Performance analysis of four nonlinearity analysis methods using a model with variable complexity and application to uterine EMG signals

Several measures have been proposed to detect nonlinear characteristics in time series. Results on time series, multiple surrogates and their z-score are used to statistically test for the presence or absence of non-linearity. The z-score itself has sometimes been used as a measure of nonlinearity. The sensitivity of nonlinear methods to the nonlinearity level and their robustness to noise have rarely been evaluated in the past. While surrogates are important tools to rigorously detect nonlinearity, their usefulness for evaluating the level of nonlinearity is not clear. In this paper we investigate the performance of four methods arising from three families that are widely used in non-linearity detection: statistics (time reversibility), predictability (sample entropy, delay vector variance) and chaos theory (Lyapunov exponents). We used sensitivity to increasing complexity and the mean square error (MSE) of Monte Carlo instances for quantitative comparison of their performances. These methods were applied to a Henon nonlinear synthetic model in which we can vary the complexity degree (CD). This was done first by applying the methods directly to the signal and then using the z-score (surrogates) with and without added noise. The methods were then applied to real uterine EMG signals and used to distinguish between pregnancy and labor contraction bursts. The discrimination performances were compared to linear frequency based methods classically used for the same purpose such as mean power frequency (MPF), peak frequency (PF) and median frequency (MF). The results show noticeable difference between different methods, with a clear superiority of some of the nonlinear methods (time reversibility, Lyapunov exponents) over the linear methods. Applying the methods directly to the signals gave better results than using the z-score, except for sample entropy.     

Elastic modulus and collagen organization of the rabbit cornea: Epithelium to endothelium

The rabbit is commonly used to evaluate new corneal prosthetics and study corneal wound healing. Knowledge of the stiffness of the rabbit cornea would better inform the design and fabrication of keratoprosthetics and substrates with relevant mechanical properties for in vitro investigations of corneal cellular behavior. This study determined the elastic modulus of the rabbit corneal epithelium, anterior basement membrane (ABM), anterior and posterior stroma, Descemet’s membrane (DM) and endothelium using atomic force microscopy (AFM). In addition, three-dimensional collagen fiber organization of the rabbit cornea was determined using nonlinear optical high-resolution macroscopy. The elastic modulus as determined by AFM for each corneal layer was: epithelium, 0.57 ± 0.29 kPa (mean ± SD); ABM, 4.5 ± 1.2 kPa, anterior stroma, 1.1 ± 0.6 kPa; posterior stroma, 0.38 ± 0.22 kPa; DM, 11.7 ± 7.4 kPa; and endothelium, 4.1 ± 1.7 kPa. The biophysical properties, including the elastic modulus, are unique for each layer of the rabbit cornea and are dramatically softer in comparison to the corresponding regions of the human cornea. Collagen fiber organization is also dramatically different between the two species, with markedly less intertwining observed in the rabbit vs. human cornea. Given that the substratum stiffness considerably alters the corneal cell behavior, keratoprosthetics that incorporate mechanical properties simulating the native human cornea may not elicit optimal cellular performance in rabbit corneas that have dramatically different elastic moduli. These data should allow for the design of substrates that better mimic the biomechanical properties of the corneal cellular environment.     

针刺手法效应规律及神经电信息机制研究

针刺手法是影响针刺疗效的关键,然而其作用规律、机制尚不完全清楚。天津中医药大学实验针灸学研究中心郭义教授团队与天津大学电气自动化与信息工程学院王江教授团队,长期以来围绕针刺手法作用规律及神经电信息机制开展合作研究,构建了常见针刺手法的数学模型,用数学语言解析了针刺手法操作过程,实现了针刺手法的科学表征;揭示了基于神经电信息的针刺手法部分作用规律;刻画了针刺手法电信号的非线性动力学特征,明确不同针刺手法诱发神经电信息编码存在差异,是针刺手法效应差异的机制之一。研究成果为针刺手法的科学性奠定了提供了实验依据,对针刺手法的传承、应用和发展具有促进作用。     

兰州市日均气温对荨麻疹发病的滞后效应研究

目的 探讨兰州市日均气温对荨麻疹发病的影响,以及不同人群中的差异。 方法 收集兰州大学第一、二医院皮肤科2007年1月1日至2013年12月31日,荨麻疹就诊人数的时间序列资料和相应的气象资料,运用分布滞后非线性模型分析气温与荨麻疹发病的关系,并按性别和年龄进行分层分析。 结果 日均气温与荨麻疹患者日均发病关系是非线性的,低温对兰州市荨麻疹发病影响有明显的滞后,在6 ℃,滞后18 d时,RR值达到最大。按性别和年龄进行分层分析发现,除老年人群外,高温影响效应在暴露当天即已显现,而在该人群中,其影响效应在暴露当天出现下降。低温对各人群影响效应随滞后日的变化呈现比较一致的趋势,其影响相对较延迟,即在暴露当天效应并不明显,而在暴露后2 ~ 4 d出现效应。 结论 兰州市气温对荨麻疹发病有影响,低温对荨麻疹的发病有明显的滞后效应,高温则无。     

