Optimal tracking control for non-zero-sum games of linear discrete-time systems via off-policy reinforcement learning

In this article, a model-free off-policy reinforcement learning algorithm is applied to address the optimal tracking problem based on multiplayer non-zero-sum games for discrete-time linear systems. In contrast to the traditional method and the policy iteration method for solving the optimal tracking problems, the proposed algorithm operates with the system data rather than the knowledge of the system dynamics. For performing the proposed algorithm, an auxiliary augmented system is constructed via assembling the original system and the reference trajectory while a discount factor is introduced into the performance indexes. It is analyzed that the solutions of the proposed algorithm converge to the Nash equilibrium and the result is not influenced by the probing noise. Two simulations are presented to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.     

Tissue tracking of segmental strain as a predictor of provoked dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction

BackgroundLeft ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) is commonly observed in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) or left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Some patients develop LVOTO provoked by physical exertion, and hence termed dynamic LVOTO (DLVOTO). However, its precise prevalence and mechanism are still unclear.AimTwo-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE) seems to be helpful for the detection of early LV structural abnormalities. This study aimed to examine the possible role of segmental as well as global longitudinal strain in identifying DLVOTO non-HCM patients as detected by dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE).Methods and resultsTwo hundred and fifty patients without structural heart disease had undergone conventional transthoracic echocardiography, 2D STE, and DSE. All patients with non-ischemic evidence were divided into two groups according to the DSE results; DLVOTO (+) and DLVOTO (?).Among 250 patients, 50 patients (36%) had shown DLVOTO after DSE (15 males, 35 females; mean age 55±7years). They were compared with 90 non -LVOTO obstruction patients (43 males, 47 females; mean age 57±6years). Based on multivariate logistic regression analysis, the independent predictors of provoked DLVOTO during DSE were resting basal septal longitudinal strain BS-LS _average (p < 0.001), resting LA reservoir strain (p < 0.001), and systolic LVOT diameter (p = 0.03). Resting BS-LS _average with cut-off - 17.5% was recognized as a critical indicator of DLVOTO, with sensitivity 78%, and specificity 95% (better than systolic LVOT diameter of sensitivity 76%, and specificity 15% and resting LA reservoir strain which showed poor AUC at ROC curve 0.007).ConclusionWe demonstrate that provoked LVOTO during DSE in non HCM symptomatic patients is directly correlated to resting regional LS, where the increased BS-LS of ≥ ?17.5% was a key determinant of LVOT gradient provocation. Assessment of baseline BS-LS _average might be a bedside simple tool for detection of patients with DLVOTO not able to do DSE.     

耐碳青霉烯肺炎克雷伯菌对替加环素不同体外药敏试验方法学评估

目的 比较不同药敏试验方法检测替加环素对耐碳青霉烯肺炎克雷伯菌(CRKP)的敏感性。初步了解辽宁地区CRKP对替加环素的耐药情况，为临床合理用药提供依据。方法 回顾性收集辽宁省内多家大型三甲医院2011年1月-2016年12月分离的CRKP共269株，采用微量肉汤稀释法、KB纸片扩散法、Vitek-2仪器法及E试验法检测替加环素对CRKP的敏感性。结果 微量肉汤稀释法、E试验法、Vitek-2仪器法测定替加环素MIC50和MIC90分别为(0.5/1)、(0.25/0.5)和(0.5/4)μg/mL。按美国食品与药品监督管理局(FDA)和欧洲药敏试验委员会(EUCAST)判读标准，微量肉汤稀释法测得CRKP对替加环素的敏感率为97.4%/93.3%，中介率为2.2%/4.1%，耐药率为0.4%/2.6%。E试验法敏感率最高，为100%/98.9%，Vitek-2法耐药率最高，为8.6%/13.4%，纸片扩散法的中介率最高，为11.9%/46.5%。与微量肉汤稀释法比较，E试验法的基本一致率(EA)和分类一致率(CA)均≥90%，但存在重大误差(VME)，分别为0.4%/1.9%；Vitek-2法EA仅为61.7%，CA为87.4%/72.1%，且大误差(ME)为6.3%/7.4%，无VME；纸片扩散法CA仅为85.9%/46.5%，小误差(mE)为1.9%/2.6%，ME为0.7%/5.6%。结论 辽宁地区绝大多数CRKP对替加环素仍保持较高的敏感性。对于CRKP、E-试验法、Vitek-2仪器法和纸片扩散法均不适合单独检测替加环素敏感性，可考虑联合检测，若结果不一致，均应参考微量肉汤稀释法。     

OTC drug advertising in Japan: the role of need for cognition and celebrity endorser credibility

Abstract

This research explores how the level of consumers’ need for cognition (NFC) is associated with celebrity endorser credibility and examines its effects on advertising-related attitudes. A 3 (endorser types: actor/actress, athlete, TV personality/talent) × 2 (endorser’s gender) factorial experiment with 435 Japanese consumers was conducted. Concerning Japanese OTC drug advertising, lower NFC individuals perceived celebrity endorsers as more credible in comparison to higher NFC individuals. The main effects of NFC and endorser type on endorser credibility existed; however, no interaction between the two variables was found. The endorser type had an influence on attitudes toward ads and the advertised brand.     

