New Refinement Relations of Z Specifications for Multiple Viewpoints Oriented Requirements Method

In this paper we develop several new refinement relations of Z for multiple viewpoints oriented requirements method (MVORM). The original motivation is that we found the standard Z refinement relation is not adequate or correct when considering specifications that have temporal relationships of operations. The concept of temporal state variables is introduced into Z. Then new implementation relations are defined and new refinement relations are deduced, mainly for temporal state variables to process temporal relationships of operations. We use state transition systems to abstract the temporal state transitions. A simple example is used to show the procedures of MVORM. Finally some directions of further work are forwarded.

Interactive group decision making procedure based on uncertain multiplicative linguistic preference relations

Group decision making problems are investigated with uncertain multiplicative linguistic preference relations.An unbalanced multiplicative linguistic label set is introduced,which can be used by the experts to express their linguistic preference information over alternatives.The uncertain linguistic weighted geometric mean operator is utilized to aggregate all the individual uncertain multiplicative linguistic preference relations into a collective one,and then a simple approach is developed to determine the experts＇ weights by utilizing the consensus degrees among the individual uncertain multiplicative linguistic preference relations and the collective uncertain multiplicative linguistic preference relations.Furthermore,a practical interactive procedure for group decision making is proposed based on uncertain multiplicative linguistic preference relations,in which a possibility degree formula and a complementary matrix are used to rank the given alternatives.Finally,the proposed procedure is applied to solve the group decision making problem of a manufacturing company searching the best global supplier for one of its most critical parts used in assembling process.

Interpreting Dose-Response Relation for Exposure to Multiple Sound Impulses in the Framework of Immunity

Hearing loss is a common military health problem and it is closely related to exposures to impulse noises from blast explosions and weapon firings. In a study based on test data of chinchillas and scaled to humans (Military Medicine, 181: 59-69), an empirical injury model was constructed for exposure to multiple sound impulses of equal intensity. Building upon the empirical injury model, we conduct a mathematical study of the hearing loss injury caused by multiple impulses of non-uniform intensities. We adopt the theoretical framework of viewing individual sound exposures as separate injury causing events, and in that framework, we examine synergy for causing injury (fatigue) or negative synergy (immunity) or independence among a sequence of doses. Starting with the empirical logistic dose-response relation and the empirical dose combination rule, we show that for causing injury, a sequence of sound exposure events are not independent of each other. The phenomenological effect of a preceding event on the subsequent event is always immunity. We extend the empirical dose combination rule, which is applicable only in the case of homogeneous impulses of equal intensity, to accommodate the general case of multiple heterogeneous sound exposures with non-uniform intensities. In addition to studying and extending the empirical dose combination rule, we also explore the dose combination rule for the hypothetical case of independent events, and compare it with the empirical one. We measure the effect of immunity quantitatively using the immunity factor defined as the percentage of decrease in injury probability attributed to the sound exposure in the preceding event. Our main findings on the immunity factor are: 1) the immunity factor is primarily a function of the difference in SELA (A- weighted sound exposure level) between the two sound exposure events;it is virtually independent of the magnitude of the two SELA values as long as the difference is fixed;2) the immunity factor increases monotonically from 0 to 100% as the first dose is varied from being significantly below the second dose, to being moderately above the second dose. The extended dose-response formulation developed in this study provides a theoretical framework for assessing the injury risk in realistic situations.

Surface-Related Multiple Elimination on High-Resolution Geopulse Profile

A geopulse seismic system was implemented to obtain new information on underlying strata beneath the Yellow River Delta. However, owing to the shpping of sea floor and shallow water （ 〈 25 m）, free surface-related multiples are conflicted with the flat primaries, which may instruct the interpreters in a wrong way and make wrong conclusions. Owing to the variation of multiple periods, standard anti-multiple techniques may lose their power, such as predictive deconvolution. Surface-related multiple elimination methods are introduced to attenuate the multiples based on the underlying waveequation principles. The results justified the method on the single-channel geopulse profile, revealing the real nature of the subsurface.

