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This paper aims to stabilize hybrid stochastic differential equations with norm-bounded uncertainties by feedback controls based on the discrete-time observations of both state and mode. The control structure appears only in the drift part (the deterministic part) of a stochastic differential equations, and the controlled system will be robustly exponentially stable in mean square. Our stabilization criteria are in terms of linear matrix inequalities whence the feedback controls can be designed more easily in practice. An example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of our results. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pedo-transfer functions (PTFs) have been widely used to estimate soil hydraulic properties in the simulation of catchment eco-hydrological processes. However, the accuracy of existing PTFs is usually inadequate for use. To develop PTFs for local use, soil columns were collected from a double rice-cropped agricultural catchment in subtropical central China. The PTFs for saturated soil hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and parameters (θs,α, andn) of the van Genuchten model for the soil water retention curve (SWRC) were obtained based on soil’s basic properties, and compared with models developed by Li et al. in 2007 and Wösten et al. in 1999, respectively. Our results indicated thatKsin the range of 0.04–1087 cm d−1andθsin the range of 0.34–0.51 cm3 cm−3were both well estimated with theR2adjof 0.72 and 0.87, respectively, butα(0.04–0.65 cm−1) andn(1.05–1.21) were relatively poorly predicted with the respectiveR2adjof 0.38 and 0.55, despite the use of more input parameters. Our local derived PTFs outperformed the other two existing models. However, if the local PTFs for paddy soils are not available, the Wösten et al. 1999 model can be proposed as a useful alternative. Therefore, this study can improve our understanding of the development and application of PTFs for predicting paddy soil hydraulic properties in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The correlation between liver stiffness (LS), measured by ultrasonic transient elastometry (FibroScan), and the presence and severity of esophageal varices (EV) in patients with viral cirrhosis of the liver has not been well documented to date. The study described here investigated the value of using FibroScan to predict EV. Patients with cirrhosis (200 patients: 167 cases caused by hepatitis B virus and 33 cases caused by hepatitis C virus) underwent both upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and FibroScan. Demographic, clinical, biochemical and endoscopic data and FibroScan-obtained LS parameters were collected. The mean LS value in patients with EV (33.2 kPa) was significantly higher than the mean LS value in patients without EV (18.6 kPa) ( p < 0.05). The mean LS value in patients with grade 2 and 3 EV (38.3 kPa) was significantly higher than that in patients with grade 1 EV (24.8 kPa) ( p < 0.05). Overall, FibroScan was 86.4% sensitive and 72.2% specific in predicting the presence of EV, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.84. The sensitivity and specificity for the patients with grade 2 or 3 EV were 84% and 73% (AUROC = 0.86). When FibroScan was combined with platelet count, the overall sensitivity and specificity of prediction increased to 84% and 80% (AUROC = 0.88), respectively, and 84% and 75% (AUROC = 0.89), respectively, in patients with grade 2 and 3 EV. FibroScan alone or combined with platelet count might predict the presence and severity of EV in patients with hepatitis B or C-related viral cirrhosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasingly, the characteristics of nitrogen (N) loading have been recognized to be critical for the maintenance and restoration of water quality in agricultural watersheds, in response to the spread of water eutrophication. This paper estimates N loading and investigates its influencing factors in ten small watersheds variously dominated by forest and agricultural land use types in the subtropics of China, over an observation period of 23-29 months. The results indicate that the average concentrations of total nitrogen (TN), NH-N, and NO-N were 0.83, 0.07, and 0.46 mg N L in the forest watersheds and 1.49-5.16, 0.21-3.23, and 0.99-1.30 mg N L in the agricultural watersheds, respectively. Such concentrations exceed the national criteria for nutrient pollution in surface waters considerably, suggesting severe stream pollution in the studied agricultural watersheds. The average annual TN loadings (ANL) were estimated to be 1,640.8 kg N km year in the agricultural watersheds, 63.3-86.1 % of which was composed of dissolved inorganic N (DIN; comprising NO-N and NH-N). The watershed with intensive livestock production (i.e., the maximum livestock density of 2.66 animal units (AU) ha) exhibited the highest ANL (2,928.7 kg N km year) related to N loss with effluent discharge. The results