Different timing for abdominal paracentesis catheter placement and drainage in severe acute pancreatitis complicated by intraabdominal fluid accumulation

BACKGROUND Non-surgical methods such as percutaneous drainage are crucial for the treatment of patients with severe acute pancreatitis(SAP).However,there is still an ongoing debate regarding the optimal timing for abdominal paracentesis catheter place-ment and drainage.AIM To explore the influence of different timing for abdominal paracentesis catheter placement and drainage in SAP complicated by intra-abdominal fluid accumu-lation.METHODS Using a retrospective approach,184 cases of SAP complicated by intra-abdominal fluid accumulation were enrolled and categorized into three groups based on the timing of catheter placement:group A(catheter placement within 2 d of symptom onset,n=89),group B(catheter placement between days 3 and 5 after symptom onset,n=55),and group C(catheter placement between days 6 and 7 after symptom onset,n=40).The differences in progression rate,mortality rate,and the number of cases with organ dysfunction were compared among the three groups.RESULTS The progression rate of group A was significantly lower than those in groups B and groups C(2.25%vs 21.82%and 32.50%,P<0.05).Further,the proportion of patients with at least one organ dysfunction in group A was significantly lower than those in groups B and groups C(41.57%vs 70.91%and 75.00%,P<0.05).The mortality rates in group A,group B,and group C were similar(P>0.05).At postoperative day 3,the levels of C-reactive protein(55.41±19.32 mg/L vs 82.25±20.41 mg/L and 88.65±19.14 mg/L,P<0.05),procalcitonin(1.36±0.51 ng/mL vs 3.20±0.97 ng/mL and 3.41±0.98 ng/mL,P<0.05),tumor necrosis factor-alpha(15.12±6.63 pg/L vs 22.26±9.96 pg/L and 23.39±9.12 pg/L,P<0.05),interleukin-6(332.14±90.16 ng/L vs 412.20±88.50 ng/L and 420.08±87.65ng/L,P<0.05),interleukin-8(415.54±68.43 ng/L vs 505.80±66.90 ng/L and 510.43±68.23ng/L,P<0.05)and serum amyloid A(270.06±78.49 mg/L vs 344.41±81.96 mg/L and 350.60±80.42 mg/L,P<0.05)were significantly lower in group A compared to those in groups B and group C.The length of hospital stay in group A was significantly lower than those in groups B and group C(24.50±4.16 d vs 35.54±6.62 d and 38.89±7.10 d,P<0.05).The hospitalization expenses in group A were also significantly lower than those in groups B and groups C[2.70(1.20,3.55)ten-thousand-yuan vs 5.50(2.98,7.12)ten-thousand-yuan and 6.00(3.10,8.05)ten-thousand-yuan,P<0.05).The incidence of complications in group A was markedly lower than that in group C(5.62%vs 25.00%,P<0.05),and similar to group B(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Percutaneous catheter drainage for the treatment of SAP complicated by intra-abdominal fluid accumulation is most effective when performed within 2 d of onset.

Influences of Mixed Traffic Flow and Time Pressure on Mistake-Prone Driving Behaviors among Bus Drivers

Bus safety is a matter of great importance in many developing countries, with driving behaviors among bus drivers identified as a primary factor contributing to accidents. This concern is particularly amplified in mixed traffic flow (MTF) environments with time pressure (TP). However, there is a lack of sufficient research exploring the relationships among these factors. This study consists of two papers that aim to investigate the impact of MTF environments with TP on the driving behaviors of bus drivers. While the first paper focuses on violated driving behaviors, this particular paper delves into mistake-prone driving behaviors (MDB). To collect data on MDB, as well as perceptions of MTF and TP, a questionnaire survey was implemented among bus drivers. Factor analyses were employed to create new measurements for validating MDB in MTF environments. The study utilized partial correlation and linear regression analyses with the Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) method to explore the relationships between MDB and MTF/TP. The results revealed a modified scale for MDB. Two MTF factors and two TP factors were found to be significantly associated with MDB. A high presence of motorcycles and dangerous interactions among vehicles were not found to be associated with MDB among bus drivers. However, bus drivers who perceived motorcyclists as aggressive, considered road users’ traffic habits as unsafe, and perceived bus routes’ punctuality and organization as very strict were more likely to exhibit MDB. Moreover, the results from the three MDB predictive models demonstrated a positive impact of bus route organization on MDB among bus drivers. The study also examined various relationships between the socio-demographic characteristics of bus drivers and MDB. These findings are of practical significance in developing interventions aimed at reducing MDB among bus drivers operating in MTF environments with TP.

