An Ontology-Based Question Answering System for University Admissions Advising

Question-Answer systems are now very popular and crucial to support human in automatically responding frequent questions in manyfields.However,these systems depend on learning methods and training data.Therefore,it is necessary to prepare such a good dataset,but it is not an easy job.An ontol-ogy-based domain knowledge base is able to help to reason semantic information and make effective answers given user questions.This study proposes a novel chatbot model involving ontology to generate efficient responses automatically.A case study of admissions advising at the International University–VNU HCMC is taken into account in the proposed chatbot.A domain ontology is designed and built based on the domain knowledge of university admissions using Protégé.The Web user interface of the proposed chatbot system is developed as a prototype using NetBeans.It includes a search engine reasoning the ontology and generat-ing answers to users’questions.Two experiments are carried out to test how the system reacts to different questions.Thefirst experiment examines questions made from some templates,and the second one examines normal questions taken from frequent questions.Experimental results have shown that the ontology-based chatbot can release meaningful and long answers.The results are analysed to prove the proposed chatbot is usable and promising.

The Weather Temperature and Air Pollution Interaction and Its Effect on Hospital Admissions due to Respiratory System Diseases in Western China

Air pollution has ever become a global major public health problem.Previous studies showed that air pollution is associated with excessive mortality and morbidity of respiratory disease[1-2].The extreme weather temperature can impact human health and the thermal stresses can lead not only to direct deaths and illnesses,but also to aggravation of respiratory disease[3-4].Though the independent

Meteorological factors, ambient air pollution, and daily hospital admissions for depressive disorder in Harbin: A time-series study

BACKGROUND The literature has discussed the relationship between environmental factors and depressive disorders;however,the results are inconsistent in different studies and regions,as are the interaction effects between environmental factors.We hypo-thesized that meteorological factors and ambient air pollution individually affect and interact to affect depressive disorder morbidity.AIM To investigate the effects of meteorological factors and air pollution on depressive disorders,including their lagged effects and interactions.METHODS The samples were obtained from a class 3 hospital in Harbin,China.Daily hos-pital admission data for depressive disorders from January 1,2015 to December 31,2022 were obtained.Meteorological and air pollution data were also collected during the same period.Generalized additive models with quasi-Poisson regre-ssion were used for time-series modeling to measure the non-linear and delayed effects of environmental factors.We further incorporated each pair of environ-mental factors into a bivariate response surface model to examine the interaction effects on hospital admissions for depressive disorders.RESULTS Data for 2922 d were included in the study,with no missing values.The total number of depressive admissions was 83905.Medium to high correlations existed between environmental factors.Air temperature(AT)and wind speed(WS)significantly affected the number of admissions for depression.An extremely low temperature(-29.0℃)at lag 0 caused a 53%[relative risk(RR)=1.53,95%confidence interval(CI):1.23-1.89]increase in daily hospital admissions relative to the median temperature.Extremely low WSs(0.4 m/s)at lag 7 increased the number of admissions by 58%(RR=1.58,95%CI:1.07-2.31).In contrast,atmospheric pressure and relative humidity had smaller effects.Among the six air pollutants considered in the time-series model,nitrogen dioxide(NO_(2))was the only pollutant that showed significant effects over non-cumulative,cumulative,immediate,and lagged conditions.The cumulative effect of NO_(2) at lag 7 was 0.47%(RR=1.0047,95%CI:1.0024-1.0071).Interaction effects were found between AT and the five air pollutants,atmospheric temperature and the four air pollutants,WS and sulfur dioxide.CONCLUSION Meteorological factors and the air pollutant NO_(2) affect daily hospital admissions for depressive disorders,and interactions exist between meteorological factors and ambient air pollution.