of correlation and principle component analysis suggest that livestock production was the dominant influencing factor for the TN and NH-N loadings and that the percentages of cropland in watersheds can significantly increase the NO-N loading in agricultural watersheds. Therefore, to restore and maintain water quality, animal production regulations and more careful planning of land use are necessary in the agricultural watersheds of subtropical China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The necessity and feasibility of antiviral therapy in patients with liver cirhosis have caught much attention. By summarizing the relevant guidelines/consensus statements and evidence - based medicine data in recent years, the advances in indications, strategies, drug options, and benefit/risk in antiviral therapy for hepatitis B virus (HBV) - and hepatitis C virus (HCV) - related cirhosis are reviewed. T e data reveal that for both HBV - and HCV - related cirhosis, successful treatment may suppress viral replication, improve patients ' conditions, delay disease progression, prolong survival, reduce complications, and create better conditions for surgical and minimally invasive operations for hepatocellular carcinoma. Because of the good safety of nucleos( t) ide analogues (NA), it is recommended that patients with HBV - related cirhosis (including those in decompensation stage and with complications) should receive NA as soon as possible. As interferon may cause many adverse reactions, antiviral therapy for HCV - related cirhosis becomes more difficult than that for HBV - related cirhosis. Careful selection of indications is necessary. Standardization of the strategies for antiviral therapy is important in the treatment of liver cirhosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online portfolio selection is a fundamental research problem, which has drawn extensive investigations in both machine learning and computational finance communities. The evolution of electronic trading has contributed to the growing prevalence of High-Frequency Trading (HFT) in recent years. Generally, HFT requires trading strategies to be fast in execution. However, the existing online portfolio selection strategies fail to either satisfy the demand for high execution speed or make effective utilization of historical data. In response, we propose a framework named Exponential Gradient with Momentum (EGM) which integrates EG with an acknowledged optimization method in stochastic learning, i.e., momentum. Specifically, momentum boosts the performance of EG by making full use of historical information. Most essentially, EGM can execute with only constant memory and running time in the number of assets per trading period, thus overcoming the drawback of most online strategies. The theoretical analysis reveals that EGM bounds the regret sublinearly. The extensive experiments conducted on four real-world datasets demonstrate that EGM outperforms relevant strategies with respect to comprehensive evaluation metrics. • We propose a new framework, which runs efficiently in terms of both time and space, for online portfolio selection in high-frequency trading. • Theoretical analysis reveals that our proposed framework can achieve a sublinear regret. • Experiments show that our proposed framework has good transaction cost scalability. • Based on the empirical study, the proposed algorithms outperform the relevant algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shallow-buried fluvial mudstones are of great significance as potential top seals for natural gas accumulations in the Zhanhua depression. Four samples were chosen to represent the range of fine-grained microfacies, from clay-rich to silt-rich to cemented, and mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) porosimetry is combined with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to characterize microstructure and pore systems quantitatively. The nature of the pore systems that allow capillary breakthrough and thus leakage, were also estimated. Pore areas inferred from SEM data, obtained from representative elementary areas (REAs), follow a similar power law distribution to bulk sample MICP within a specific range, indicating that pores with areas larger than 103 nm2 are well connected. In samples without carbonate cement, pores within the clay matrix are larger in coarser-grained, siltier samples, and there are more pores at the edges of non-clay minerals; this results from force chains of large grains shouldering more effective stress. With increasing silt content, SEM-visible porosity increases and the contribution of pores between non-clay minerals grows significantly, while the contribution of pores within clay matrix reduces. In more clay-rich samples, capillary breakthrough is estimated to occur in pores associated with the clay matrix; in siltier samples, breakthrough will occur at lower entry pressures associated with larger interparticle pores. Carbonate cements play a key