Effect of hydraulic retention time and pH on oxidation of ferrous iron in simulated ferruginous acid mine drainage treatment with inoculation of iron-oxidizing bacteria

The effect of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and pH on the biooxidation of ferrous iron during simulated acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment was investigated.The simulated AMD was highly acidic (pH 2.5), rich in iron (about 1700 mg/L) and copper (about 200 mg/L), and contained high concentrations of sulfate (about 4700 mg/L).The biooxidation of ferrous iron was studied in a laboratory-scale upflow packed bed bioreactor (PBR).The HRT was shortened stepwise from 40 h to 20 h, 13 h, and 8 h under the acidic environment at a pH value of 2.2.Then, the influent pH value was changed from 2.2 to 1.2 at a constant suitable HRT.Physiochemical and microbial community structure analyses were performed on water samples and stuffing collected from the bioreactor under different conditions.The results indicate that the efficiency of ferrous iron oxidation gradually decreased with the decrease of HRT, and when the HRT exceeded 13 h, ferrous iron in AMD was almost completely oxidized.In addition, the best efficiency of ferrous iron oxidation was achieved at the influent pH value of 1.8.Microbial community structure analyses show that Leptospirillum is the predominant genus attached in the bioreactor, and low influent pH values are suitable for the growth of Leptospirillum.

The development of real time data driving multi-axis linkage and synergic movement control system of 3D variable cross-section roll forming machine

The three dimensional variable cross-section roll forming is a kind of new metal forming technology which combines large forming force,multi-axis linkage movement and space synergic movement,and the sequential synergic movement of the ganged roller group is used to complete the metal sheet forming according to the shape of the complicated and variable forming part data.The control system should meet the demands of quick response to the test requirements of the product part.A new kind of real time data driving multi-axis linkage and synergic movement control strategy of 3D roll forming is put forward in the paper.In the new control strategy,the forming data are automatically generated according to the shape of the parts,and the multi-axis linkage movement together with cooperative motion among the six stands of the 3D roll forming machine is driven by the real-time information,and the control nodes are also driven by the forming data.The new control strategy is applied to a 48axis 3D roll forming machine developed by our research center,and the control servo period is less than 10ms.A forming experiment of variable cross section part is carried out,and the forming precision is better than±0.5mm by the control strategy.The result of the experiment proves that the control strategy has significant potentiality for the development of 3D roll forming production line with large scale,multi-axis ganged and synergic movement.

Bifurcation analysis of visual angle model with anticipated time and stabilizing driving behavior

In the light of the visual angle model(VAM),an improved car-following model considering driver's visual angle,anticipated time and stabilizing driving behavior is proposed so as to investigate how the driver's behavior factors affect the stability of the traffic flow.Based on the model,linear stability analysis is performed together with bifurcation analysis,whose corresponding stability condition is highly fit to the results of the linear analysis.Furthermore,the time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau(TDGL)equation and the modified Korteweg–de Vries(m Kd V)equation are derived by nonlinear analysis,and we obtain the relationship of the two equations through the comparison.Finally,parameter calibration and numerical simulation are conducted to verify the validity of the theoretical analysis,whose results are highly consistent with the theoretical analysis.

Nitrogen and phosphorus changes and optimal drainage time of flooded paddy field based on environmental factors

While many controlled irrigation and drainage techniques have been adopted in China, the environmental effects of these techniques require further investigation. This study was conducted to examine the changes of nitrogen and phosphorus of a flooded paddy water system after fertilizer application and at each growth stage so as to obtain the optimal drainage time at each growth stage. Four treatments with different water level management methods at each growth stage were conducted under the condition of ten-day continuous flooding. Results show that the ammonia nitrogen （ NH4-N ） concentration reached the peak value once the fertilizer was applied, and then decreased to a relatively low level seven to ten days later, and that the nitrate nitrogen （NO^-N） concentration gradually rose to its peak value, which appeared later in subsurface water than in surface water. Continuous flooding could effectively reduce the concentrations of NH^-N , NO3-N, and total phosphorus （TP） in surface water. However, the paddy water disturbance, in the process of soil surface adsorption and nitrification, caused NH]-N to be released and increased the concentrations of NH4-N and NO^-N in surface water. A multi-objective controlled drainage model based on environmental factors was established in order to obtain the optimal drainage time at each growth stage and better guide the drainage practices of farmers. The optimal times for surface drainage are the fourth, sixth, fifth, and sixth days after flooding at the tillering, jointing-booting, heading-flowering, and milking stages, respectively.

