in animal models and in vitro experimental studies. The diversity and complexity of the actions of testosterone (and its metabolites E2 and DHT) and DHEA on the vasculature reflect the multiple cellular targets in the vessel wall, differences between species, gender, concomitant disease and, most importantly, level/dosage of testosterone exposure. At present, it is not possible to determine the net effect of androgens on CAD pathogenesis and clinical outcomes. While observational clinical studies showed a consistent association between low testosterone and CAD (risk factors, events and mortality), and some experimental studies may suggest positive effects of androgens on CAD risk factors, body composition and individual vascular mechanisms, it is hazardous to suggest that manipulation of the androgenic milieu will result in clinical benefits in a complex multifactorial condition such as CAD. This ongoing uncertainty also underlines recent concerns regarding the possibility of adverse cardiovascular side effects in androgen treatment of endocrine and non-endocrine conditions, hampering efforts to exploit the potential therapeutic benefits of testosterone for men in the treatment of osteoporosis, sarcopaenia, chronic debilitating disease and obesity-related hypoandrogenism in the ageing male population. Large-scale prospective randomised placebo-controlled trials of sufficient size and duration are urgently needed to assess not only the benefits in terms of meaningful clinical benefits and patient-important outcomes but also to document the risks of serious adverse events in testosterone treatment. In the meantime, for patients with established pathological hypogonadism, there are no substantive data to suggest that physiological testosterone therapy is associated with increased cardiovascular risk and their management should not deviate from current recommended practice. For complete coverage of this and related topics, please visit www.endotext.org

Topology design for fast convergence of network consensus algorithms

The quantities of coefficient of ergodicity and algebraic connectivity have been used to estimate the convergence rates of discrete-time and continuous-time network consensus algorithms respectively. Both of these two quantities are defined with respect to network topologies without the symmetry assumption, and they are applicable to the case when network topologies change with time. We present results identifying deterministic network topologies that optimize these quantities. We will also propose heuristics that can accelerate convergence in random networks by redirecting a small portion of the links assuming that the network topology is controllable.

Dynamics of evaporative cooling in magnetically trapped atomic hydrogen

We study the evaporative cooling of magnetically trapped atomic hydrogen on the basis of the kinetic theory of a Bose gas. The dynamics of trapped atoms is described by the coupled differential equations, considering both the evaporation and dipolar spin relaxation processes. The numerical time-evolution calculations quantitatively agree with the recent experiment of Bose-Einstein condensation with atomic hydrogen. It is demonstrated that the balance between evaporative cooling and heating due to dipolar relaxation limits the number of condensates to 9x10^8 and the corresponding condensate fraction to a small value of 4% as observed experimentally.Comment: 5 pages, REVTeX, 3 eps figures, Phys. Rev. A in pres

Photoresponsive and Ultraviolet to Visible-Light Range Photocatalytic Properties of ZnO:Sb Nanowires

100學年度研究獎補助論文[[abstract]]Zinc oxide (ZnO) doped antimony (Sb) nanowires have been synthesized for improving ultraviolet sensing and photocatalytic properties. Upon illumination by UV light (365nm , 2.33mWcm−2 ), the photoelectric current of the ZnO:Sb nanowires exhibited a rapid photoresponse as compared to that of the ZnO nanowires. A highest ratio of photocurrent to dark current of around 48.8-fold was achieved in the as-synthesized ZnO:Sb nanowires. A UV-visible spectrophotometer was used to investigate the absorbance spectrum of the ZnO:Sb nanowires, which exhibited a high absorbance ratio with redshift effect in contrast to that of the ZnO nanowires. Visible-light photocatalysis and UV photoresponsive properties of the ZnO:Sb nanowires are superior to those of the ZnO nanowires.[[notice]]補正完畢[[incitationindex]]SCI[[booktype]]電子

Improved validation framework and R-package for artificial neural network models

Validation is a critical component of any modelling process. In artificial neural network (ANN) modelling, validation generally consists of the assessment of model predictive performance on an independent validation set (predictive validity). However, this ignores other aspects of model validation considered to be good practice in other areas of environmental modelling, such as residual analysis (replicative validity) and checking the plausibility of the model in relation to a priori system understanding (structural validity). In order to address this shortcoming, a validation framework for ANNs is introduced in this paper that covers all of the above aspects of validation. In addition, the validann R-package is introduced that enables these validation methods to be implemented in a user-friendly and consistent fashion. The benefits of the framework and R-package are demonstrated for two environmental modelling case studies, highlighting the importance of considering replicative and structural validity in addition to predictive validity