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Sugar-smoking contributes to improving flavor attributes of meat products. However, there is rather limited information concerning the relationship between sugar-smoking process parameters and volatile compound (VC) fingerprinting as well as related quality attributes of sugar-smoked chicken. In this work, the changes in VC across the whole sugar-smoking process were determined and analyzed and physicochemical properties, free fatty acid, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values, and E-nose were also performed to characterize the quality properties of sugar-smoked chicken breast (CB) and chicken skin (CS). Results suggested that a higher amount (P

The objective is to explore the effects of enhancing the activity of yeast ferulic acid decarboxylase (FDC1) on the level of 4-vinylguaiacol (4-VG) and the consumption of its precursor ferulic acid (FA) in top-fermented wheat beer. Expression of Bacillus pumilus FDC1 in brewer’s yeast showed a better effect on the FDC1 activity than overexpression of the endogenous enzyme. The 4-VG content was increased by 34%, and the consumption time of FA was shortened from 48 to 12 h. Since the intracellular accumulation of the FDC1 substrate did not increase over time, to reduce the FA transport burden on cells and shorten the decarboxylation time, B. pumilus FDC1 was further secreted extracellularly. The resulted strain showed a 65% increase in 4-VG content in the FA-containing medium, and produced about 3 mg L−1 4-VG in the top-fermented wheat beer, increasing by 61% than control. However, further increasing the secretory expression level of FDC1 only accelerated FA consumption. These results suggested that appropriate secretion of bacterial FDC1 into wort could be used as a potential alternative strategy to increase the level of 4-VG in top-fermented wheat beer.

Open quantum systems are a topic of intense theoretical research. The use of master equations to model a system's evolution subject to an interaction with an external environment is one of the most successful theoretical paradigms. General experimental tools to study different open system realizations have been limited, and so it is highly desirable to develop experimental tools which emulate diverse master equation dynamics and give a way to test open systems theories. In this paper we demonstrate a systematic method for engineering specific system-environment interactions and emulating master equations of a particular form using classical stochastic noise. We also demonstrate that non-Markovian noise can be used as a resource to extend the coherence of a quantum system and counteract the adversarial effects of Markovian environments., Comment: 14 pages, 11 figures

In this article, we propose an algorithm that generates data on the entire sphere following the given axially symmetric covariance. We demonstrate that the axially symmetric data can be decomposed ...

Nonequilibrium quasiparticles are ubiquitous in superconducting electronics. These quasiparticles can trap in the internal Andreev bound states of a phase-biased Josephson junction, providing a mechanism for studying their presence and behavior. We characterize a quasiparticle trapping detector device based on a two junction aluminum nanobridge superconducting quantum interference device incorporated into a transmission line resonator. When the device is flux-biased, distinct resonant frequencies develop depending on the trapped quasiparticle number. We demonstrate continuous detection of up to 3 trapped quasiparticles, with detection of a trapped quasiparticle with a signal-to-noise ratio of 27 in 5 μs. We describe initial measurements of quasiparticle behavior and discuss the possible optimization and application of such detector devices.

Non-Markovian noise presents a particularly relevant challenge in understanding and combating decoherence in quantum computers, yet is challenging to capture in terms of simple models. Here we show that a simple phenomenological dynamical model known as the post-Markovian master equation (PMME) accurately captures and predicts non-Markovian noise in a superconducting qubit system. The PMME is constructed using experimentally measured state dynamics of an IBM Quantum Experience cloud-based quantum processor, and the model thus constructed successfully predicts the non-Markovian dynamics observed in later experiments. The model also allows the extraction of information about cross-talk and measures of non-Markovianity. We demonstrate definitively that the PMME model predicts subsequent dynamics of the processor better than the standard Markovian master equation., Comment: Comments welcome

In this investigation, it is found that the generated elastic stress during the unconstraint vibration treatment process can act as the dislocation driving stress on the dislocation in the micro-scale. When the sum of the dislocation driving stress, the image stress and the back stress exceeds the motion resistance of the dislocations in a pile-up, the dislocations begin to reverse back, and the pile-up disappear. Based on this principle, a fatigue damage-healing model under unconstraint vibration condition was proposed. The verified results showed that the damaged copper film can be effectively healed by the vibration guided by the model calculation.