The effects of cold region meteorology and specific environment on the number of hospital admissions for chronic kidney disease:An investigate with a distributed lag nonlinear model

Objective:To explore the effects of daily mean temperature(°C),average daily air pressure(hPa),humidity(%),wind speed(m/s),particulate matter(PM)2.5(μg/m3)and PM10(μg/m3)on the admission rate of chronic kidney disease(CKD)patients admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University in Harbin and to identify the indexes and lag days that impose the most critical influence.Methods:The R language Distributed Lag Nonlinear Model(DLNM),Excel,and SPSS were used to analyze the disease and meteorological data of Harbin from 01 January 2010 to 31 December 2019 according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Results:Meteorological factors and air pollution influence the number of hospitalizations of CKD to vary degrees in cold regions,and differ in persistence or delay.Non-optimal temperature increases the risk of admission of CKD,high temperature increases the risk of obstructive kidney disease,and low temperature increases the risk of other major types of chronic kidney disease.The greater the temperature difference is,the higher its contribution is to the risk.The non-optimal wind speed and non-optimal atmospheric pressure are associated with increased hospital admissions.PM2.5 concentrations above 40μg/m3 have a negative impact on the results.Conclusion:Cold region meteorology and specific environment do have an impact on the number of hospital admissions for chronic kidney disease,and we can apply DLMN to describe the analysis.

A 365-Day Record of Maternal Admissions in Intensive Care Unit at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital in Nigeria

BACKGROUND. The intensive care unit provides critically ill patients with the necessary monitoring, care and supports to optimize their organ/system functions. Parturients are often at risk of sudden deteriorations or exacerbation of chronic illnesses from direct or indirect causes and would often require admissions into the intensive care or high dependency unit. This study is aimed at looking at the trends of maternal admissions in 365 days at the intensive care unit of a tertiary teaching hospital in Southern part of Nigeria, a country that contributes significantly to the global proportion of maternal morbidity and mortality. METHODS. The study adopted a retrospective approach. All critically ill parturients admitted and requiring organ support or close monitoring in the ICU had their files and ICU documents reviewed. The review was held from January-December 2018. RESULTS. Thirty-nine (39) parturients with a mean age (years) of 33 ± 1.3 were admitted, representing 2.9% of annual deliveries. All admissions were postnatal and came predominantly from the unbooked labour ward (51%) and the time lag from maternal deteriorations to presentation to the ICU was 72 ± 10 hours. The main indications for admissions were due to postpartum haemorrhage (33.3%), complications of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (30.9%) and sepsis (25.6%). Nineteen (48.7%) patients died from obstetric haemorrhage, complications of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, sepsis and pulmonary embolism. CONCLUSION. The trend of maternal admissions at this specific time frame reflects the burden of maternal critical care in our environment. It highlights the need to holistically tackle the known scourge with improved care.

Trends of autoimmune liver disease inpatient hospitalization and mortality from 2011 to 2017:A United States nationwide analysis

BACKGROUND Autoimmune liver diseases(AiLD)encompass a variety of disorders that target either the liver cells(autoimmune hepatitis,AIH)or the bile ducts[primary biliary cholangitis(PBC),and primary sclerosing cholangitis(PSC)].These conditions can progress to chronic liver disease(CLD),which is characterized by fibrosis,cirrhosis,and hepatocellular carcinoma.Recent studies have indicated a rise in hospitalizations and associated costs for CLD in the US,but information regarding inpatient admissions specifically for AiLD remains limited.AIM To examine the trends and mortality of inpatient hospitalization of AiLD from 2011 to 2017.METHODS This study is a retrospective analysis utilizing the National Inpatient Sample(NIS)databases.All subjects admitted between 2011 and 2017 with a diagnosis of AiLD(AIH,PBC,PSC)were identified using the International Classification of Diseases(ICD-9)and ICD-10 codes.primary AiLD admission was defined if the first admission code was one of the AiLD codes.secondary AiLD admission was defined as having the AiLD diagnosis anywhere in the admission diagnosis(25 diagnoses).Subjects aged 21 years and older were included.The national estimates of hospitalization were derived using sample weights provided by NIS.χ^(2)tests for categorical data were used.The primary trend characteristics were in-hospital mortality,hospital charges,and length of stay.RESULTS From 2011 to 2017,hospitalization rates witnessed a significant decline,dropping from 83263 admissions to 74850 admissions(P<0.05).The patients hospitalized were predominantly elderly(median 53%for age>65),mostly female(median 59%)(P<0.05),and primarily Caucasians(median 68%)(P<0.05).Medicare was the major insurance(median 56%),followed by private payer(median 27%)(P<0.05).The South was the top geographical distribution for these admissions(median 33%)(P<0.05),with most admissions taking place in big teaching institutions(median 63%)(P<0.05).Total charges for admissions rose from 66031 in 2011 to 78987 in 2017(P<0.05),while the inpatient mortality rate had a median of 4.9%(P<0.05),rising from 4.67%in 2011 to 5.43%in 2017.The median length of stay remained relatively stable,changing from 6.94 days(SD=0.07)in 2011 to 6.51 days(SD=0.06)in 2017(P<0.05).Acute renal failure emerged as the most common risk factor associated with an increased death rate,affecting nearly 68%of patients(P<0.05).CONCLUSION AiLD-inpatient hospitalization showed a decrease in overall trends over the studied years,however there is a significant increase in financial burden on healthcare with increasing in-hospital costs along with increase in mortality of hospitalized patient with AiLD.

