Fuzzy sets and the modelling of physician decision processes,part II: fuzzy diagnosis decision models

Our concern is with the development of a more accurate mathematical model of physician diagnosis decision processes. Using the complete information net of matrices outputed from Part I, the various diagnoses processes—medical hypothesis, initial preliminary diagnoses, other preliminary diagnosis and final diagnoses, are modelled as fuzzy matrices. A general fuzzy decision model which could be particularized to each of the foregoing cases is then developed. Our general technique is based on fuzzy clustering theory with the criterion function being a modified form of the minimum Minkowski metric.     

Detection of Coronary Artery Disease Using Multi-Domain Feature Fusion of Multi-Channel Heart Sound Signals

Heart sound signals reflect valuable information about heart condition. Previous studies have suggested that the information contained in single-channel heart sound signals can be used to detect coronary artery disease (CAD). But accuracy based on single-channel heart sound signal is not satisfactory. This paper proposed a method based on multi-domain feature fusion of multi-channel heart sound signals, in which entropy features and cross entropy features are also included. A total of 36 subjects enrolled in the data collection, including 21 CAD patients and 15 non-CAD subjects. For each subject, five-channel heart sound signals were recorded synchronously for 5 min. After data segmentation and quality evaluation, 553 samples were left in the CAD group and 438 samples in the non-CAD group. The time-domain, frequency-domain, entropy, and cross entropy features were extracted. After feature selection, the optimal feature set was fed into the support vector machine for classification. The results showed that from single-channel to multi-channel, the classification accuracy has increased from 78.75% to 86.70%. After adding entropy features and cross entropy features, the classification accuracy continued to increase to 90.92%. The study indicated that the method based on multi-domain feature fusion of multi-channel heart sound signals could provide more information for CAD detection, and entropy features and cross entropy features played an important role in it.     

On-Road Detection of Driver Fatigue and Drowsiness during Medium-Distance Journeys

Background: The detection of driver fatigue as a cause of sleepiness is a key technology capable of preventing fatal accidents. This research uses a fatigue-related sleepiness detection algorithm based on the analysis of the pulse rate variability generated by the heartbeat and validates the proposed method by comparing it with an objective indicator of sleepiness (PERCLOS). Methods: changes in alert conditions affect the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and therefore heart rate variability (HRV), modulated in the form of a wave and monitored to detect long-term changes in the driver’s condition using real-time control. Results: the performance of the algorithm was evaluated through an experiment carried out in a road vehicle. In this experiment, data was recorded by three participants during different driving sessions and their conditions of fatigue and sleepiness were documented on both a subjective and objective basis. The validation of the results through PERCLOS showed a 63% adherence to the experimental findings. Conclusions: the present study confirms the possibility of continuously monitoring the driver’s status through the detection of the activation/deactivation states of the ANS based on HRV. The proposed method can help prevent accidents caused by drowsiness while driving.     

枳实、枳壳用于复方治疗冠心病的临床疗效观察

目的观察枳实、枳壳用于复方治疗冠心病的临床疗效对比分析。方法观察260例冠心病心绞痛患者,随机分为对照组、复方组(分1~4小组)、阴性组(分a~d小组)、考察组(分Ⅰ~Ⅳ小组),疗程8周。结果各项评价指标显示,复方组(1~4)、考察组(Ⅰ、Ⅱ)明显优于对照组(P0.05),复方各小组与对应考察组比较无显著性差异(P0.05),但考察组(Ⅲ、Ⅳ)不良反应率高于对应的复方组。阴性组疾病疗效、心电图与对照组比较无显著性差异,中医症状改善明显优于对照组。复方组与对应阴性组比较有明显差异。结论枳实、枳壳用于复方中治疗冠心病心绞痛有重要作用,能明显缓解心绞痛症状,改善中医症状,提高疾病疗效,两者之间不可完全相互替代。     

Recent advances on electrospun scaffolds as matrices for tissue-engineered heart valves

Valvular heart diseases (VHDs) are a major health problem increasing morbidity and mortality worldwide. Currently, treatment of VHDs relies on valve replacement with mechanical or biological valves, which have major drawbacks in terms of durability and the ability to grow, repair and remodel. To this end, tissue-engineered heart valves (TEHVs) have emerged as ideal substitutes. TEHVs are composed of biodegradable, biocompatible and mechanically stable scaffolds that resemble the native valves. These scaffolds are seeded with autologous cells and conditioned in a bioreactor prior to implantation. Scaffolds that have been utilized so far for such application are (i) biological, (ii) synthetic and (iii) cell entrapment in polymerized extra-cellular matrix based scaffolds. Synthetic scaffolds are considered superior over the other two types in terms of controlled mechanical properties and degradation rate. They can be subdivided into porous, hydrogel and fibrous scaffolds. Among the three subcategories, fibrous scaffolds are preferred because they resemble the natural extra-cellular matrix for the native valve. Such scaffolds can be fabricated using phase separation, self-assembly and electrospinning. Electrospinning is a versatile technique for fabricating scaffolds for tissue engineering applications that possess many advantages. Electrospun scaffolds processed using a wide range of synthetic and natural polymers were proven to be promising in terms of mechanical properties comparable to the native valves, fiber diameter within the range of the natural extracellular matrix and good cellular response. However, further investigation in fabricating fibrous scaffolds for tissue-engineered heart valves is still needed. In this review, we discussed electrospun scaffolds as TEHVs matrices, how far they succeeded in meeting the criteria of ideal scaffolds for such application and what the shortage aspects and possible solutions are.     

线性流量阀的内孔设计模型

在详细分析线性流量阀工作原理的基础上,应用平面解析几何、微积分等相关概念,给出了不存在呈严格线性的流量阀的数学论证.在设计近似线性流量阀时,首先构造了"线性误差函数"用以刻画"过流面积"与角度之间的线性误差.之后在分析内孔为对称直线、对称1/2次曲线的基础上,设计出内孔为倒"S"形内孔曲线图,通过最小化线性误差函数,得到内孔曲线的最佳参数.最后针对外孔有磨损时,给出了设计方案.     

Highly Amino Acid Selective Hydrolysis of Myoglobin at Aspartate Residues as Promoted by Zirconium(IV)‐Substituted Polyoxometalates

SDS‐PAGE/Edman degradation and HPLC MS/MS showed that zirconium(IV)‐substituted Lindqvist‐, Keggin‐, and Wells–Dawson‐type polyoxometalates (POMs) selectively hydrolyze the protein myoglobin at Asp? X peptide bonds under mildly acidic and neutral conditions. This transformation is the first example of highly sequence selective protein hydrolysis by POMs, a novel class of protein‐hydrolyzing agents. The selectivity is directed by Asp residues located on the surface of the protein and is further assisted by electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged POMs and positively charged surface patches in the vicinity of the cleavage site.     

冠心病患者血清钙、镁、磷变化的临床分析

为探讨冠心病患者血清钙、镁、磷的变化及其与冠心病的关系,对62例冠心病患者进行了血清钙、镁、磷含量的测定,并与41例健康人测定结果进行了对比分析。结果表明,冠心病组与健康对照组比较,血清钙离子和镁离子的含量均有显著性差异（P〈0．01）,磷无显著性差异（P〉0．05）。提示冠心病患者有血清离子含量的异常改变,主要表现为血清钙离子和镁离子含量的降低。