Seasonal evolution of the englacial and subglacial drainage systems of a temperate glacier revealed by hydrological analysis

Englacial and subglacial drainage systems of temperate glaciers have a strong influence on glacier dynamics, glacier-induced floods, glacier-weathering processes, and runoff from glacierized drainage basins. Proglacial discharge is partly controlled by the geometry of the glacial drainage network and by the process of producing meltwater. The glacial-drainage system of some alpine glaciers has been characterized using a model based on proglacial discharge analysis. In this paper, we apply cross-correlation analysis to hourly hydro-climatic data collected from China＇s Hailuogou Glacier, a typical temperate glacier in Mt. Gongga, to study the seasonal status changes of the englacial and subglacial drainage systems by discharge-temperature （Q-T） time lag analy-sis. During early ablation season （April-May） of 2003, 2004 and 2005, the change of englacial and subglacial drainage system usually leads several outburst flood events, which are also substantiated by observing the leakage of supraglacial pond and cre-vasses pond water during field works in April, 2008. At the end of ablation season （October-December）, the glacial-drainage net-works become less hydro-efficient. Those events are evidenced by hourly hydro-process near the terminus of Hailuogou Glacier, and the analysis of Q-T time lags also can be a good indicator of those changes. However, more detailed observations or experi-ments, e.g. dye-tracing experiment and recording borehole water level variations, are necessary to describe the evolutionary status and processes of englacial and subglacial drainage systems evolution during ablation season.

Effect of Ilizarov external fixation combined with negative pressure sealing drainage and antibiotics in the treatment of infective tibial nonunion

Objective:Observation on the effect of Ilizarov external fixation combined with vacuum pressure sealing drainage and antibiotics in the treatment of infective tibial nonunion.Methods:79 patients with tibial infective nonunion who were treated in our hospital from August 2016 to August 2018 were divided into two groups according to random number table,with 39 patients in the control group treated with Ilizarov external fixation technology and 40 patients in the study group treated with vacuum pressure sealing drainage and antibiotics on the basis of the control group.Bone healing time and daily walking were recorded.Rasmussen score,serum intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1)and IL-6 levels,lower limb Fugl-Meyer motor function score and lower limb BI index score were compared at different time.Results:The daily walking condition of the study group was significantly better than that of the control group(P<0.05),and the healing time of bone was significantly shorter than that of the control group(P<0.05);the Rasmussen score of the study group was higher than that of the control group at 1 month,6 months and 12 months after treatment(P<0.05);the levels of serum ICAM-1 and IL-6 in the two groups after treatment were lower than those before treatment(P<0.05),and the levels of serum ICAM-1 and IL-6 in the study group were lower than those in the control group after treatment(P<0.05).The lower limb Fugl-Meyer motor function score and lower limb BI index score of the two groups after treatment were higher than those before treatment(P<0.05),and the lower limb Fugl-Meyer motor function score and lower limb BI index score of the study group after treatment were higher than those of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusions:Ilizarov external fixation combined with vacuum pressure sealing drainage and antibiotics can promote the bone healing of patients with infective tibial nonunion,significantly improving their daily walking condition,alleviating inflammation,and recovering the knee joint function and lower limb function well.

Spatio-temporal Variations in Plantation Forests'Disturbance and Recovery of Northern Guangdong Province Using Yearly Landsat Time Series Observations(1986-2015)