Fever assessment in children under five: Are we following the guidelines?

BACKGROUND Fever is a common cause of medical consultation and hospital admission,particularly among children.Recently,the United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence(NICE)updated its guidelines for assessing fever in children under five years of age.The efficient assessment and management of children with fever are crucial for improving patient outcomes.AIM To evaluate fever assessment in hospitalized children and to assess its adherence with the NICE Fever in under 5s guideline.METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort review of the electronic medical records of children under five years of age at the Department of Pediatrics,Salmaniya Medical Complex,Bahrain,between June and July 2023.Demographic data,vital signs during the first 48 h of admission,route of temperature measurement,and indications for admission were gathered.Fever was defined according to the NICE guideline.The children were divided into five groups according to their age(0-3 months,>3-6 months,>6-12 months,>12-36 months,and>36-60 months).Patients with and without fever were compared in terms of demography,indication for admission,route of temperature measurement,and other vital signs.Compliance with the NICE Fever in the under 5s guideline was assessed.Full compliance was defined as>95%,partial compliance as 70%-95%,and minimal compliance as≤69%.Pearson’sχ^(2),Student’s t test,the Mann-Whitney U test,and Spearman’s correlation coefficient(rs)were used for comparison.RESULTS Of the 136 patients reviewed,80(58.8%)were boys.The median age at admission was 14.2[interquartile range(IQR):1.7-44.4]months,with the most common age group being 36-60 months.Thirty-six(26.4%)patients had fever,and 100(73.6%)were afebrile.The commonest age group for febrile patients(>12-36 months)was older than the commonest age group for afebrile patients(0-3 months)(P=0.027).The median weight was 8.3(IQR:4.0-13.3)kg.Patients with fever had higher weight than those without fever[10.2(IQR:7.3-13.0)vs 7.1(IQR:3.8-13.3)kg,respectively](P=0.034).Gastrointestinal disease was the leading indication for hospital admission(n=47,34.6%).Patients with central nervous system diseases and fever of unknown etiology were more likely to be febrile(P=0.030 and P=0.011,respectively).The mean heart rate was higher in the febrile group than the afebrile group(140±24 vs 126±20 beats per minute,respectively)[P=0.001(confidence interval:5.8-21.9)]with a positive correlation between body temperature and heart rate,r=0.242,n=136,P=0.004.A higher proportion of febrile patients received paracetamol(n=35,81.3%)compared to the afebrile patients(n=8,18.6%)(P<0.001).The axillary route was the most commonly used for temperature measurements(n=40/42,95.2%),followed by the rectal route(n=2/42,4.8%).The department demonstrated full compliance with the NICE guideline for five criteria:the type of thermometer used,route and frequency of temperature measurement,frequency of heart rate measurement,and use of antipyretics as needed.Partial compliance was noted for two criteria,the threshold of fever at 38°C or more,and the respiratory rate assessment in febrile patients.Minimal compliance or no record was observed for the remaining three criteria;routine assessment of capillary refill,temperature reassessment 1-2 h after each antipyretic intake,and refraining from the use of tepid sponging.CONCLUSION This study showed that fever assessment in hospitalized children under five years of age was appropriate,but certain areas of adherence to the NICE guideline still need to be improved.

