On multiple sign-changing solutions for some second-order integral boundary value problems

In this paper, by employing fixed point index theory and Leray-Schauder degree theory, we obtain the existence and multiplicity of sign-changing solutions for nonlinear second-order differential equations with integral boundary value conditions

Development of Virtual Screening and In Silico Biomarker Identification Model for Pharmaceutical Agents

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Borders: visualizing temporal changes in border disputes

Disputes and changes of international borders have been an area of study for cartographers since long ago. Now, with online maps growing faster than printed maps, the task also transfers to online map creators. Companies like Google and Bing provide personalized maps where disputed international borders are in compliance with national laws based on the users' location. Knowing these disputes, the presentation of the differences of international borders between countries as well as on geographical time is an unexplored topic in visualization. In this paper, we propose a fluid visualization method on displaying temporal border changes. We build a tool, Borders, with such fluid visualization to present border events (border disputes and land delivery) and the history of them. In Borders, there are three views, namely general view, detail view, and timeline view, focusing on different aspects of the border events and supporting user exploration of the background knowledge. To provide better learning and comprehension of the border events, contextual cues of border events are integrated in the interface explaining the causes and evolution of events. Case studies show Borders has an advantage over other tools in the fluid visualization of border changes, smooth zooming and panning effect, and rich contextual cues

THE INFLUENCE OF REGULAR TAl CHI EXERCISE ON NEUROMUSCULAR REACTION IN OLD PEOPLE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impacts of regular Tai Chi (TC) exercise on neuromuscular reaction in old people. 21 old TC practitioners with regular practicing TC for more than 4 year and 22 sedentary non-practitioners were recruited to respectively form the TC group and sedentary control group. Electromyography (EiViG) was used to detect the neuromuscular reaction of the leg muscles to an unexpected ankle inversion perturbation. The latency of muscles, defined as the time from the moment of perturbation begins to the first EMG response (i.e. onset), was evaluated. The results indicated that regular TC practitioners activated their rectus femoris and anterior tibialis muscles to an unexpected perturbation significantly faster than their sedentary counterparts, which might be helpful for timely correction of postural disturbances

Adaptive Transmit Diversity with Quadrant Phase Constraining Feedback

An adaptive transmit scheme with quadrant phase constraining feedback is proposed in this paper. With simple linear operations at both transmitter and receiver, the proposed algorithm can achieve better system performances with only 2M- 2 bits of feedback information for systems with M transmit antennas. Theoretical performance bounds of the proposed transmit diversity scheme are derived. Simulation examples and theoretical analyses show that the proposed transmit diversity scheme outperforms not only the conventional open-loop transmit diversity techniques, but also some closed-loop transmit diversity techniques with more information transmitted in the feedback channel

Investigation of the clinical features and therapeutic methods for the management of inflammatory lacrimal punctum diseases

Purpose: To establish if there are different classes of inflammatory lacrimal punctum diseases (ILPDs) and to examine the various strategies by which they can be managed therapeutically.Methods: Two hundred and fifty nine (259) patients with inflammatory punctum lacrimal disease were identified and used as subjects for this study. Each patient was carefully examined for evidence of morphology of lacrimal punctum which was confirmed mainly by lacrimal duct flushing and probing. Appropriate therapeutic managements were adopted for patients with other inflammatory conditions besides ILPD. The clinical effects of the various therapeutic strategies were documented. .Results: Eighty-seven (87) patients out of the 259 (32.53 %) suffered from acute or chronic conjunctivitis while 66 patients (5.61 %) suffered from inflammatory lacrimal passage diseases. Patients with both conjunctivitis and lacrimal passage inflammation, patients with dry-eye symptoms, patients with just one of the conditions, and patients with mere evidence of superior punctalacrimalis represented 13.15, 14.19, 14.53, and 33.91 %, respectively. Mere evidence of inferior punctalacrimalis, and presence of acute inflammation were seen in 48.76 and 13.49 % of the 259 patients, respectively, while those with chronic inflammation lasting for 2.97 ± 0.13 years, comprised 86.51 %. Antibiotic eye drops were used for acute inflammation, while chronic inflammation was treated with antibiotic eye drops, lacrimal punctum expansion, pus elimination, and punctum-sparing canaliculotomy. Both therapeutic methods produced satisfactory curative effects.Conclusion: The results show that satisfactory therapy of lacrimal punctum inflammation can be achieved if the right therapeutic agents and procedures are adopted based on clinical characteristics of the ILPD manifesting in the patient.Keywords: Lacrimal punctum, Inflammatory disease, Conjunctivitis, Dry-eye symptom

"LIVING HIGH-TRAINING LOW" ALTITUDE TRAINING ON IMPROVEMENT OF SEA LEVEL HEMOGLOBIN/HEMATOCRIC IN MALE AND FEMALE ELITE SWIMMERS

This study investigated the effect of "living high-training low" altitude on improvement of sea level hemoglobin and hematocric in male and female elite swimmers. A total of ten elite swimmers at the international and national level was recruited and randomly divided into two groups, altitude training group and control group. The athletes in altitude training group lived high condition while training at sea level for three weeks. The altitude was set at 2,800m. The all subjects in both groups accepted same training in the intensity, frequency and duration. Hemoglobin and hematocric were measured at sea level on seven occasions, the day before starting the experiment, during the period of experiment and the day completing the experiment. The results showed that the hemoglobin and hematocric in altitude training group increased 8.6% and had significant difference compared with those before the experiment. While the level of hemoglobin and hematocric in control group did not show any obvious change. "Living high-training low" altitude training can significantly improve the level of hemoglobin and hematocric