Forest disturbance plays a vital role in modulating carbon storage,biodiversity and climate change.Yearly Landsat imagery from 1986 to 2015 of a typical plantation region in the northern Guangdong province of southern China was used as a case study.A Landsat time series stack(LTSS) was fed to the vegetation change tracker model(VCT) to map long-term changes in plantation forests' disturbance and recovery,followed by an intensive validation and a continuous 27-yr change analysis on disturbance locations,magnitudes and rates of plantations' disturbance and recovery.And the validation results of the disturbance year maps derived from five randomly identified sample plots with 25 km^2 located at the four corners and the center of the scene showed the majority of the spatial agreement measures ranged from 60% to 83%.A confusion matrix summary of the accuracy measures for all four validation sites in Fogang County showed that the disturbance year maps had an overall accuracy estimate of 71.70%.Forest disturbance rates' change trend was characterized by a decline first,followed by an increase,then giving way to a decline again.An undulated and gentle decreasing trend of disturbance rates from the highest value of 3.95% to the lowest value of 0.76% occurred between 1988 and 2001,disturbance rate of 4.51% in 1994 was a notable anomaly,while after 2001 there was a sharp ascending change,forest disturbance rate spiked in 2007(5.84%).After that,there was a significant decreasing trend up to the lowest value of 1.96% in 2011 and a slight ascending trend from 2011 to 2015(2.59%).Two obvious spikes in post-disturbance recovery rates occurred in 1995(0.26%) and 2008(0.41%).Overall,forest recovery rates were lower than forest disturbance rates.Moreover,forest disturbance and recovery detection based on VCT and the Landsat-based detections of trends in disturbance and recovery(LandT rendr) algorithms in Fogang County have been conducted,with LandT rendr finding mostly much more disturbance than VCT.Overall,disturbances and recoveries in northern Guangdong were triggered mostly by timber needs,policies and decisions of the local governments.This study highlights that a better understanding about plantations' changes would provide a critical foundation for local forest management decisions in the southern China.

The Role of a Novel Discrete-Time MRAC Based Motion Cueing on Loss of Control at a Hexapod Driving Simulator

The objective of this paper is to present the advantages of Model reference adaptive control (MRAC) motion cueing algorithm against the classical motion cueing algorithm in terms of biomechanical reactions of the participants during the critical maneuvers like chicane in driving simulator real-time. This study proposes a method and an experimental validation to analyze the vestibular and neuromuscular dynamics responses of the drivers with respect to the type of the control used at the hexapod driving simulator. For each situation, the EMG (electromyography) data were registered from arm muscles of the drivers (flexor carpi radialis, brachioradialis). In addition, the roll velocity perception thresholds (RVT) and roll velocities (RV) were computed from the real-time vestibular level measurements from the drivers via a motion-tracking sensor. In order to process the data of the EMG and RVT, Pearson’s correlation and a two-way ANOVA with a significance level of 0.05 were assigned. Moreover, the relationships of arm muscle power and roll velocity with vehicle CG (center of gravity) lateral displacement were analyzed in order to assess the agility/alertness level of the drivers as well as the vehicle loss of control characteristics with a confidence interval of 95%. The results showed that the MRAC algorithm avoided the loss of adhesion, loss of control (LOA, LOC) more reasonably compared to the classical motion cueing algorithm. According to our findings, the LOA avoidance decreased the neuromuscular-visual cues level conflict with MRAC algorithm. It also revealed that the neuromuscular-vehicle dynamics conflict has influence on visuo-vestibular conflict;however, the visuo-vestibular cue conflict does not influence the neuromuscular-vehicle dynamics interactions.

基于长时间序列Landsat影像的南方人工林干扰与恢复制图分析

基于1986年到2011年的Landsat影像,以南方人工林分布区域广东省佛冈县为例,运用Landsat生态系统自适应处理系统(LEDAPS)预处理生成标准的地面反射率数据构建Landsat时间序列堆栈(LTSS)用于Land Trendr算法监测人工林森林干扰与恢复的长时间序列变化,分析了连续24a森林干扰的年份变化、干扰量以及干扰持续的时间,验证了算法识别干扰的精度,并探讨了人工林干扰的驱动力。结果表明佛冈县的森林干扰较为剧烈,一般都在1000 hm^2。而1987、2002、2004、2005、2006、2007和2009年的干扰面积均超过2000 hm^2,其中1987、2007年两年的干扰面积达到6000 hm^2以上。相比森林干扰的变化,佛冈县的森林恢复面积随时间的变化相对平稳。通过对佛冈县森林干扰和恢复面积的趋势分析,发现20世纪80年代末到90年代森林干扰和恢复的面积基本少于2000年以后的变化面积,变化趋势比2000年以后的显得平缓;从2000年开始,森林干扰面积逐渐上升,总体面积变化趋势高于森林的恢复,但森林的恢复面积仍有所提升。其中,佛冈县的森林干扰持续1a时间的面积比例约38%,持续2a时间约28%,持续3a时间约25%,持续4a时间约7%,主要为短期急剧的干扰事件。另外,持续时间为4a以上的森林干扰和恢复的面积在佛冈县不超过100hm^2。2000年之前持续干扰和急剧干扰面积相当,变化比较平缓;到2000年之后,急剧干扰的面积远大于持续干扰,最高约达2800 hm^2,但两者都呈现波动上升的变化趋势。在选取的两个4km^2的样方中,基于影像光谱识别以及通过比对干扰资料的可视化验证方法表明算法结果与真实地表的解译信息较吻合,误差约为0.1km^2。利用长时间序列遥感影像进行森林干扰的自动化监测十分必要,导出的定性、定位与定量信息,一方面为可持续的森林经营奠定基础,另一方面为评价森林生产力与森林碳储量提供有效的数据支撑。