Based on reliability theory, the value of the standard normal distribution integral can be obtained by calculating the probability of the failure domain of the linear performance function. After th...

Based on two separate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) moxibustion and 10.6-μm infrared laser moxibustion in treating knee osteoarthritis (OA), we did an indirect and preliminary comparison of the effects of the 10.6-μm laser moxibustion with the traditional moxibustion for knee osteoarthritis. The objective was to see whether the laser moxibustion is non-inferior to the traditional moxibustion in alleviating symptoms of knee osteoarthritis such as pain, stiffness, and joint dysfunction as well as improving quality of life for the patients with knee osteoarthritis, and whether a further RCT directly comparing the laser and traditional moxibustion is necessary. Pooled data from two RCTs in patients with knee osteoarthritis, trial ISRCTN68475405 and trial ISRCTN26065334, were used. In the two RCTs, the eligibility criteria were almost identical, the treatment procedure (i.e., sessions, duration, and points) were similar, and the outcome measurements (i.e., WOMAC for symptoms and SF-36 for quality of life) were the same. The double robustness method was used for the WOMAC scale and the SF-36 endpoints to detect the difference between traditional and laser moxibustion. The analysis comprised 55 patients from ISRCTN68475405 in real moxibustion arm (moxibustion group) and 88 patients from ISRCTN26065334 in real laser moxibustion arm (laser group). Demographic characteristics and course of disease were similar between the two groups. Causal inference, using the doubly robust estimating approach to correct for bias due to baseline differences, showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the WOMAC pain, stiffness, and physical function between the two treatments at midterm, end of treatment, and 4 weeks after the end of treatment (P > 0.05). The exception was that there was statistically significantly more benefit associated with laser moxibustion compared with traditional moxibustion in physical function at the follow-up of 4 weeks after the end of treatment (P=0.006). There was no statistically significant difference in most SF-36 endpoints (P > 0.05) except that physical functioning (PF), mental health (MH), and bodily pain (BP) were statistically significantly better in the laser group than in the traditional moxibustion group at the follow-up of 4 weeks after the end of treatment (P = 0.005, 0.034, 0.002). The benefits of 10.6-μm infrared laser moxibustion and the traditional moxibustion for knee osteoarthritis were comparable in pain, stiffness, physical dysfunction, and in most of the quality of life subdimensions. The laser moxibustion might be more beneficial in terms of physical function, body pain, and mental health in the long term. RCTs directly comparing 10.6-μm laser moxibustion with traditional moxibustion are warranted.

Intrinsic random functions (IRF) provide a versatile approach when the assumption of second-order stationarity is not met. Here, we develop the IRF theory on the circle with its universal kriging application. Unlike IRF in Euclidean spaces, where differential operations are used to achieve stationarity, our result shows that low-frequency truncation of the Fourier series representation of the IRF is required for such processes on the circle. All of these features and developments are presented through the theory of reproducing kernel Hilbert space. In addition, the connection between kriging and splines is also established, demonstrating their equivalence on the circle., Comment: 14 pages, initial version

To compare the difference in the manual measurement of Fengshi (GB 31) between the standing position and the supine position so as to determine the location.A total of 197 volunteers were included in the manual measurement of Fengshi (GB 31) at the standing position and 92 volunteers at the supine position. The differences were compared between the two measurements.The results in the manual measurement at the standing position showed that the distance was (39.27±3.83) cm from the greater trochanter of femur to the popliteal transverse crease [(39.96±4.21) cm in males, (38.82±3.49) cm in females,Fengshi (GB 31) is located on the femoral region, in the depression under the tip of the middle finger at the standing position. The simple localization of the acupoint at the supine position: at the supine, the palm touches the middle of the lateral side of the thigh, about 1