The Diagnostic Role of Brain MRI in Detection of Multiple Sclerosis Related Cognitive Impairment

Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) is a common manifestation of multiple sclerosis (MS), which can severely affect patients’ and their families’ life. Early suspicion and detection of CI can improve general medical management of MS patients. Objectives: To correlate MS related CI to cortical brain lesions using brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and Methods: Cognitive impairment was detected using mini mental state examination (MMSE);Neurological examination and brain MRI were performed for all patients. Correlation was calculated between disease cortical burden detected by MRI and CI. Results: Fifty-three patients with proven MS were scanned by brain MRI;69.8% of them had cognitive impairment diagnosed with MMSE. The presence and severity of cognitive impairment was correlated to cortical brain lesion. Cognitive impairment was not correlated with non-cortical brain lesions or neurological physical disability measured by Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Conclusions: Presence of brain frontal cortical lesions detected by MRI in MS patients can predict subsequent development of MS-related CI.

Group Decision-Making Method with Incomplete Intuitionistic Fuzzy Preference Relations Based on a Generalized Multiplicative Consistent Concept

Based on the analyses of existing preference group decision-making(PGDM)methods with intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations(IFPRs),we present a new PGDM framework with incomplete IFPRs.A generalized multiplicative consistent for IFPRs is defined,and a mathematical programming model is constructed to supplement the missing values in incomplete IFPRs.Moreover,in this study,another mathematical programming model is constructed to improve the consistency level of unacceptably multiplicative consistent IFPRs.For group decisionmaking(GDM)with incomplete IFPRs,three reliable sources influencing the weights of experts are identified.Subsequently,a method for determining the weights of experts is developed by simultaneously considering three reliable sources.Furthermore,a targeted consensus process(CPR)is developed in this study with reference to the actual situation of the consensus level of each IFPR.Meanwhile,in response to the proposed multiplicative consistency definition,a novel method for determining the optimal priority weights of alternatives is redefined.Lastly,based on the above theory,a novel GDM method with incomplete IFPRs is developed,and the comparative and sensitivity analysis results demonstrate the utility and superiority of this work.

Differential Diagnosis for Multiple Sclerosis-related Optic Neuritis

Purpose:.To analyze clinical features and main causes of multiple sclerosis-related optic neuritis(MS-ON), providing evidence for the differential diagnosis of MS-ON.Methods: Clinical data were collected from 527 patients, 123 males and 404 females, diagnosed with MS-ON between June2008 and June 2013. Visual acuity, optometry, visual field,slit-lamp microscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy(20D), optical coherence tomography(OCT) and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) were performed. Venous blood was sampled for detection of autoimmune antibodies and Aquaporin(AQP-4).Results:.Fifty nine cases were diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica-related optic neuritis.(NMO-ON),.27 Sjogren's syndrome-related optic neuropathy,.22 tumors,.21 anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, 15 radiation-induced optic neuropathy, 14 optic neuropathy-related infection, 17 genetic eye diseases and 10 open angle glaucoma. Among168 MS-ON patients undergoing optic nerve MRI,90 cases(53.57%) had a lesion < 15 mm in size, 15-30 mm in 76(45.24%) and > 30 mm in two(1.19%).Conclusion:.MS-ON is more commonly misdiagnosed with NMO-ON and Sjogren's syndrome, when compared to optic neuropathy, tumors and ischemic optic neuropathy.

Risk of Hearing Loss Caused by Multiple Acoustic Impulses in the Framework of Biovariability