拟双曲度量空间中广义反演函数的性质

基于一般度量空间中flattening函数和admission反演函数的概念,在拟双曲度量空间中引入拟对偶的概念,并借助于拟双曲度量作为工具,结合flattening函数和admission反演函数的性质来刻画了拟双曲度量空间中广义反演函数的几何特征。

Association between Ambient Air Pollution and Hospital Emergency Admissions for Respiratory and Cardiovascular Diseases in Beijing: a Time Series Study

Objective To investigate the association between ambient air pollution and hospital emergency admissions in Beijing. Methods In this study, a semi-parametric generalized additive model （GAM） was used to evaluate the specific influences of air pollutants （PM10, SO2, and NO2） on hospital emergency admissions with different lag structures from 2009 to 2011, the sex and age specific influences of air pollution and the modifying effect of seasons on air pollution to analyze the possible interaction. Results It was found that a 10μg/m3 increase in concentration of PMlo at lag 03 day, SO2 and NO2 at lag 0 day were associated with an increase of 0.88%, 0.76%, and 1.82% respectively in overall emergency admissions. A 10 lag/m3 increase in concentration of PM10, SO2 and NO2 at lag 5 day were associated with an increase of 1.39%, 1.56%, and 1.18% respectively in cardiovascular disease emergency admissions. For lag 02, a 10 μg/m3 increase in concentration of PM10, SO2 and NO2 were associated with 1.72%, 1.34%, and 2.57% increases respectively in respiratory disease emergency admissions. Conclusion This study further confirmed that short-term exposure to ambient air pollution was associated with increased risk of hospital emergency admissions in Beijing.

An Improved Approach to Delay-dependent Robust Stabilization for Uncertain Singular Time-delay Systems

In this paper, delay-dependent stability analysis and robust stabilization for uncertain singular time-delay systems are addressed. By using Jensen integral inequality, an improved delay-dependent criterion of admissibility for singular time-delay systems is proposed in terms of linear matrix inequality （LMI）. Our new proposed criterion is less conservative and the numerical complexity is smaller than the existing ones. Based on this criterion, a state feedback controller is designed to ensure that the uncertain singular time-delay system is admissible. Finally, three numerical examples are employed to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Robust Admissibility and Stabilization of Uncertain Singular Fractional-Order Linear Time-Invariant Systems

This paper addresses the robust admissibility problem in singular fractional-order continuous time systems. It is based on new admissibility conditions of singular fractional-order systems expressed in a set of strict linear matrix inequalities(LMIs). Then, a static output feedback controller is designed for the uncertain closed-loop system to be admissible. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the proposed methods.

Admissibility analysis and control synthesis for switched linear singular systems

The problem of admissibility analysis and control synthesis of discrete-time switched linear singular （SLS） systems for arbitrary switching laws is solved. By using the switched Lyapunov function approach, some new sufficient conditions under which the SLS system is admissible for arbitrary switching laws are derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities （LMIs）. Based on the admissibility results, control synthesis is then to design switched state feedback and static output feedback controllers, guaranteeing that the resulting closed-loop system is admissible. The presented results can be viewed as the extensions of previous works on switched Lyapunov function approach from the regular switched systems to singular switched cases. Examples are provided to demonstrate the reduced conservatism and effectiveness of the proposed conditions.

Passivity Control for Uncertain T-S Fuzzy Descriptor Systems

By means of matrix decomposition method a criterion is presented for the admissibility of T-S fuzzy descriptor system. Then, the problem of passivity control is studied for a kind of T-S fuzzy descriptor system with uncertain parameters, and sufficient conditions which make the closed-loop system admissible and strictly passive are obtained based on linear matrix inequality (LMI). The nonstrict LMIs restricted conditions which characterize the descriptor system are transformed into strict ones, so testing admissibility and passivity of the system can be finished simultaneously. The design scheme of state feedback controller is also obtained. Finally, a numerical example is given to show the validity and feasibility of the proposed approach.

A RESULT OF SYSTEMS OF NONLINEAR COMPLEX ALGEBRAIC DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

In this article, we mainly investigate the behavior of systems of complex differential equations when we add some condition to the quality of the solutions, and obtain an interesting result, which extends Gaekstatter and Laine＇s result concerning complex differential equations to the systems of algebraic differential equations.