二维斑点追踪技术评价低温兔左室纵向功能

目的:探讨应用二维斑点追踪技术评价低温条件下兔左心室纵向功能的价值。方法:30只新西兰兔随机分成对照组(n=10),低温组A(n=10),低温组B(n=10)。先行常规心脏数据测量,然后采用组织多普勒(TDI),之后应用斑点追踪成像(STI)中的获取基底段、中间段、心尖段及整体水平SL、SrLs.SrL E,SrL A及分层应变技术获取3个长轴切面心内膜下、中层和心外膜下心肌收缩期纵向峰值应变(SL)。结果:①与对照组相比,A组心内膜下心肌LS值的减低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),B组3层心肌SL值的减低明显,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)②与对照组相比,A组大部分纵向应变及应变率减低(P<0.05);B组基底段、中间段、心尖段及整体水平SL,SrL S、SrLE、SrLA均减低(P<0.01)结论:随低温时间延长,左室壁3层心肌SL值受累程度不同,心内膜应变较心外膜更加敏感,二维班点追踪技术比LVEF及TDI更早发现左室功能减低。     

Prospective comparative study of intraoperative “Towel clip test” and “Vertical patella test” assessing lateral retinaculum tightness in patients undergoing TKA

BackgroundProper patellar tracking is one of the most important aspect of TKA to ensure good functional outcome. A patellar tracking problem noted intraoperatively serves as a warning sign and should prompt the surgeon to reassess position of each component. Various tests are there to assess lateral retinaculum tightness viz. "No thumb test", "Towel clip test". A new test "Vertical patella test" is described to assess lateral retinaculum tightness. A study was conducted to assess the effectiveness, correlation and validity of two techniques.Materials & MethodsPatients >50 years of age and with diagnosis of Osteoarthritis knee having less than 30 varus and flexion deformity going in for primary TKA were selected with a sample size of 100 knees in a tertiary care centre. Revision cases or patients with flexion contracture more than 30, complex knee surgery; with pre existing patellar tilt were excluded from study.ResultsResults of both tests were found to correlate in 75% of case with sensitivity of 96.65% and specificity of 75.00%. Kappa came out to be 0.634 which shows good agreement of vertical patella test and towel clip test. Result was computed using excel and SPSS and was found to be significant with p value< 0.05. Lateral retinaculum release was done in 8 knees.ConclusionsVertical patella test correlates with towel clip test, is easy to perform and saves time. The limitation of our study was small sample size.     

State and output feedback design for robust tracking of linear systems with rate limited actuators

A design technique (Control of Uncertain Systems with Bounded Inputs, Tarbouriech S, Garcia G, (Eds), Lecture Notes in Control and Information Sciences, vol. 227 , Springer: Berlin, 1997; 173–186) recently proposed for stabilization of a linear system with rate‐limited actuators is utilized to design feedback laws that cause the system output to track a desired command signal. This design technique combines two design techniques recently developed for linear systems with position limited actuators, piecewise‐linear LQ control (Automatica, 1994; 30 : 403–416) and low‐and‐high gain feedback (IEEE Trans. Automat. Control, 1996; 41 : 368–378), and hence takes advantage of both design techniques, while avoiding their disadvantages. In the case that only the output is available for feedback, the performance of the state feedback law is preserved by the use of a fast observer. An open‐loop exponentially unstable fighter aircraft is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control design method. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

应用HMM和加权距离判别法的真核基因识别程序研究

根据现代科学对基因的认识，应用了隐马尔科夫模型(HMM)的算法，以大量核酸序列为信息来源，通过计算机计算来寻找未知基因的大体位置；再通过基因的固有结构特征及密码子使用的偏向性，使用加权距离判别法来准确地定位基因，以图形及文本的形式输出，从而极大地方便了实验室的研究工作。考虑到基因的许多特征还不为人们所了解，而且不同物种之间基因结构又有一定的差异，所以还开发了程序自学习功能，不断地存储已知的基因，再据此改变一些已有固有数据，以便更好地适应和了解不同生物基因结构的特异性，更加准确地寻找未知基因的位置。     

2003-2005年新生儿感染常见致病菌及耐药性的变迁

目的了解本地区新生儿2003至2005年感染常见致病菌的种类及耐药的现状，以指导临床合理应用抗生素。方法收集我院新生儿科2003年1月至2005年12月收治的613份体液培养阳性（痰液、血液、分泌物、胃液等标本）的患儿资料，对常见检出菌及其耐药性的变迁情况进行分析。结果共检出40种613株病原菌，以革兰阴性杆菌为主约占57．6％，而肺炎克雷伯菌和大肠埃希菌分别位于前二位，其产ESBLs菌株检出率分别为78．1％和82．6％。药敏结果显示，常见致病菌对青霉素、第一、二代头胞类抗生素、红霉素类耐药性显著增加，但对第三代头胞类抗生素如头孢曲松、头孢噻肟（凯福隆）、头孢他啶（复达欣）及B内酰胺酶抑制剂复方制剂、碳青霉烯类、万古霉素等较敏感。产ESBLs菌仅对亚胺培南及B内酰胺酶抑制剂复方制剂敏感。结论革兰阴性杆菌特别是肺炎克雷伯菌和大肠埃希菌是新生儿感染主要病原菌，产ESBLs菌比例增加应引起高度重视。碳青霉烯类、哌拉西林／三唑巴坦和头孢哌酮／舒巴坦，可作为新生儿严重医院感染经验用药，应尽量根据药敏试验调整抗生素。