Simultaneous detection of the nonlinear restoring and excitation of a forced nonlinear oscillation: an integral approach

We address in this article, how to calculate the restoring characteristic and the excitation of a nonlinear forced oscillating system. Under the assumption that the forced nonlinear oscillator has a periodic solution with period, we constructed a system of linear equations by introducing time-dependent multipliers. The periodicity assumption helps simplify the system of linear equations. The stability and uniqueness are also presented for the inverse problem. Numerical testing is conducted to show the effectiveness of our presented methodology.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Improving Prediction Quality in Collaborative Filtering Based on Clustering

In this paper we present the recommender systems that use the k-means clustering method in order to solve the problems associated with neighbor selection. The first method is to solve the problem in which customers belong to different clusters due to the distance-based characteristics despite the fact that they are similar customers, by properly converting data before performing clustering. The second method explains the k-prototype algorithm performing clus-tering by expanding not only the numeric data but also the categorical data. The experimental results show that better prediction quality can be obtained when both methods are used together. 1

Incidence and clinicopathologic behavior of uterine cervical carcinoma in renal transplant recipients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Renal allograft recipients are reported to have a higher incidence of malignancy than the general population. This single hospital-based study examined the incidence and clinicopathologic behavior of uterine cervical carcinoma in renal transplant recipients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Among 453 women receiving renal transplantation from January 1990 to December 2008, 5 patients were diagnosed with cervical carcinoma. Medical records of these 5 patients were retrospectively reviewed, and clinicopathologic data were collected and analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The incidence of cervical carcinoma in renal transplant recipients was 58.1 out of 100,000 per year, which is 3.5 times higher than in the general Korean population. The mean interval between the time of renal transplantation and the time of cervical carcinoma diagnosis was 80.7 months. After a median follow-up of 96.2 months, there was no recurrence of the disease or death. In 4 patients who were positive from human papillomavirus in situ hybridization (HPV ISH), high or probably high risk HPV DNA was detected in all. Punctate staining of HPV ISH was detected in 3 out of 4 patients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Higher incidence of cervical carcinoma is expected in renal transplant recipients, so appropriate surveillance is needed to ensure early detection and treatment of cervical carcinoma.</p

Phenotyping of rice in salt stress environment using high-throughput infrared imaging

Phenotyping of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Donggin) in salt stress environment using infrared imaging was conducted. Results were correlated with the most frequently used physiological parameters such as stomatal conductance, relative water content and photosynthetic parameters. It was observed that stomatal conductance (R2 = –0.618) and relative water content (R2 = –0.852) were significantly negatively correlated with average plant temperature (thermal images), while dark-adapted quantum yield (Fv/Fm, R2 = –0.325) and performance index (R2 = –0.315) were not consistent with plant temperature. Advantages of infrared thermography and utilization of this technology for the selection of stress tolerance physiotypes are discussed in detail

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus have abnormally elevated Epstein–Barr virus load in blood

Various genetic and environmental factors appear to be involved in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is among the environmental factors that are suspected of predisposing to SLE, based on the characteristics of EBV itself and on sequence homologies between autoantigens and EBV antigens. In addition, higher titers of anti-EBV antibodies and increased EBV seroconversion rates have been observed in SLE patients as compared with healthy control individuals. Serologic responses do not directly reflect EBV status within the body. Clarification of the precise status of EBV infection in SLE patients would help to improve our understanding of the role played by EBV in this disease. In the present study we determined EBV types in SLE patients (n = 66) and normal control individual (n = 63) by direct PCR analysis of mouthwash samples. We also compared EBV load in blood between SLE patients (n = 24) and healthy control individuals (n = 29) using semiquantitative PCR assay. The number of infections and EBV type distribution were similar between adult SLE patients and healthy control individuals (98.5% versus 94%). Interestingly, the EBV burden in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was over 15-fold greater in SLE patients than in healthy control individuals (mean ± standard deviation: 463 ± 570 EBV genome copies/3 μg PBMC DNA versus 30 ± 29 EBV genome copies/3 μg PBMC DNA; P = 0.001), suggesting that EBV infection is abnormally regulated in SLE. The abnormally increased proportion of EBV-infected B cells in the SLE patients may contribute to enhanced autoantibody production in this disease

Effects of Tamsulosin, Solifenacin, and Combination Therapy for the Treatment of Ureteral Stent Related Discomforts

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of tamsulosin, solifenacin, and combination therapy of two agents in improving the lower urinary tract symptoms of patients with indwelling double-J ureteral stents. Materials and Methods: A total of 168 patients underwent placement of a double-J ureteral stent after retrograde ureteroscopy for urinary stone disease. All patients received polyurethane double-J ureteral stents (6 Fr, 24 or 26 cm), which were removed a mean of 14 days postoperatively. A total of 48 patients were given no medication (Group 1), 43 patients were given tamsulosin 0.2 mg once daily (Group 2), 45 patients were given solifenacin 5 mg once daily (Group 3), and 32 patients were given a combination of two agents postoperatively (Group 4). International Prostate Symptom Score/quality of life (IPSS/QoL) and visual analogue pain scale (VAPS) questionnaires were completed by each patient at 1 day postoperatively and on the day of stent removal. Results: In the total group of patients, the mean age was 50.24±12.90 years. There was a significant difference in the IPSS total score between group 1 and groups 3 and 4. Group 4 also differed significantly from group 1 in the irritative subscore. The obstructive subscore differed between groups 2 and 4 and group 1. There was a statistically significant difference between group 1 and group 4 in the QoL score. There were no significant differences in the VAPS. Conclusions: Combination therapy with tamsulosin and solifenacin improved both irritative and obstructive symptoms more than in the other groups. Combination therapy should be strongly considered for patients who complain of stent-related symptoms. Key Words: Pain; Stents; Ureter This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Licens

The impact of dose of the angiotensin-receptor blocker valsartan on the post-myocardial infarction ventricular remodeling: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and the angiotensin-receptor blocker valsartan ameliorate ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). Based on previous clinical trials, a maximum clinical dose is recommended in practical guidelines. Yet, has not been clearly demonstrated whether the recommended dose is more efficacious compared to the lower dose that is commonly used in clinical practice.</p> <p>Method/Design</p> <p>Valsartan in post-MI remodeling (VALID) is a randomized, open-label, single-blinded multicenter study designed to compare the efficacy of different clinical dose of valsartan on the post-MI ventricular remodeling. This study also aims to assess neurohormone change and clinical parameters of patients during the post-infarct period. A total of 1116 patients with left ventricular dysfunction following the first episode of acute ST-elevation MI are to be enrolled and randomized to a maximal tolerable dose (up to 320 mg/day) or usual dose (80 mg/day) of valsartan for 12 months in 2:1 ratio. Echocardiographic analysis for quantifying post-MI ventricular remodeling is to be conducted in central core laboratory. Clinical assessment and laboratory test are performed at fixed times.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>VALID is a multicenter collaborative study to evaluate the impact of dose of valsartan on the post-MI ventricular remodeling. The results of the study provide information about optimal dosing of the drug in the management of patients after MI. The results will be available by 2012.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p><a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01340326">NCT01340326</a></p