Improved methods for scheduling flexible manufacturing systems based on Petri nets and heuristic search

This paper proposes and evaluates two improved Petri net （PN）-based hybrid search strategies and their applications to flexible manufacturing system （FMS） scheduling. The algorithms proposed in some previous papers, which combine PN simulation capabilities with A＊ heuristic search within the PN reachability graph,may not find an optimum solution even with an admissible heuristic function. To remedy the defects an improved heuristic search strategy is proposed, which adopts a different method for selecting the promising markings and reserves the admissibility of the algorithm. To speed up the search process, another algorithm is also proposed which invokes faster termination conditions and still guarantees that the solution found is optimum. The scheduling results are compared through a simple FMS between our algorithms and the previous methods. They are also applied and evaluated in a set of randomly-generated FMSs with such characteristics as multiple resources and alternative routes.

New degradation call admission control for increasing WCDMA system capacity

Propose a new degradation call admission control（DCAC）scheme, which can be used in wideband code division multiple access communication system. So-called degradation is that non-real time call has the characteristic of variable bit rate, so decreasing its bit rate can reduce the load of the system, consequently the system can admit new call which should be blocked when the system is close to full load, therefore new call＇s access probability increases. This paper brings forward design project and does system simulation, simulation proves that DCAC can effectively decrease calls＇ blocking probability and increase the total number of the on-line users.

Epidemiological profile of alcoholic liver disease hospital admissions in a Latin American country over a 10-year period

BACKGROUND Alcoholic liver disease(ALD)is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide.AIM To describe the epidemiological profile and mortality rates of patients with ALD admitted to public hospitals in different regions of Brazil from 2006 to 2015.METHODS This is a descriptive study that evaluated aggregate data from the five Brazilian geographic regions.RESULTS A total of 160093 public hospitalizations for ALD were registered.There was a 34.07%increase in the total number of admissions over 10 years,from 12879 in 2006 to 17267 in 2015.The region with the highest proportion(49.01%)of ALD hospitalizations was Southeast(n=78463).The North region had the lowest absolute number of patients throughout the study period,corresponding to 3.9%of the total(n=6242).There was a 24.72%increase in the total number of ALD deaths between 2006 and 2015.We found that the age group between 50 and 59 years had the highest proportion of both hospitalizations and deaths:28.94%(n=46329)of total hospital admissions and 29.43%(n=28864)of all deaths.Men were more frequently hospitalized than women and had the highest proportions of deaths in all regions.Mortality coefficient rates increased over the years,and simple linear regression analysis indicated a statistically significant upward trend in this mortality(R^2=0.744).CONCLUSION Our study provides a landscape of the epidemiological profile of public hospital admissions due to ALD in Brazil.We detected an increase in the total number of admissions and deaths due to ALD over 10 years.

Interdialytic Weight Gain in Hemodialysis Patients: Worse Hospital Admissions and Intradialytic Hypotension

Introduction: Interdialytic weight-gain (IDWG) has been linked to various complications in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Method: Prospective clinical-observational study to evaluate the effect of IDWG in HD patients on the rate of hospital admissions over a 12-month period, and the impact of high IDWG on the frequency of IDH. Results: Of the 240 patients, those who had IDWG ≥ 4%, 81% had at least one hospital admission due to volume-overload or the need for extra HD-session(s). On the other hand, only 19% of those having IDWG < 4% had been admitted or got extra HD sessions (p < 0.001). Of those who were admitted (over 12 months) due to volume overload;74.1% had IDWG ≥ 4%, while 25.9% had IDWG < 4% (p < 0.001). Regarding IDH, 87% of patients having IDWG ≥ 4% had at least one episode of IDH/week. On the other hand, only 22.5% of those with IDWG < 4% had one episode of IDH/week (p < 0.001). When analyzing those who had at least one IDH episode/week;72.9% of them had IDWG ≥ 4%, while only 27.1% had IDWG < 4% (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In HD patients, the frequency of hospital admission due to volume-overload and the need for extra HD-sessions is strongly related to the amount of IDWG (>4% in our patients), the same stands for the frequency of IDH. Thus, control of IDWG in HD patients is of great importance, keeping in mind the importance of the nutrition status of HD patients that may also impact IDWG.