In the paper, the study was reviewed on the infrared temperature characteristics of acupoints in recent 10 years. CNKI, WANFANG, VIP, SciVerse ScienceDirect and Springer databases were retrieved, with"infrared thermal imaging" and "acupoint" as the key words. The retrieving time was from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2016. Totally, 468 relevant papers were searched and 169 papers of them were read carefully on acupoint infrared temperature. In terms of physiological condition, pathological condition and the stimulation methods such as acupuncture, moxibustion

There are n cards serially numbered from 1 to n. The cards are shuffled and placed in a line one after the other on top of a table with faces up. The numbers on the faces are read from left to right. If there are consecutive numbers in increasing order of magnitude the corresponding cards are merged into one. After the merger, the cards are numbered serially from one to whatever the number of cards we now have. The cards are shuffled and placed in a line one after another on top of the table with faces up. The process continues until we have only one card left. In this paper, we develop a probabilistic recurrence relation approach to obtain the mean, variance, and distribution of the number of shuffles needed. A Markov chain formulation and its properties are discussed in the paper as well.

When the correlation theory is considered for the processes with random stationary increments, Yaglom (1955) has developed the spectral representation theory. In this note, we complete this development by obtaining the inversion formula of the spectrum in terms of the structure function.

The authors report the epitaxial growth and the electrical properties, especially the metal-to-insulator transition, of vanadium dioxide (VO2) thin films synthesized on [LaAlO3]0.3[Sr2AlTaO6]0.7 (LSAT) (111) (LSAT) substrates by pulsed laser deposition. X-ray diffraction studies show that the epitaxial relationship between the VO2 thin films and LSAT substrate is given as VO2(020)||LSAT(111) and V O 2 [ 001 ] | | LSAT [ 11 2 ¯ ]. The authors observed a sharp 4 orders of magnitude change in the longitudinal resistance for the VO2 thin films around the transition temperature. The authors also measured distinct Raman spectra below and above the transition point indicating a concomitant structural transition between the insulator and metallic phases, in agreement with past investigations.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) manifests with pain, joint stiffness, and limited function. In traditional Chinese medicine, knee OA is differentiated into three patterns:yangdeficiency and cold coagulation, kidney deficiency, and blood stasis. The objective of this study was to determine whetheryangdeficiency cold coagulation patients respond better to thermal laser acupuncture treatment than do non-yangdeficient patients. Fifty-two patients with OA were allocated to group A (yangdeficient,n=26) or B (non-yangdeficient,n=26). All patients received a 20-min thermal laser acupuncture treatment at acupoint Dubi (ST 35) three times a week for two weeks and twice a week for another four weeks. Outcome assessments were performed immediately after the first treatment, and at weeks 2, 6, and 10. Group A function scores were significantly better than those of Group B at weeks 2 (P=0.049), 6 (P=0.046), and 10 (P=0.042), but no significant differences were found between the two groups in pain and stiffness scores at any time point. No significant adverse effect was observed. The combined 10.6 μm–650 nm laser treatment might be most beneficial toyangdeficiency cold coagulation knee OA patients, particularly in improving function.

Spatial stochastic processes that are modeled over the entire Earth’s surface require statistical approaches that directly consider the spherical domain. In practice, such processes rarely are second-order stationary — that is, they do not have constant mean values or the covariance function that depends only on their angular distance. Here, in order to model non-stationary processes on the sphere, we extend the notion of intrinsic random functions and show that low-frequency truncation plays an essential role. We show that these developments can be presented through the theory of reproducing kernel Hilbert space. In addition, the link between universal kriging and splines is carefully investigated, whereby we show that thin-plate splines are non-applicable for surface fitting on the sphere.