role in reducing pore space in some siltier samples by partially filling interparticle pores at (a) the interfaces between clay and non-clay minerals, and (b) pores between non-clay minerals areas larger than 106 nm2. By filling larger pores, capillary breakthrough in carbonate-cemented samples occurs at relative high entry pressures through pores in the clay matrix. However, carbonate cements, generally less than 20%, are not sufficient to enable silt-rich mudstones to become effective barriers. Clay content is the most critical control on mudstone seal capacity. • Pore size distributions and pore morphologies quantitatively analyzed within representative elementary areas. • Pore system controls on capillary breakthrough estimated. • Effect of carbonate cement on pore systems discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ganoderma lucidum is a legendary traditional Chinese medicine with various bioactivities. This study was conducted (a) to explore the in vitro fermentation of the water extracts of G. lucidum fruiting body with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium breve and (b) to investigate the effect of fermentation broth (GLFB) on dexamethasone (DEX)-induced immunosuppressed mice. Our results demonstrated that probiotic fermentation of G. lucidum fruiting body extracts underwent structural changing of major ganoderic acid components, such as ganoderic acid A (GA) into GC2, and this fermentation process involves changing of several metabolic pathways in the probiotic strains. GLFB could significantly improve the immunity, intestinal integrity, and gut microbiota dysbiosis in DEX-treated mice, and the immunostimulatory activity of GLFB was found closely related to its direct regulation on the expansion of CD4+ T cells in Peyer's patches of mice. These data implied that probiotic fermentation of G. lucidum fruiting body extracts promoted its immunostimulatory activity via biotransformation of components such as GA. This research provides a theoretical support for the development and application of G. lucidum fermentation by probiotics. Probiotic fermentation of G. lucidum fruiting body undergoes structural changing of major ganoderic acid components, such as ganoderic acid A (GA) into GC2. Probiotic G. lucidum fermentation broth (GLFB) could inhibite DEX-induced immunosuppression by significantly improving the immunity, intestinal integrity, and gut microbiota dysbiosis in DEX-treated mice. [Display omitted] • Probiotic fermentation changed the composition of GL. • Probiotic strains facilitated the biotransformation of GA. • GLFB inhibited DEX-induced immunosuppression. • GLFB improved gut microbiota dysbiosis and intestinal barrier function. • GLFB and GAFB strongly promoted the proliferation of CD4+ T cells and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Bismuth triple therapy provides consistently good results in Helicobacter pylori eradication worldwide, whereas quadruple therapy using a combination of omeprazole and bismuth triple regimen has produced cure rates in excess of 90%. The prevalence of metronidazole-resistant strains was 26.8% in our area. Colloidal bismuth pectin (CBP) is a new, lower-priced bismuth salt made in China. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of CBP triple and quadruple regimens in the treatment of H. pylori–positive duodenal ulcer. Materials and Methods. In this prospective trial, 205 patients with H. pylori–positive duodenal ulcer were allocated randomly to receive one of four regimens: metronidazole, 200 mg; amoxicillin, 250 mg; and colloidal bismuth subcitrate (CBS), 120 mg (group 1), or CBP, 100 mg qid (group 2) for 2 weeks, then continued CBS, 240 mg, or CBP, 200 mg bid for a further 2 weeks. A quadruple regimen using a combination of omeprazole, 20 mg bid, and CBS triple therapy (group 3) or CBP triple therapy (group 4), respectively, was given to patients for 1 week, followed by omeprazole, 20 mg once daily for a further 3 weeks. Further endoscopy was performed at least 4 weeks after cessation of the treatment. H. pylori status was determined by histology, a 14C urea breath test, and a urease test. Results. The per-protocol H. pylori cure rates were 85% (22 of 26 patients), 90% (35 of 39), 96% (46 of 48), and 95% (75 of 79) for groups 1 through 4. In the intention-to-treat analysis, cure rates were 79% (22 of 28), 83% (35 of 42), 90% (46 of 51), and 89% (75 of 84), respectively. The cure rates of quadruple therapy were higher than those of triple therapy; an 8.2% difference was not statistically significant (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3–18.7%). The ulcer-healing rates were 88%, 87%, 98%, and 97%, respectively, for groups 1 through 4. The ulcer pain was relieved more rapidly in quadruple- than in triple-therapy regimens. Two patients discontinued treatment prematurely owing to drug-related side effects. Conclusion. One-week quadruple therapy is highly effective and safe in H. pylori eradication in Chinese patients. CBP is