Sliding mode control of time‐varying delay Markov jump with quantized output

This paper investigates the quantized sliding mode control of Markov jump systems with time‐varying delay. A dynamical adjustment law is explored to quantize the system output. By constructing an observer‐based integral sliding surface, a sliding mode controller is designed to take over the dynamical motion of state estimation and ensure the reachability of sliding surface. A new scaling manner is developed to build the bound between the system output and quantized error. With the help of separation strategies for controller synthesis and general transition probabilities and a lower bound theorem for nonlinear integral terms, a new synthesis method to ensure the required stability and meet the required performance is proposed in the form of linear matrix inequalities. The validity of the proposed control method is illustrated by a numerical example.     

Family Caregivers' Subjective Caregiving Burden,Quality of Life,and Depressive Symptoms Are Associated With Terminally Ill Cancer Patients' Distinct Patterns of Conjoint Symptom Distress and Functional Impairment in Their Last Six Months of Life

Context

Family caregivers constitute a critical component of the end-of-life care system with considerable cost to themselves. However, the joint association of terminally ill cancer patients' symptom distress and functional impairment with caregivers' subjective caregiving burden, quality of life (QOL), and depressive symptoms remains unknown.

Correction of frequency and phase variations induced by eddy currents in localized spectroscopy with multiple echo times.

As a consequence of the time-varying magnetic field induced by eddy currents, frequency drifting occurs when the sampling window of localized spectroscopy continuously shifts. The frequency drifting and the concomitant phase variations can severely affect spectroscopy results when data are acquired with multiple echo times (TEs), such as in the measurement of glutamate (Glu) concentration using the TE-averaged method. Specifically, the averaged spectra are further broadened and distorted in the presence of residual eddy currents, and editing of the coupled spins of Glu C4 protons is affected, resulting in errors in the measured relative intensity ratio. Postacquisition correction using unsuppressed water as reference can effectively minimize this detrimental effect, as manifested by the significantly enhanced signal intensity. Also, it is demonstrated that the methyl signals of creatine (Cr) at 3.0 ppm and choline (Cho) at 3.2 ppm can be used as internal references in finding frequency and phase disparities between different TEs.     

166Ho-DOTMP radiation-absorbed dose estimation for skeletal targeted radiotherapy.

166Ho-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetramethylene-phosphonate (DOTMP) is a tetraphosphonate molecule radiolabeled with 166Ho that localizes to bone surfaces. This study evaluated pharmacokinetics and radiation-absorbed dose to all organs from this beta-emitting radiopharmaceutical. METHODS: After two 1.1-GBq administrations of 166Ho-DOTMP, data from whole-body counting using a gamma-camera or uptake probe were assessed for reproducibility of whole-body retention in 12 patients with multiple myeloma. The radiation-absorbed dose to normal organs was estimated using MIRD methodology, applying residence times and S values for 166Ho. Marrow dose was estimated from measured activity retained after 18 h. The activity to deliver a therapeutic dose of 25 Gy to the marrow was determined. Methods based on region-of-interest (ROI) and whole-body clearance were evaluated to estimate kidney activity, because the radiotracer is rapidly excreted in the urine. The dose to the surface of the bladder wall was estimated using a dynamic bladder model. RESULTS: In clinical practice, gamma-camera methods were more reliable than uptake probe-based methods for whole-body counting. The intrapatient variability of dose calculations was less than 10% between the 2 tracer studies. Skeletal uptake of 166Ho-DOTMP varied from 19% to 39% (mean, 28%). The activity of 166Ho prescribed for therapy ranged from 38 to 67 GBq (1,030-1,810 mCi). After high-dose therapy, the estimates of absorbed dose to the kidney varied from 1.6 to 4 Gy using the whole-body clearance-based method and from 8.3 to 17.3 Gy using the ROI-based method. Bladder dose ranged from 10 to 20 Gy, bone surface dose ranged from 39 to 57 Gy, and doses to other organs were less than 2 Gy for all patients. Repetitive administration had no impact on tracer biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, or organ dose. CONCLUSION: Pharmacokinetics analysis validated gamma-camera whole-body counting of 166Ho as an appropriate approach to assess clearance and to estimate radiation-absorbed dose to normal organs except the kidneys. Quantitative gamma-camera imaging is difficult and requires scatter subtraction because of the multiple energy emissions of 166Ho. Kidney dose estimates were approximately 5-fold higher when the ROI-based method was used rather than the clearance-based model, and neither appeared reliable. In future clinical trials with 166Ho-DOTMP, we recommend that dose estimation based on the methods described here be used for all organs except the kidneys. Assumptions for the kidney dose require further evaluation.     