Objective To explore the pathologic characteristics of hyperplasia of the mammary gland (HMG) by observing differences in infrared radiation temperature of points of HMG in patients with different syndromes compared with healthy controls. Methods A FLIR Systems Therma CAM™ P30 infrared thermal camera was used to detect the infrared temperature of Shanzhong (CV 17), Qimen (LR 14), Zhongwan (CV 12), Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Taixi (KI 3), and Taichong (LR 3) in 113 patients with HMG. Of these patients, 71 were placed in the Liver Qi stagnation group, 34 were placed in the Dysfunction of conception and thoroughfare vessels group, and 8 were placed in the Phlegm and blood stasis in combination group. The infrared radiation temperature of each point in the patients was compared with that of healthy controls, and the differences in the infrared radiation temperatures of the points in the patients were analyzed. Results Overall, the bilateral corresponding point in both the controls and patients exhibited no significant difference in infrared radiation temperature. In all cases, the infrared radiation temperature of the points from proximal to distal tended to decrease. In a comparison of the patients and controls, the infrared radiation temperature of the trunk points Shanzhong (CV 17), Qimen (LR 14), Zhongwan (CV 12), Qihai (CV 6), and Guanyuan (CV 4) of the patients was higher than that of the controls, while the infrared radiation temperature of the lower extremity points Taixi (KI 3) and Taichong (LR 3) was lower than that of the controls. Of these points, Shanzhong (CV 17) (P=0.0368), Zhongwan (CV 12) (P=0.0028), Qihai (CV 6) (P=0.0085), and Guanyuan (CV 4) (P=0.0018) showed significant differences. In a comparison of the corresponding point on the same side in the Liver Qi stagnation group and controls, the infrared radiation temperature of Shanzhong (CV 17) (P=0.0089), right-side Qimen (LR 14) (P=0.0382), Zhongwan (CV 12) (P= 0.0000), Qihai (CV 6) (P=0.0011), and Guanyuan (CV 4) (P=0.0000) of the patients was significantly higher than that of the controls, while the differences in the infrared radiation temperature of the other points were not statistically significant (P= 0.0833–0.8397). In a comparison of the corresponding point on the same side in the Dysfunction of conception and thoroughfare vessels group and controls, the infrared radiation temperature of left-side Taichong (LR 3) (P=0.0048), right-side Taichong (LR 3) (P=0.0329), left-side Taixi (KI 3) (P= 0.0171), and right-side Taixi (KI 3) (t=0.544, P= 0.0165) of the patients was significantly lower than that of the controls, while the differences in the infrared radiation temperature of the other points were not statistically significant (P=0.3793–0.9197). In a comparison of the corresponding point on the same side in the Phlegm and blood stasis in combination group and controls, the infrared radiation temperature of Shanzhong (CV 17), Qimen (LR 14), Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Taixi (KI 3), Taichong (LR 3), and Zhongwan (CV 12) tended to increase, but without statistical significance (P=0.175-.759). Conclusion The corresponding points of HMG patients with different syndromes are in different deficiency/excess states. Changes in the infrared radiation temperature of the trunk points Shanzhong (CV 17), Qimen (LR 14), Zhongwan (CV 12), Qihai (CV 6), and Guanyuan (CV 4) are closely related to the pathological characteristics of the Liver Qi stagnation syndrome of HMG patients, while changes in the infrared radiation temperature of the lower extremity points Taixi (KI 3) and Taichong (LR 3) are closely related to the pathological characteristics of the Dysfunction of conception and thoroughfare vessels syndrome of HMG patients. On the whole, HMG patients with Liver Qi stagnation syndrome are characterized by “upper excess,” and those with Dysfunction of conception and thoroughfare vessels syndrome are characterized by “lower deficiency.”