as effective as CBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Harvesting of Myriophyllum elatinoides at 49 days is recommended. • Higher N concentrations in plant roots were found under high N conditions. • Aerobic bacteria increased at low N, while anaerobic bacteria increased at high N. • pH drove rhizosphere bacterial community distribution. In this study, Myriophyllum elatinoides growth under different nitrogen (N) concentrations (2, 250, 300, 350 and 400 mg L−1) and changes in rhizosphere bacterial community structure were investigated. High N (>300 mg L−1) concentrations caused reduction in M. elatinoides biomass. Growth tended to stabilize at 49 days. N concentration in roots were higher than that in stems and leaves under high N conditions. TN and NH 4 + removal efficiencies reached 84.0% and 87.2%, respectively, in M. elatinoides surface flow constructed wetlands (SFCWs). Rhizosphere bacterial diversity increased over time. Proteobacteria , Firmicutes , Cyanobacteria , and Bacteroidetes dominated at the phylum level. Genera Turicibacter , Allochromatium , and Methylocystis increased at low N (<300 mg L−1) concentrations, while Pseudomonas increased at high N concentrations over the experimental period. Redundancy analysis showed that pH was strongly correlated with changes in rhizosphere bacterial community structure. These findings helped to insight into N removal mechanism in M. elatinoides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi-stage surface flow constructed wetland (SFCW) is used to treat decentralized rural domestic sewage. The performance of a multi-stage SFCW located in Hunan, China, and the associated microbial community structures were investigated. The average removal rates of the multi-stage SFCW planted with Myriophyllum elatinoides were 1.0 g m−2 d−1, 0.84 g m−2 d−1, 61.3 mg m−2 d−1, and 85.3 mg m−2 d−1 for total nitrogen (TN), ammonia (NH 4 +), nitrate (NO 3 −), and total phosphorus (TP), respectively. Furthermore, the sediment and presence of plants were found to be important for the removal N and P. The average removal rates by sediment and plants were 196.6 mg N m−2 d−1 and 49.9 mg P m−2 d−1, 17.6 mg N m−2 d−1 and 8.1 mg P m−2 d−1, respectively. The microbial community profiles demonstrated that Proteobacteria , Chloroflexi , Bacteroidetes , Firmicutes and Euryarchaeota were the predominant phyla in each stage and at different sampling times. The concentrations of NO 3 −, TP, TN, and NH 4 +, and the pH of the sediment and water had a significant effect on the presence of denitrifying bacteria in the anaerobic environment. Whereas, dissolved oxygen (DO) and redox potential (Eh) had a significant effect on the presence of nitrifying bacteria in the aerobic environment. This research strongly supports that the use of the multi-stage SFCW promotes bacterial diversity and changes bacterial community in the sediment. Unlabelled Image • A multi-stage surface flow constructed wetland (SFCW) was an efficient technology. • Nitrogen and phosphorus were markedly removed by the multi-stage SFCW. • Sediment adsorption and plant uptake contributed to removal of phosphorus. • A multi-stage SFCW could stimulate bacterial richness and diversity in sediment. • The abundance of denitrifying bacteria decreased at the inflow site over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep neural networks have achieved great success in many tasks of pattern recognition. However, large model size and high cost in computation limit their applications in resource-limited systems. In this paper, our focus is to design a lightweight and efficient convolutional neural network architecture by directly training the compact network for image recognition. To achieve a good balance among classification accuracy, model size, and computation complexity, we propose a lightweight convolutional neural network architecture named IIRNet for resource-limited systems. The new architecture is built based on Intensely Inverted Residual block (IIR block) to decrease the redundancy of the convolutional blocks. By utilizing two new operations, intensely inverted residual and multi-scale low-redundancy convolutions, IIR block greatly reduces its model size and computational costs while matches the classification accuracy of the state-of-the-art networks. Experiments on CIFAR-10, CIFAR-100, and ImageNet datasets demonstrate the superior performance of IIRNet on the trade-offs among classification accuracy, computation complexity, and model size, compared to the mainstream compact network architectures. • A lightweight and efficient convolutional neural network architecture is constructed. • Intensely inverted residual and multi-scale low-redundancy convolutions are used to reduce the model size and complexity. • The proposed network achieves comparable classification accuracy to the mainstream compact network architectures. • Balanced performance is obtained on three challenging datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]