We consider the hearing loss injury among subjects in a crowd with a wide spectrum of individual intrinsic injury probabilities due to biovariability. For multiple acoustic impulses, the observed injury risk of a crowd vs the effective combined dose follows the logistic dose-response relation. The injury risk of a crowd is the average fraction of injured. The injury risk was measured in experiments as follows: each subject is individually exposed to a sequence of acoustic impulses of a given intensity and the injury is recorded;results of multiple individual subjects were assembled into data sets to mimic the response of a crowd. The effective combined dose was adjusted by varying the number of impulses in the sequence. The most prominent feature observed in experiments is that the injury risk of the crowd caused by multiple impulses is significantly less than the value predicted based on assumption that all impulses act independently in causing injury and all subjects in the crowd are statistically identical. Previously, in the case where all subjects are statistically identical (i.e., no biovariability), we interpreted the observed injury risk caused by multiple impulses in terms of the immunity effects of preceding impulses on subsequent impulses. In this study, we focus on the case where all sound exposure events act independently in causing injury regardless of whether one is preceded by another (i.e., no immunity effect). Instead, we explore the possibility of interpreting the observed logistic dose-response relation in the framework of biovariability of the crowd. Here biovariability means that subjects in the crowd have their own individual injury probabilities. That is, some subjects are biologically less or more susceptible to hearing loss injury than others. We derive analytically the distribution of individual injury probability that produces the observed logistic dose-response relation. For several parameter values, we prove that the derived distribution is mathematically a proper density function. We further study the asymptotic approximations for the density function and discuss their significance in practical numerical computation with finite precision arithmetic. Our mathematical analysis implies that the observed logistic dose-response relation can be theoretically explained in the framework of biovariability in the absence of immunity effect.

Group Decision Making With Consistency of Intuitionistic Fuzzy Preference Relations Under Uncertainty

Intuitionistic fuzzy preference relation(IFPR) is a suitable technique to express fuzzy preference information by decision makers(DMs). This paper aims to provide a group decision making method where DMs use the IFPRs to indicate their preferences with uncertain weights. To begin with, a model to derive weight vectors of alternatives from IFPRs based on multiplicative consistency is presented. Specifically, for any IFPR,by minimizing its absolute deviation from the corresponding consistent IFPR, the weight vectors are generated. Secondly,a method to determine relative weights of DMs depending on preference information is developed. After that we prioritize alternatives based on the obtained weights considering the risk preference of DMs. Finally, this approach is applied to the problem of technical risks assessment of armored equipment to illustrate the applicability and superiority of the proposed method.

Combined Adaptive Multiple Subtraction Based on Optimized Event Tracing and Extended Wiener Filtering

The surface-related multiple elimination(SRME) method is based on feedback formulation and has become one of the most preferred multiple suppression methods used. However, some differences are apparent between the predicted multiples and those in the source seismic records, which may result in conventional adaptive multiple subtraction methods being barely able to effectively suppress multiples in actual production. This paper introduces a combined adaptive multiple attenuation method based on the optimized event tracing technique and extended Wiener filtering. The method firstly uses multiple records predicted by SRME to generate a multiple velocity spectrum, then separates the original record to an approximate primary record and an approximate multiple record by applying the optimized event tracing method and short-time window FK filtering method. After applying the extended Wiener filtering method, residual multiples in the approximate primary record can then be eliminated and the damaged primary can be restored from the approximate multiple record. This method combines the advantages of multiple elimination based on the optimized event tracing method and the extended Wiener filtering technique. It is an ideal method for suppressing typical hyperbolic and other types of multiples, with the advantage of minimizing damage of the primary. Synthetic and field data tests show that this method produces better multiple elimination results than the traditional multi-channel Wiener filter method and is more suitable for multiple elimination in complicated geological areas.

Two Generic Frameworks of Multiple Viewpoints Oriented Requirements Method and Their Comparison

Traditional requirements method has some problems when it is used for large distributed systems. Multiple viewpoints oriented requirements method (MVORM) is a new method for resolving these problems. This paper develops two generic formal frameworks of MVORM, framework based on refinement relation (FBRR) and framework based on implementation relation (FBIR). They are generic, because no assumptions are made about the development process or the formal description languages to be used. Three kinds of specification relations and three kinds of specification transformations are discussed over FBIR and FBRR. This paper also compares the equivalence between FBIR and FBRR. We point out that an equivalent FBIR can be found for any FBRR, but reverse transformation is not always possible. We think FBIR is better than FBRR on most cases.