Spatial processes having covariance functions that depend solely on the distance between locations are known as homogeneous. Many random processes on the sphere are not homogeneous, especially in the latitudinal dimension. As a result, we study a class of statistical processes that exhibit axial symmetry, whereby their covariance function depends on differences in longitude alone. We develop a new and simplified representation for a valid axially symmetric process, reducing computational complexity considerably. In addition, we explore longitudinally reversible processes and the construction of parametric models for axially symmetric processes.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of moxibustion on pain, stiffness and physical dysfunction caused by knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and make an assessment on the effectiveness and safety of this therapy. Methods Fifty-nine cases of KOA were randomly divided into a moxibustion group (31 cases) and a sham-moxibustion group (28 cases). The treatment of moxibustion was given at Neixīyan ( EX-LE 4), Dubi ( ST 35) and Ashi points with real moxa cone in the moxibustion group and sham moxa cone in the sham-moxibustion group, 3 cones on each point per time, once every two days, 3 times per week for consecutively 6 weeks. The results were recorded in week 3 and 6 of the treatment, and the follow-up visit was performed 6 weeks after the end of treatment. The Western Ontario and Mcmaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the shortest walking time of 46 m were adopted to evaluate the recovery situation of joint function. The UT-325 digital thermal detector was put to use to record the temperature change in the most obvious painful points of knee joint before and after the moxibustion. Results All the scores of WOMAC in the moxibustion group were apparently decreased in week 3 and 6 of the treatment as well as the follow-up visit, separately (P 0.05), and the between-group difference was not significant statistically (P>0.05). The temperature of treatment point after the moxibustion was (49.81±3.10) °C in the moxibustion group and (40.98±1.67) °C in the sham-moxibustion group, which was both increased apparently as compared with that before the treatment (P Conclusion The moxibustion, which can obviously improve the clinical symptoms of the patients with KOA, such as pain, stiffness and physical dysfunction, is safe and effective.

In the so-called lightbulb process, on days r = 1,…,n, out of n lightbulbs, all initially off, exactly r bulbs, selected uniformly and independent of the past, have their status changed from off to on, or vice versa. With X the number of bulbs on at the terminal time n, an even integer, and μ = n/2, σ2 = var(X), we have supz ∈ R | P((X - μ)/σ ≤ z) - P(Z ≤ z) | ≤ nΔ̅0/2σ2 + 1.64n/σ3 + 2/σ, where Z is a standard normal random variable and Δ̅0 = 1/2√n + 1/2n + e−n/2/3 for n ≥ 6, yielding a bound of order O(n−1/2) as n → ∞. A similar, though slightly larger bound, holds for odd n. The results are shown using a version of Stein's method for bounded, monotone size bias couplings. The argument for even n depends on the construction of a variable Xs on the same space as X that has the X-size bias distribution, that is, which satisfies E[Xg(X)] = μE[g(Xs)] for all bounded continuous g, and for which there exists a B ≥ 0, in this case B = 2, such that X ≤ Xs ≤ X + B almost surely. The argument for odd n is similar to that for even n, but one first couples X closely to V, a symmetrized version of X, for which a size bias coupling of V to Vs can proceed as in the even case. In both the even and odd cases, the crucial calculation of the variance of a conditional expectation requires detailed information on the spectral decomposition of the lightbulb chain.

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of three different laser treatments (650 nm alone, 10.6 μm alone and combined laser of 650 nm and 10.6 μm) on experimental osteoarthritis of the knees in C57 black mice. METHODS Sixty C57 black mice were divided randomly into 6 groups. Ten mice were assigned to a normal control group (no intervention) and the other 5 groups were subjected to a forced running regimen to induce osteoarthritis. One group was set as the model control group. The other 4 groups were given 90 s of a 650 nm laser, 90 s of a 10.6 μm laser, 90 s of a combined laser, or a sham treatment on acupoint Dubi (ST35) of the rear left leg 3 times per week for 4 weeks. The modified Mankin score was used to evaluate the degree of cartilage degradation. Immunohistochemical staining for heat shock protein (HSP) 70 was conducted. RESULTS Mankin scores of the model control group and the sham control group were significantly higher than that of the normal control group (P