Relationship between different surgical methods,hemorrhage position,hemorrhage volume,surgical timing,and treatment outcome of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage

BACKGROUND:The present study aimed to explore the relationship between surgical methods,hemorrhage position,hemorrhage volume,surgical timing and treatment outcome of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage(HICH).METHODS:A total of 1 310 patients,who had been admitted to six hospitals from January 2004 to January 2008,were divided into six groups according to different surgical methods:craniotomy through bone fl ap(group A),craniotomy through a small bone window(group B),stereotactic drilling drainage(group C1 and group C2),neuron-endoscopy operation(group D) and external ventricular drainage(group E) in consideration of hemorrhage position,hemorrhage volume and clinical practice. A retrospective analysis was made of surgical timing and curative effect of the surgical methods.RESULTS:The effectiveness rate of the methods was 74.12% for 1 310 patients after onemonth follow-up. In this series,the disability rate was 44.82% 3–6 months after the operation. Among the 1 310 patients,241(18.40%) patients died after the operation. If hematoma volume was >80 mL and the operation was performed within 3 hours,the mortality rate of group A was signifi cantly lower than that of groups B,C,D,and E(P<0.05). If hematoma volume was 50–80 mL and the operation was performed within 6–12 hours,the mortality rate of groups B and D was lower than that of groups A,C and E(P<0.05). If hematoma volume was 20–50 mL and the operation was performed within 6–24 hours,the mortality rate of group C was lower than that of groups A,B and D(P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS:Craniotomy through a bone f lap is suitable for patients with a large hematoma and hernia of the brain. Stereotactic drilling drainage is suggested for patients with hematoma volume less than 80 mL. The curative effect of HICH individualized treatment would be improved via the suitable selection of operation time and surgical method according to the position and volume of hemorrhage.

基于时序Landsat数据的地理国情监测方法初探

为全面掌握地表自然和人文地理国情信息,基于北京市海淀区1986—2010年间8个不同时相的Landsat数据,分析了海淀区资源与环境要素的时空变化特点,讨论了其中的驱动因素。结果表明:在1986—2010年间,耕地面积减少了45.7%,建设用地面积增加了38.95%,林、草地面积增加了23.44%,水体和其他用地面积变化不明显;城市范围向西、向北方向扩展,在西北旺地区表现得尤为明显;城市质心向西北方向偏移;城市紧凑度逐渐减小,分形指数逐渐增大,反映出城市饱和程度降低,城市边界逐步复杂化,综合土地利用动态度呈先减小后增大的趋势。因此认为,人口的增长、经济的发展、基础设施的建设以及政策法规的制定等,都促进了北京市海淀区资源与环境要素的变化。

基于1990—2019年Landsat影像的干旱区绿洲土地利用变化与模拟

探明西北干旱区典型人工绿洲阿拉尔垦区的土地利用变化及未来发展情况,为类似地区土地利用变化的调控和管理提供参考。将逐年各月份影像进行多时相合成后,运用支持向量机分类方法获得逐年土地利用分类图,从面积变化、类型转化、空间动态变化3方面进行土地利用变化分析,采用CA(cellular automaton)-Markov模型模拟2050和2080年土地利用变化情况,基于累积距平法和通径分析方法探究其突变情况和驱动因素。研究结果表明:1990—2019年,阿拉尔垦区耕地、园地、水体和建设用地的面积呈增加趋势,其中耕地和园地面积的增加主要是由塔里木河沿岸区域之外的未利用地转换而来。至2080年,垦区东北和东南部的未利用地将被逐渐开垦,耕地、园地和建设用地的面积将大幅增加。阿拉尔垦区土地利用类型面积在2005年发生转折性变化,耕地、园地和建设用地的面积急剧增加;垦区土地利用变化的主要驱动因素为总人口、农业生产总值和棉花价格。研究结论:在未来土地开发利用过程中,应当制定可持续发展的耕地开发政策,严格控制建设用地面积,构建合理的土地利用结构。