Monthly admissions for heart failure (HF)— Environmental links

In recent years the role of HF in the outcomes, cost of treatment in cardiology is raising. Concomitantly a number of studies were published demonstrating connections of many cardiac events with Space Weather Activity-Solar, Geomagnetic, Cosmic Ray (Neutron) activity levels. The aim of this study was to study links of timing of hospital admissions for HF with season and space weather components. Patients and Methods: monthly admissions of male and female patients for HF in two hospitals of Rabin Medical Center for years 2000-2012 were the subject of the study. 76,601 patient were included, 42,293 men, 34,308 woman. The cosmophysical data from USA, Russia and Finland were used. Results: Monthly average number of admissions for HF: 491.0 ± 82.4, 271.1 ± 46.75 for men and 219.9 ± 39.8 for woman. Gender admissions strongly correlated. Monthly admission for HF number differed by 2.2 - 2.5 times. Minimal admissions were in August, September;maximal—in January, February, December and March (according to numbers). It was a significant inverse correlation of monthly HF admissions with monthly solar activity and GMA indices and correlation with CRA (neutron) activity. Conclusion: Monthly admissions number for HF is fluctuated by season of the year, depending on gender and related to monthly solar and Cosmic Ray (Neutron) activity level. Gender differences in HF exacerbation may be a component explaining gender differences in longevity.

Digestive system involvement and clinical outcomes among COVID-19 patients:A retrospective cohort study from Qatar

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus most commonly presents with respiratory symptoms.While gastrointestinal(GI)manifestations either at presentation or during hospitalization are also common,their impact on clinical outcomes is controversial.Some studies have described worse outcomes in COVID-19 patients with GI symptoms,while others have shown either no association or a protective effect.There is a need for consistent standards to describe GI symptoms in COVID-19 patients and to assess their effect on clinical outcomes,including mortality and disease severity.AIM To investigate the prevalence of GI symptoms in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and their correlation with disease severity and clinical outcomes.METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 601 consecutive adult COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalization between May 1-15,2020.GI symptoms were recorded at admission and during hospitalization.Demographic,clinical,laboratory,and treatment data were retrieved.Clinical outcomes included all-cause mortality,disease severity at presentation,need for intensive care unit(ICU)admission,development of acute respiratory distress syndrome,and need for mechanical ventilation.Multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify independent predictors of the adverse outcomes.RESULTS The prevalence of any GI symptom at admission was 27.1%and during hospitalization was 19.8%.The most common symptoms were nausea(98 patients),diarrhea(76 patients),vomiting(73 patients),and epigastric pain or discomfort(69 patients).There was no difference in the mortality between the two groups(6.21%vs 5.5%,P=0.7).Patients with GI symptoms were more likely to have severe disease at presentation(33.13%vs 22.5%,P<0.001)and prolonged hospital stay(15 d vs 14 d,P=0.04).There was no difference in other clinical outcomes,including ICU admission,development of acute respiratory distress syndrome,or need for mechanical ventilation.Drugs associated with the development of GI symptoms during hospitalization were ribavirin(diarrhea 26.37%P<0.001,anorexia 17.58%,P=0.02),hydroxychloroquine(vomiting 28.52%,P=0.009)and lopinavir/ritonavir(nausea 32.65%P=0.049,vomiting 31.47%P=0.004,and epigastric pain 12.65%P=0.048).In the multivariate regression analysis,age>65 years was associated with increased mortality risk[odds ratio(OR)7.53,confidence interval(CI):3.09-18.29,P<0.001],ICU admission(OR:1.79,CI:1.13-2.83,P=0.012),and need for mechanical ventilation(OR:1.89,CI:1.94-2.99,P=0.007).Hypertension was an independent risk factor for ICU admission(OR:1.82,CI:1.17-2.84,P=0.008)and need for mechanical ventilation(OR:1.66,CI:1.05-2.62,P=0.028).CONCLUSION Patients with GI symptoms are more likely to have severe disease at presentation;however,mortality and disease progression is not different between the two groups.