Covariance and variogram functions have been extensively studied in Euclidean space. In this article, we investigate the validity of commonly used covariance and variogram functions on the sphere. In particular, we show that the spherical and exponential models, as well as power variograms with 0

In this paper, a Nelson–Aalen (NA) type estimator is derived and its sample properties are compared with the partial Abdushukurov–Cheng–Lin (PACL), generalized maximum likelihood (GMLE), and Kaplan–Meier (KM) estimators under the partial Koziol–Green model. These comparisons are made through Monto Carlo simulations under various sample sizes. The results indicate that the NA estimator always performs better than the KM estimator and is competitive with other estimators. Moreover, the PACL, GMLE, and NA estimators are shown to be asymptotically equivalent.

Community structure is heterogeneous at a variety of spatial and temporal scales, and this variation has been shown to influence the risk of zoonotic diseases such as West Nile Virus and Lyme disease. Theoretical models and most empirical evidence suggest that the greatest influence of host diversity occurs when transmission is frequency-dependent (i.e., the rate of contact is constant). These theoretical models are generally based on ordinary differential equations and become intractable when considering more than a few species. This makes it particularly difficult to predict how we might expect the transmission of infectious diseases to change as community structure changes in space or in time. Here we develop a model in which we construct a network of interactions between hosts and vectors to quantify the change in risk under different scenarios of community disassembly. Decreased vector biodiversity always reduced mean risk, while a change in host community structure led to increased or decreased mean risk depending on the manner in which community disassembly altered mean competence of the "new" community. These trends in mean risk can be generalized across a multitude of natural systems because they do not depend on the distribution of host quality, though simulation suggests that variation around the mean can be very high. The primary value of model is that it can be used to establish upper and lower bounds on the expected change in disease risk with decreasing biodiversity.

The proportional hazards model with partially informative censoring has been studied by Gather and Pawlitschko [1998. Metrika 48, 189–207] and their partial Abdushukurov–Cheng–Lin (PACL) estimator is a nonparametric estimator of the underlying survival function of the model. Zhang and Rao [2004. Metrika 59, 125–136] have derived the generalized maximum likelihood estimator of the underlying survival function using Kiefer–Wolfowitz theory. In this note, we show that these two estimators are asymptotically equivalent.

Necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of maximum likelihood estimators of unknown parameters in linear models with equi-correlated random errors are presented. The basic technique we use is that these models are, first, orthogonally transformed into linear models with two variances, and then the maximum likelihood estimation problem is solved in the environment of transformed models. Our results generalize a result of Arnold, S. F. (1981)[The theory of linear models and multivariate analysis. Wiley, New York]. In addition, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of restricted maximum likelihood estimators of the parameters. The results of Birkes, D. & Wulff, S. (2003)[Existence of maximum likelihood estimates in normal variance-components models. J Statist Plann. Inference.113, 35–47] are compared with our results and differences are pointed out.

In this paper, the convolution theorem and the minimax theorem for estimating the survival function in the partial Koziol–Green model (PKG) are presented. The result indicates that the partial Abdushukurov–Cheng–Lin (ACL) estimator in the PKG model is asymptotically efficient in the sense of being the least dispersed regular estimator. Consequently, the calculation shows that the ACL estimator in the KG model is also asymptotically efficient.

The generalized maximum likelihood estimator (GMLE) is derived and some of its variants are compared with the partial Abdushukurov-Cheng-Lin (PACL) and Kaplan-Meier (KM) estimators under the proportional hazards model with partially informative censoring. A comparison of small sample properties is conducted based on a simulation study. The results show that the GMLEs perform competitively with the PACL estimator.

