Entropic stochastic resonance induced by a transverse driving force.

The phenomenon of entropic stochastic resonance (ESR) is investigated with the presence of a time-periodic force in the transverse direction. Simulation results manifest that the ESR can survive even if there is no static bias force in any direction, just if a transverse driving field is applied. In the weak noise region, the transverse driving force leads to a giant-suppression of the escape rate from one well to another, i.e. the entropic trapping. The increase in noise intensity will eliminate this suppression and induce the ESR phenomenon. An alternative quantity, called the mean free flying time, is also proposed to characterize the ESR as well as the conventional spectral power amplification. The ESR can be modulated conveniently by the transverse periodic force, which implies an alternative method for controlling the dynamics of small-scale systems. This article is part of the theme issue 'Vibrational and stochastic resonance in driven nonlinear systems (part 2)'.

Predictors of community-associated Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft tissue infections in primary-care settings.

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) due to Staphylococcus aureus have become increasingly common in the outpatient setting; however, risk factors for differentiating methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) SSTIs are needed to better inform antibiotic treatment decisions. We performed a case-case-control study within 14 primary-care clinics in South Texas from 2007 to 2015. Overall, 325 patients [S. aureus SSTI cases (case group 1, n = 175); MRSA SSTI cases (case group 2, n = 115); MSSA SSTI cases (case group 3, n = 60); uninfected control group (control, n = 150)] were evaluated. Each case group was compared to the control group, and then qualitatively contrasted to identify unique risk factors associated with S. aureus, MRSA, and MSSA SSTIs. Overall, prior SSTIs [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 7·60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3·31-17·45], male gender (aOR 1·74, 95% CI 1·06-2·85), and absence of healthcare occupation status (aOR 0·14, 95% CI 0·03-0·68) were independently associated with S. aureus SSTIs. The only unique risk factor for community-associated (CA)-MRSA SSTIs was a high body weight (⩾110 kg) (aOR 2·03, 95% CI 1·01-4·09).

[The role of four criteria in assessment of the severity and prognosis of hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the four criteria, including bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis(BISAP), Ranson score, modified CT severity index(MCTSI) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation scoring systemⅡ(APACHE Ⅱ) in assessment of severity and prognosis of hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis. METHODS: A total of 326 patients with hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis were studied retrospectively from August 2006 to July 2015. The discrepancy of the four criteria in assessment of severity and prognosis of hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis was compared with chi-square test and receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: The incidences of moderately severe acute pancreatitis and severe acute pancreatitis, local complications and mortality of patients with BISAP score≥3, Ranson score≥3, APACHE Ⅱ score≥8 and MCTSI score≥4 were significantly higher than BISAP score<3, Ranson score<3, APACHE Ⅱscore<8 and MCTSI<4 respectively (all P<0.05). As far as severity was concerned, the sensitivity and AUC of APACHEⅡ were 57% and 0.814, which were higher than the other systems. The second most sensitive criterion was BISAP. In assessment of local complications, the sensitivity and AUC of MCTSI were 68% and 0.791, which were higher than the other three. The most sensitive criterion to predict mortality was BISAP with sensitivity 89% and AUC 0.867, which was followed by APACHE Ⅱ. CONCLUSIONS: All four criteria can be used to determine the severity, local complications and mortality. Generally, BISAP is simple and easy to practice, and better than the other three.

Phacomatosis pigmentovascularis type II.

Phacomatosis pigmentovascularis (PPV) is described as the association of cutaneous vascular malformations and different pigmentary disorders. The different associations are classified into four types, with localized and systemic forms. The constant alteration in each type is a nevus flammeus. Associated pigmented abnormalities are nevus pigmentosus and verrucosus in type I, blue spots in type II, nevus spilus in type III, blue spots and nevus spilus in type IV. Type II is the most frequently reported. In this type, half of the patients have visceral involvement, more often Klippel-Trenaunay or/and Sturge-Weber syndrome. We report two cases of phacomatosis pigmentovascularis type II. The particularity of the first case is the association with a cranio-cervical junction malformation (Arnold-Chiari type I), which to our knowledge, has never been described with PPV. The second case presents with a bilateral scleral melanosis without visceral involvement. Definition of visceral involvement and ophthalmologic manifestations are discussed.

A novel speech controller for radio amateurs with a vision impairment.

This paper describes a portable speech controller system for persons with a vision impairment to adjust the channel frequency of a radio set via speech commands. The speech commands are recognized on a general-purpose digital signal processor using a hidden Markov model (HMM), and are used to remotely control radio channel changes.