生物光子相干性理论的形成、发展与争议

生物系统的超微弱光子辐射(UPE)是自然界一个普遍的生命现象,是生物体固有的一种功能属性。关于UPE的产生机制却存在两种理论假说即相干性理论和代谢发光之破缺理论。然而,随着研究的不断深入,生物光子相干性理论被越来越多的研究者所认可。我们综述了自1923年以来UPE的研究进展,详细介绍了生物光子相干性理论的形成背景及其提出过程,总结了生物光子相干性理论的主要实验以及存在的争议,概括说明UPE作为生命系统普遍存在的一种现象,其研究不仅对生命科学领域具有重大的科学意义,在医学、中医学、农业、食品和环境科学等领域也具有广泛的应用价值。     

基于小波变换和非线性能量算子的神经元放电检测

微电极导向的立体定向手术中,微电极记录的神经元放电信号噪声干扰严重,信噪比变化大,影响着神经元放电脉冲的分析。利用小波变换和非线性能量算子相结合的一种新的方法能检测出神经元放电。通过对临床不同病人、不同特点的神经元放电信号处理,结果表明:该方法能成功地检测出细胞放电,提取出放电波形。     

Center of pressure and the projection of the time-course of sitting skill acquisition

A normal time-course for the acquisition of sitting is essential. A delay in sitting may affect other developmental milestones, resulting in deficiencies in overall skill. Therefore, our aim was to identify variables whose measures at the very beginning of sitting would allow for the projection of the evolution of the sitting skill. Center of pressure data were collected from the postural sway of twenty-six typically developing infants while sitting on a force platform with a beginning ability to sit upright. Spatial, temporal and frequency variables of postural sway were obtained from both the medial/lateral and anterior/posterior directions of sway. Discriminant function analysis was conducted to identify potential predictors of the duration between onset and fully independent sitting. Gender (p = 0.025), median frequency (p = 0.006), and correlation dimension (p = 0.002) were identified to be predictive of grouping with 73.1% correct classification of the participating infants into short, mid, and long delay groups. In conclusion, measures taken at the earliest stage of sitting may allow the projection of the time-course to achieve independent sitting for typical infants. This approach may be useful for monitoring typical development.     

Placental transfusion insult in the predisposition for SIDS: A mathematical study

A difference has been observed between the newborn hearing screening tests of thirty-one SIDS cases versus control infants that survived the first year of life [Rubens DD, Vohr BV, Tucker R, O'Neil CA, Chung W. Newborn oto-acoustic emission hearing screening tests. Preliminary evidence for a marker of susceptibility to SIDS. Early Hum Dev 2008;84(4);225-9]. This study is motivated by the hypothesis that the predisposition for SIDS may be caused by inner ear and brainstem damage from a high venous pressure insult at birth that disrupts an infant's ability to detect rising CO₂ levels following the first month of life. The injury is not immediately lethal due to the persistence of fetal physiological responses during the early postnatal period [Guntheroth WG. Crib death, the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Armonk NY: Futura Publishing Co.; 1995. p. 291]. Elastic vessels are assumed in the umbilical vein and newborn venous circulation at the time of a potential high pressure placental transfusion insult and pulse wave propagation is simulated using the nonlinear one-dimensional equations of blood flow in elastic vessels. Peak pressures in the auricular veins increase with the amplitude and length of the umbilical surge, reaching over 60 mm Hg when two consecutive surges separated by 100 ms, of a peak pressure of 100 mm Hg, and a pulse interval of 200 ms are propagated in a network with low peripheral reflections. Our findings support the proposed mechanism for inner ear damage in SIDS and the potential benefit of a newborn hearing screening test in identifying susceptibility and early preventative measures following birth.     

Nonlinear relation between alcohol intake and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level: results from the Copenhagen City Heart Study

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the blood can be used as a marker of recent alcohol intake. However, before using HDL-C as a predictor of alcoholism, the relation between alcohol intake and HDL-C in the entire range of consumption must be explored. Most studies model the relation between alcohol intake and HDL-C linearly, although a threshold effect is expected. The objective of this study was to evaluate the shape of the relation between intake of alcohol and HDL-C and to determine whether there are differential effects of beer, wine, and spirits on HDL-C and whether they remain after adjusting for total alcohol. METHOD: The relation between alcohol intake and HDL-C was investigated by means of generalized additive models using data from the Copenhagen City Heart Study. RESULTS: A nonlinear effect of alcohol improved the model fit significantly, and the nonlinearity of alcohol was highly significant in both men and women. The relation was concave: HDL-C was stable in men and women who drank more than approximately 35 and 20 drinks per week, respectively. We found a significant nonlinear term of wine on HDL-C in men after adjustment for total alcohol intake. CONCLUSIONS: There was a concave relation between alcohol intake and HDL-C, indicating a threshold effect of alcohol on HDL-C. The association between wine and HDL-C in men after adjusting for total alcohol intake may be due to residual lifestyle confounding.