A new estimator in linear models with equi-correlated random errors is postulated. Consistency properties of the proposed estimator and the ordinary least squares estimator are studied. It is shown that the new estimator has smaller variance than the usual least squares estimator under some mild conditions. In addition, it is observed that the new estimator

In estimating the lifetime distribution of a product, the efficiency of a periodic inspection plan vis-a-vis with the continuous inspection plan is discussed. The periodic inspection plan envisages inspecting the units in the sample periodically at m successive equi-distant time points, for a given choice of m. The issue of choosing the value of m is also discussed. The discussions are carried out when the underlying lifetime distribution is Weibull.

Objective.To observe the effects of traditional Chinese moxibustion, compared with sham moxibustion, on the quality of life (QOL) in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Methods.This is a randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. 150 patients with KOA were randomly allocated to either a true moxibustion treatment (n= 77) or a sham moxibustion treatment (n= 73) three times a week for six weeks. The QOL of patients was evaluated with SF-36 at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 weeks after baseline.Results.136 patients were available for analysis. Participants in the true moxibustion group experienced statistically significantly greater improvement in GH (general health) scores than the sham group at week 6 (P= 0.015) and week 12 (P= 0.029). Participants in the true moxibustion group experienced statistically significantly greater improvement in VT (vitality) scores than the sham group at week 12 (P= 0.042). No significant adverse effects were found during the trial.Conclusion.A 6-week moxibustion treatment seems to improve general health and vitality, which are associated with physical and mental quality of life, in patients with KOA up to 12 weeks, relative to credible sham moxibustion. This trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.govISRCTN68475405.

Objective. To assess the effect of different lasers on cyclophosphamide- (CTX-) induced leucopenia in rats.Methods. 11 rats were normal control and 55 rats were injected with a dose of 80 mg/kg CTX for the first time and 40 mg/kg on the 6th and the 11th days to establish a leucopenia model. Rats of the irradiation groups received a 5-minute laser irradiation with either single 10.6 μm or 650 nm laser or alternatively 10.6 μm–650 nm laser irradiation, besides a sham treatment on acupoint Dazhui (DU 14) and acupoint Zusanli (ST 36) of both sides, 8 times for 16 days. Normal and model control group received no treatment.Results. On day 16 after the first CTX injection, the WBC counts from all the laser irradiation groups were significantly higher than those from the model control and the sham group (P<0.05), while there were no significant differences compared with the normal control (P>0.05). The TI of 10.6 μm–650 nm laser irradiation group was significantly higher than that of the model control group (P<0.05).Conclusions. The single and combined 10.6 μm and 650 nm laser irradiation on ST36 and DU14 accelerated the recovery of the WBC count in the rats with leucopenia.

A sampling of discrete probability problems, some of them coming from consulting work, is presented. We demonstrate how a probabilistic recurrence relation arises from the pit of the problem and present ways and means of solving the recurrence relation.

In making inference on the relation between failure and exposure histories in the Cox semiparametric model, the maximum partial likelihood estimator (MPLE) of the finite dimensional odds parameter, and the Breslow estimator of the baseline survival function, are known to achieve full efficiency when data is available for all time on all cohort members, even when the covariates are time dependent. When cohort sizes become too large for the collection of complete data, sampling schemes such as nested case control sampling must be used and, under various models, there exist estimators based on the same information as the MPLE having smaller asymptotic variance. Though the MPLE is therefore not efficient under sampling in general, it approaches efficiency in highly stratified situations, or instances where the covariate values are increasingly less dependent upon the past, when the covariate distribution, not depending on the real parameter of interest, is unknown and there is no censoring. In particular, in such situations, when using the nested case control sampling design, both the MPLE and the Breslow estimator of the baseline survival function achieve the information lower bound both in the distributional and the minimax senses in the limit as the number of cohort members tends to infinity., Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.3150/08-BEJ162 the Bernoulli (http://isi.cbs.nl/bernoulli/) by the International Statistical Institute/Bernoulli Society (http://isi.cbs.nl/BS/bshome.htm)