Electrocautery vs non-electrocautery dilation catheters in endoscopic ultrasonography-guided pancreatic fluid collection drainage

AIM: To investigate the safety and utility of an electrocautery dilation catheter for endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)-guided pancreatic fluid collection drainage.METHODS: A single-center, exploratory, retrospective study was conducted between August 2010 and August 2014. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of our institution. Informed, written consent was obtained from each patient prior to the procedure. The subjects included 28 consecutive patients who underwent EUS-guided transmural drainage(EUS-TD) for symptomatic pancreatic and peripancreatic fluid collections(PFCs) by fine needle aspiration using a 19-gauge needle. These patients were retrospectively divided into two groups based on the use of an electrocautery dilation catheter as a fistula dilation device; 15 patients were treated with an electrocautery dilation catheter(electrocautery group), and 13 patients were treated with a non-electrocautery dilation catheter(non-electrocautery group). We evaluated the technical and clinical successes and the adverse events associated with EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs between the two groups.RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, sex, type, location and diameter of PFCs between the groups. Thirteen patients(87%) in the electrocauterygroup and 10 patients(77%) in the non-electrocautery group presented with infected PFCs. The technical success rates of EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs were 100%(15/15) and 100%(13/13) for the electrocautery and the non-electrocautery groups, respectively. The clinical success rates of EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs were 67%(10/15) and 69%(9/13) for the electrocautery and the non-electrocautery groups, respectively(P = 0.794). The procedure time of EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs in the electrocautery group was significantly shorter than that of the non-electrocautery group(mean ± SD: 30 ± 12 min vs 52 ± 20 min, P < 0.001). Adverse events associated with EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs occurred in 0 patients and 1 patient for the electrocautery and the non-electrocautery groups, respectively(P = 0.942).CONCLUSION: EUS-TD using an electrocautery dilation catheter as a fistula dilation device for the treatment of symptomatic PFCs appears safe and contributes to a shorter procedure time.

Driving Mechanism of Cotton Comber's Detaching Roller Based on Time-Sharing Unidirectional Drive

The high-speed reciprocating motion of a detaching roller limits the velocity of a cotton comber and affects the quality of comber slivers. The article has proposed a controllable time-sharing unidirectional hybrid drive mechanism after analyzing detaching roller's current numerical control drive method. The analysis focuses on the detaching roller motion required according to cotton comber's velocity and process. The double-servo motors of the mechanism consists of differential gear trains. The mechanism addresses the problem of increased servo motor power,and failure of promptly responded to the positive inversion process of mechanism driven by servo motors. A velocity calculation model of the detaching roller controllable drive mechanism will be generated by using superposition method and design of differential gear trains. The accuracy of the model will be verified using the test platform. This study has presented a reliable and practical high-speed drive mechanism and can be a reference to future studies on high-speed reciprocating motion drive.

Lower Bounds on Negative Energy Densities for the Scalar Field in Flat Spacetime

We obtain a lower bound on the spacetime-weighted average of the energy density for the scalar field in four-dimensional flat spacetime. The bound takes the form of a quantum inequality. The inequality does not rely on the quantum state and its form is only related to the weights, namely the spacetime sampling functions which are assumed to be smooth, positive and compactly supported. It is found that the inequality is just equal to the temporal quantum energy inequality. When the characteristic length of the temporal sampling function tends to zero, the lower bound becomes divergent. This is consistent with the fact that the spatial restriction on negative energy density does not exist in four-dimensional spacetime.

Influence of the time delay of signal transmission on synchronization conditions in drive-response systems

Conditions for complete and lag synchronizations in drive-response systems are considered under the unified framework of generalized synchronization. The question is addressed that whether the synchronization conditions achieving complete synchronization is still valid for lag synchronization when the time delay of signal transmission between the drive and response systems increases from 0. Theoretical and numerical results show that whether the synchronization conditions is stable for the influence of the time delay of signal transmission depends on a particular form of equilibria of the drive and response systems. Furthermore, it seems that the less the number of the equilibria of the drive system, the more likely the synchronization conditions are stable for the time delay of signal trans- mission.