The Calculation of Parameters for DNA Kinetic Structure Based on Monte-Carlo Multiple Integrals

Based on protein-DNA complex crystal structural data in up-to-date Nucleic Acid Database,the related parameters of DNA Kinetic Structure were investigated by Monte-Carlo Multiple Integrals on the base of modified DNA structure statistical mechanical model,and time complexity and precision were analyzed on the calculated results.

Towards a Methodology for the Differential Analysis in Human Locomotion: A Pilot Study on the Participation of Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that can range from relatively benign to somewhat disabling to devastating, as communication between the brain and other parts of the body is disrupted. Scientists have learned a great deal about MS in recent years;yet still, its cause remains elusive. This paper intends to investigate the hypothesis that gait dynamics have meaning and may be useful in providing insight into the neural control of locomotion. It further seeks to explore the mutual interactions and influences of MS functions on gait, and vice versa, in a quantitative and robust fashion. Ground reaction forces (GRFs), muscle activities, and segmental accelerations within a gait cycle were analyzed in this study. Patterns of the signals from six relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients were compared with the healthy subjects. This quantitative gait analysis aids to illuminate a better understanding of the mobility-related disease such as RRMS characteristics. An outcome of this study is a reproducible methodology for helping therapists make reliable and differentiable diagnosis, design a tailored therapeutic strategy, and comfortably evaluate the follow-ups on patient’s functional recovery.

Homogenized Daily Relative Humidity Series in China during 1960?2017

Surface relative humidity(RH)is a key element for weather and climate monitoring and research.However,RH is not as commonly applied in studying climate change,partly because the observation series of RH are prone to inhomogeneous biases due to non-climate changes in the observation system.A homogenized dataset of daily RH series from 746 stations in Chinese mainland for the period 1960–2017,ChinaRHv1.0,has been developed.Most(685 or 91.82%of the total)station time series were inhomogeneous with one or more break points.The major breakpoints occurred in the early 2000s for many stations,especially in the humid and semi-humid zones,due to the implementation of automated observation across the country.The inhomogeneous biases in the early manual records before this change are positive relative to the recent automatic records,for most of the biased station series.There are more break points detected by using the MASH(Multiple Analysis of Series for Homogenization)method,with biases mainly around?0.5%and 0.5%.These inhomogeneous biases are adjusted with reference to the most recent observations for each station.Based on the adjusted observations,the regional mean RH series of China shows little long-term trend during 1960–2017[0.006%(10 yr)^?1],contrasting with a false decreasing trend[?0.414%(10 yr)?1]in the raw data.It is notable that ERA5 reanalysis data match closely with the interannual variations of the raw RH series in China,including the jump in the early 2000s,raising a caveat for its application in studying climate change in the region.

Application of grey relational analysis in sheet metal forming for multi-response quality characteristics

The theory of grey systems is a new technique for performing prediction, relational analysis and decision making in many areas. In this paper, the use of grey relational analysis for optimizing the square hole flanging process parameters with considerations of the multiple response (the average flanging height, regular flanging and maximum strain) is introduced. Various flanging parameters, such as the blank inner radius rb, blank inner width B0, are considered. An orthogonal array is used for the experimental design. Multiple response values are obtained using finite element analysis (FEA). Optimal process parameters are determined by the grey relational grade obtained from the grey relational analysis for multi-performance characteristics (flanging height, regular flanging and maximum strain). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the grey relational grade is implemented. The results showed good agreement with the experiment result. Grey relational analysis can be applied in multiple response optimi-zation designs.

Clinical analysis of central venous catheter-related infections in patients in the emergency ICU

BACKGROUND:Catheter-related infection(CRI)of the central vein is a common cause of nosocomial infection.This study was undertaken to investigate the pathogen culturing and risk factors of CRI in emergency intensive care unit(EICU)in order to provide the beneficial reference.METHODS:From January 2008 to December 2010,a total of 1 363 patients were subjected to catheterization.In these patients,the peak CRI rate of the patients was determined by bacterial cultivation and blood bacterial cultivation.RESULTS:CRI happened in 147 of the 1 363 patients using the central venous catheter.The peak rate of CRI was 10.79%,with an incidence of 3.05 episodes per 1 000 catheter days.Of the147 patients,46.94%had gram-negative bacilli,40.14%had gram-positive cocci,and 12.92%had fungi.Unconditional logistic regression analysis suggests that multiple catheterization,femoral vein catheterization,the application of multicavity catheter,and the duration of catheterization were the independent risk factors for CRI.CONCLUSION:The risk factors for catheter-related infections should be controlled to prevent the occurrence of nosocomial infection.