Application of an augmented reality tool for maxillary positioning in orthognathic surgery – A feasibility study

BACKGROUND: An augmented reality tool for computer assisted surgery named X-Scope allows visual tracking of real anatomical structures in superposition with volume rendered CT or MRI scans and thus can be used for navigated translocation of bony segments. METHODS: In a feasibility study X-Scope was used in orthognathic surgery to control the translocation of the maxilla after Le Fort I osteotomy within a bimaxillary procedure. The situation achieved was compared with the pre-operative situation by means of cephalometric analysis on lateral and frontal cephalograms. RESULTS: The technique was successfully utilized in 5 patients. Maxillary positioning using X-Scope was accomplished accurately within a range of 1mm. The tool was used in all cases in addition to the usual intra-operative splints. A stand-alone application without conventional control does not yet seem reasonable. CONCLUSION: Augmented reality tools like X-Scope may be helpful for controlling maxillary translocation in orthognathic surgery. The application to other interventions in cranio-maxillofacial surgery such as Le Fort III osteotomy, fronto-orbital advancement, and cranial vault reshaping or repair may also be considered.     

中草药灌肠液＋西医药治疗慢性结肠炎66例体会

目的 探讨中西医结合治疗慢性结肠炎的体会。方法 对采用中草药灌肠液E＋西医药治疗66例慢性结肠炎的临床观察进行分析。结果66例患者中，有效率达96％左右。结论 慢性结肠炎是我国的常见病及多发病，采用中草药＋西医药治疗，效果好，药价低廉，操作简便，值得推广，应予重视。     

来源于骨髓和脐带血的基质细胞基本特性的比较

目的比较骨髓与脐带血细胞体外培养基质细胞的基本特性,为基质细胞的选择应用提供依据.方法用Dexter长期培养体系培养骨髓和脐带血基质细胞,以细胞增殖、细胞形态、细胞化学染色、细胞表面及基质细胞支持另一骨髓细胞形成的鹅卵石造血区(CAFC),长期培养起始细胞(LTC-IC)为指标,比较两者的生长特性、成分及功能.结果①细胞生长特性:出现贴壁细胞时间,骨髓细胞为培养3d,脐带血细胞为培养5～6d;细胞融合成片时间,骨髓细胞为培养10～14d,脐带血细胞为培养12～18d;第21天细胞增殖数,骨髓比脐带血细胞增殖少;②细胞成分:21d培养后细胞成分,骨髓来源者以成纤维细胞为主,其次是巨噬细胞与内皮细胞,脂肪细胞最少;脐带血细胞来源者,以巨噬细胞为主,其次是内皮细胞、成纤维细胞,偶见脂肪细胞;细胞化学与上述结果基本一致;细胞表面抗原检测,CD14、CD45的表达骨髓细胞明显低于脐带血细胞;③细胞功能:骨髓来源的基质细胞较脐带血细胞的基质细胞支持另一骨髓细胞形成的CAFC和LTC-IC明显多.结论①生长特征:形成贴壁细胞时间骨髓较脐带血短,骨髓细胞比脐带血细胞有核细胞数增殖快、持续时间相对短;②细胞成分特性:骨髓来源形成的基质细胞以成纤维细胞为主,脐带血来源者以巨噬细胞为主;③细胞功能特性:骨髓细胞形成的贴壁细胞较脐带血细胞形成的贴壁细胞更利于CAFC、LTC-IC生长.     

Clonidine in the treatment of Tourette's syndrome exacerbation due to haloperidol withdrawal

A patient with long-standing Tourette's syndrome had a dramatic exacerbation of symptoms following the rapid withdrawal of haloperidol. Clonidine administration resulted in a disappearance of tics, which recurred 6 days later. The role of clonidine in blocking withdrawal-induced symptoms in patients with Tourette's syndrome treated with long-term neuroleptics is discussed from a clinical and neurobiological perspective. The implications of this case for the treatment of supersensitivity psychosis and tricyclic withdrawal states with clonidine are also discussed.