Roles of Social Media in Disseminating Health Information: An Exploratory Study in China

Social media have largely transformed the way how health information is disseminated. However, the literature is limited in understanding the applications and implications of social media in health information dissemination. In this exploratory research, we interview Chinese social media users with diverse demographics by asking a set of open-ended questions regarding their use of social media in gaining and sharing health information. This research-in-progress paper reports the results of a preliminary analysis of the qualitative data that we were able to collect from 27 respondents by the time of submission. We find social media to be a major or even the only channel of seeking and sharing health information. Despite a number of relative advantages, the uncertainty about credibility is a major concern of many respondents in practicing and sharing the information gained through social media. These findings provide valuable insights for both research and practice

Stability and drug dissolution evaluation of Qingkailing soft/hard capsules based on multi-component quantification and fingerprint pattern statistical analysis

Purpose: To carry out a post-marketing evaluation of the stability and drug dissolution of Qingkailing soft/hard capsules.Methods: High performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) method was developed for the determination of three key ingredients (chlorogenic acid, geniposide and baicalin) and fingerprints of QKL soft/hard capsules. Stability tests were carried out based on long-term testing. The drug release profile of Qingkailing soft and hard capsules were studied using semi-bionic incubation experiments.Results: The linearity, precision, stability, repeatability and recovery of HPLC and fingerprint all met the requirements of CFDA. Stability data from long-term studies showed that within 6 months the contents of the three key ingredients in both soft and hard capsules remained > 90 %. However, fingerprint pattern statistical analysis showed that the soft capsule is more stable than the hard capsule. Furthermore, the key ingredients of the hard capsule dissolved much faster (p < 0.05) than from the soft capsule. The level of dissolved drug of hard capsule is about 4 times the rate of soft capsule, after a 4-h incubation in gastric lavage fluid. In intestinal lavage fluid, more than 90 % of chlorogenic acid, geniposide and baicalin of hard capsule were dissolved in 2 h, while the soft capsule displayed a 12 h sustained release. Fingerprint pattern statistical analysis also showed that most of the components of soft capsule dissolved after 8 h.Conclusion: Compared with the hard capsule, Qingkailing soft capsule has certain advantages in stability and drug dissolution, which may affect the biopharmaceutics and the clinical effects of the drug.Keywords: Qingkailing capsule, Chlorogenic acid, Geniposide, Baicalin, Fingerprint, Sustained release, Principal component analysi

A non-intrusive load identification algorithm based on deep learning and a compound feature

Aiming at the limitations of using a single feature for load identification, a non-intrusive load identification algorithm based on deep learning and compound features is proposed. The pixelated V-I trajectory characteristics and current harmonic characteristics are extracted by analyzing the load data under high-frequency sampling. Using the feature extraction capabilities of neural networks, the combination of pixelated V-I trajectory features and current harmonic features is realized. Finally, the composite feature is used as the new load feature to train the neural network for non-invasive load identification. The experimental results show that the two-layer neural network constructed by the algorithm can take advantage of the complementarity between the two features, thereby improving the load identification ability

Design of a constant beamwidth beamformer for the parametric array loudspeaker

The parametric array loudspeaker (PAL) is an unconventional type of directional sound source that transmits inaudible ultrasonic frequencies in air to generate the audible difference frequency based on the parametric array effect. The convolution model describes the beampattern of the PAL by convolving the product beampattern with the Westervelt beampattern. As a result, the beamwidth of the PAL becomes narrower when the difference frequency increases. A change of timbre is therefore perceived when people stand at an off-axis angle of the PAL. Hence, a constant beamwidth beamformer is required. This paper works on the beamformer design to result in the product beampattern that becomes broader when the difference frequency increases, inorder for the Westervelt beampattern to be compensated. A constant half-power-beamwidth (HPBW) is successfully achieved for the typical frequency range of the PAL

Design of a constant beamwidth beamformer for the length-limited parametric array loudspeaker

The length-limited parameter array loudspeaker (LLPAL) consists of two parametric array loudspeakers (PALs) with separate carrier frequencies. Each of the PALs can be used alone as a directional sound source that produces the difference frequency from the ultrasonic carrier and sideband frequencies by the nonlinearity of air. The beam length of the PAL depends on the carrier frequency. Therefore, in the LLPAL, two sound beams interference with each other, resulting in a length-limited beam. This paper first modifies the far-field Westervelt's directivity and establishes the directivity model of the LLPAL. Subsequently, a beamformer design method is presented for the LLPAL to achieve a constant beamwidth across a wide band of the difference frequency at a given distance of observation

Beampattern design for the parametric array loudspeaker using mixed Gaussian directivity method

The parametric array loudspeaker (PAL) uses an array of ultrasonic transducers to transmit inaudible ultrasonic frequencies into air, in order for an audible difference frequency to be produced by the parametric acoustic array effect. The PAL is advantageous in possessing a much narrower sound beam as compared to the conventional loudspeaker with the same size. The beampattern of the PAL is described by the convolution model that the directivity of the difference frequency is calculated by the convolution between the Westervelt's directivity and the product directivity of the ultrasonic frequencies. Previous beampattern design methods of the PAL have failed to consider the effect of the Westervelt's directivity. This paper proposes to use the mixed Gaussian directivity method to approximate the Westervelt's directivity, such that the convolution model can be analytically decomposed into solvable equations. A beampattern design method is therefore established and then validated by k-wave numerical simulations

Multi-beam design method for a steerable parametric array loudspeaker

The parametric array loudspeaker (PAL) uses an ul-trasonic transducer array (UTA) to transmit inaudible ultrasonic frequencies into air, in order for an audible difference frequency to be produced by the parametric acoustic array (PAA). The PAL is advantageous as it possesses a much narrower sound beam as compared to the conventional loudspeaker of the same size. The mixed Gaussian directivity method has been previously proposed in a single-beam design method of the PAL to approximate the Westervelt's directivity. It allows the convolution model to be analytically decomposed into solvable equations. Due to the nonlinear nature of the PAL, linear combinations of singlebeam designs do not readily yield a multi-beam design. For this reason, this paper establishes a specific multi-beam design method and validates its effectiveness by 2D nonlinear acoustic field simulations

miR-137-LAPTM4B regulates cytoskeleton organization and cancer metastasis via the RhoA-LIMK-Cofilin pathway in osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a rare malignant bone tumor but is one leading cause of cancer mortality in childhood and adolescence. Cancer metastasis accounts for the primary reason for treatment failure in OS patients. The dynamic organization of the cytoskeleton is fundamental for cell motility, migration, and cancer metastasis. Lysosome Associated Protein Transmembrane 4B (LAPTM4B) is an oncogene participating in various biological progress central to cancer biogenesis. However, the potential roles of LAPTM4B in OS and the related mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we established the elevated LAPTM4B expression in OS, and it is essential in regulating stress fiber organization through RhoA-LIMK-cofilin signaling pathway. In terms of mechanism, our data revealed that LAPTM4B promotes RhoA protein stability by suppressing the ubiquitin-mediated proteasome degradation pathway. Moreover, our data show that miR-137, rather than gene copy number and methylation status, contributes to the upregulation of LAPTM4B in OS. We report that miR-137 is capable of regulating stress fiber arrangement, OS cell migration, and metastasis via targeting LAPTM4B. Combining results from cells, patients' tissue samples, the animal model, and cancer databases, this study further suggests that the miR-137-LAPTM4B axis represents a clinically relevant pathway in OS progression and a viable target for novel therapeutics.Peer reviewe