CAE-Based Robust Optimization for Deep-Drawing Process of Sheet Metal Forming Using Grey Relational Analysis Method

The theory of grey systems is a new technique for performing prediction, relational analysis and decision making in many areas. The grey relational analysis was used to optimize the deep-drawing process parameters with considerations of the multiple response （the wrinkle, crack and thinning variation）. The deep-drawing parame- ters, such as the blank holding force （Fhh）, the radii of punch and die （R1.R2）, the coefficients of friction （μ1,μ2,μ3） are considered. An orthogonal array is used for the experimental design. The multiple response values are ob- tained making use of finite element analysis （FEA）. Optimal process parameters are determined by the grey rela- tional grade obtained from the grey relational analysis for multi-performance characteristics （the wrinkle, crack and the thinning）. The analysis of variance （ANOVA） for the grey relational grade is implemented. The results show that the quality of stamped parts can be improved effectively through the new approach. The grey relational analysis can be applied in sheet metal forming.

A User-Transformer Relation Identification Method Based on QPSO and Kernel Fuzzy Clustering

User-transformer relations are significant to electric power marketing,power supply safety,and line loss calculations.To get accurate user-transformer relations,this paper proposes an identification method for user-transformer relations based on improved quantum particle swarm optimization(QPSO)and Fuzzy C-Means Clustering.The main idea is:as energymeters at different transformer areas exhibit different zero-crossing shift features,we classify the zero-crossing shift data from energy meters through Fuzzy C-Means Clustering and compare it with that at the transformer end to identify user-transformer relations.The proposed method contributes in three main ways.First,based on the fuzzy C-means clustering algorithm(FCM),the quantum particle swarm optimization(PSO)is introduced to optimize the FCM clustering center and kernel parameters.The optimized FCM algorithm can improve clustering accuracy and efficiency.Since easily falls into a local optimum,an improved PSO optimization algorithm(IQPSO)is proposed.Secondly,considering that traditional FCM cannot solve the linear inseparability problem,this article uses a FCM(KFCM)that introduces kernel functions.Combinedwith the IQPSOoptimization algorithm used in the previous step,the IQPSO-KFCM algorithm is proposed.Simulation experiments verify the superiority of the proposed method.Finally,the proposed method is applied to transformer detection.The proposed method determines the class members of transformers and meters in the actual transformer area,and obtains results consistent with actual user-transformer relations.This fully shows that the proposed method has practical application value.

Subjective Well-Being among Empty-Nest Elderly and Its Related Factors:Taking Guangdong Province as an Example

Objective:To explore the the status of happiness and social support of empty nesters in Guangdong Province and analyze the relationship between the above two variables.Method:Totally 1148 empty nesters(776 males,734 females)from 5 cities in Guangdong province are selected by stratified random sampling and conducted with Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness(MUNSH),Social Support Rating Scale(SSRS),Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)and a self-edited questionnaire on the general information.Results:The total score of MUNSH is(10.20±6.37).The total score and the scores of the 3 dimensions of objective support,subject support,the use of support in SSRS are(30.79±5.51),(9.24±2.37),(19.38±4.95)and(9.22±2.15)respectively.Multiple variable linear regression show that are positively associated with the total scores of MUNSH(B=.227,.115,.098,.158,.082,respectively,P<.05).was negatively associated with total score of MUNSH(B=-.097,P<.05).Conclusion:It suggests that the sort of leisure,gender,progress rank,family characteristics,such as family economic condition and father’s career may be related factors of undergraduates life satisfaction.