Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows and Simultaneous Delivery and Pick-Up Service Based on MCPSO

This paper considers two additional factors of the widely researched vehicle routing problem with time windows (VRPTW). The two factors, which are very common characteristics in realworld, are uncertain number of vehicles and simultaneous delivery and pick-up service. Using minimization of the total transport costs as the objective of the extension VRPTW, a mathematic model is constructed. To solve the problem, an efficient multiswarm cooperative particle swarm optimization (MCPSO) algorithm is applied. And a new encoding method is proposed for the extension VRPTW. Finally, comparing with genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, the MCPSO algorithm performs best for solving this problem

Real-time and screen-cam robust screen watermarking

Abstract Unauthorized photography of screen-loaded information has become a low-cost and difficult-to-trace method for leakage. Many researchers have proposed screen-cam robust watermarking methods for digital images and documents to identify surreptitious photography. However, these methods are designed for specific types of data and cannot be used in real time, which limits their applicability. This study proposes a screen watermarking method that possesses screen-cam robustness and real-time watermark refreshing. Specifically, a resolution-adaptive watermark template was designed that comprises message watermark templates and two types of synchronization watermark templates. To achieve real-time watermark refreshing, the pregenerated watermark template is directly embedded into the back buffer, which represents the content to be loaded onto the screen. A simplified just noticeable difference model was employed to ensure watermark imperceptibility. For watermark extraction, the positions of the embedded synchronization watermark templates are calculated using a synchronization response index method. Based on these positions, we can perform automatic perspective correction and locate the message watermark template embedded region. Finally, the message watermark was extracted from the discrete Fourier transform domain of the noise component. Extensive experiments demonstrated that the watermark refresh rate meets practical requirements and that the proposed method is robust against image-processing attacks and screen-cam attacks.Abstract Unauthorized photography of screen-loaded information has become a low-cost and difficult-to-trace method for leakage. Many researchers have proposed screen-cam robust watermarking methods for digital images and documents to identify surreptitious photography. However, these methods are designed for specific types of data and cannot be used in real time, which limits their applicability. This study proposes a screen watermarking method that possesses screen-cam robustness and real-time watermark refreshing. Specifically, a resolution-adaptive watermark template was designed that comprises message watermark templates and two types of synchronization watermark templates. To achieve real-time watermark refreshing, the pregenerated watermark template is directly embedded into the back buffer, which represents the content to be loaded onto the screen. A simplified just noticeable difference model was employed to ensure watermark imperceptibility. For watermark extraction, the positions of the embedded synchronization watermark templates are calculated using a synchronization response index method. Based on these positions, we can perform automatic perspective correction and locate the message watermark template embedded region. Finally, the message watermark was extracted from the discrete Fourier transform domain of the noise component. Extensive experiments demonstrated that the watermark refresh rate meets practical requirements and that the proposed method is robust against image-processing attacks and screen-cam attacks

Depressive symptoms and its influencing factors of older people with cataracts in China: a national cross-sectional survey

BackgroundDepressive symptoms are a common complication in patients with cataracts and may exacerbate cataract symptoms. Therefore, it is important to focus on depressive symptoms and their influencing factors in older people with cataracts. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence rate of depressive symptoms and influencing factors in Chinese older people with cataracts.MethodsDescriptive analyses were used to report the sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, health status, and depressive symptoms of old people with cataracts in China. The chi-square test was used to compare differences between subjects with different demographic characteristics. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the factors that influenced the depressive symptoms of cataract patients. Meanwhile, a random forest model was developed in this study to rank the importance of the influencing factors.ResultsThree hundred and six (25.27%) of 1,211 cataract patients included in this study suffered from depressive symptoms. Logistic regression analysis suggested that poor economic situation (AOR = 3.162, 95%CI: 1.719–5.817), social participation (AOR = 1.530, 95%CI: 1.053–2.222), having hearing disorder (AOR = 1.445, 95%CI: 1.040–2.008), poor self-reported health status (AOR = 2.646, 95%CI: 1.705–4.106), poor life satisfaction (AOR = 3.586, 95%CI: 1.652–7.784) were risk factors for depressive symptoms in cataract patients and consumption of fresh fruits (AOR = 0.587, 95%CI: 0.369–0.933) was a protective factor for depressive symptoms in cataract patients. The results of the random forest showed that self-reported health status was the most important factor influencing depressive symptoms in cataract patients. The other factors, in order of importance, were life satisfaction, economic situation, fruits, hearing disorder, and social participation.ConclusionThe results suggested that the development of depressive symptoms in cataract patients was influenced by various factors. Medical staff should monitor these influencing factors more closely when treating and caring for patients with cataracts

Interface-engineered ferroelectricity of epitaxial Hf\u3csub\u3e0.5\u3c/sub\u3eZr\u3csub\u3e0.5\u3c/sub\u3eO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e thin films

Ferroelectric hafnia-based thin films have attracted intense attention due to their compatibility with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology. However, the ferroelectric orthorhombic phase is thermodynamically metastable. Various efforts have been made to stabilize the ferroelectric orthorhombic phase of hafnia-based films such as controlling the growth kinetics and mechanical confinement. Here, we demonstrate a key interface engineering strategy to stabilize and enhance the ferroelectric orthorhombic phase of the Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 thin film by deliberately controlling the termination of the bottom La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 layer. We find that the Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 films on the MnO2-terminated La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 have more ferroelectric orthorhombic phase than those on the LaSrO-terminated La0.67Sr0.33MnO3, while with no wake-up effect. Even though the Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 thickness is as thin as 1.5nm, the clear ferroelectric orthorhombic (111) orientation is observed on the MnO2 termination. Our transmission electron microscopy characterization and theoretical modelling reveal that reconstruction at the Hf0.5Zr0.5O2/ La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 interface and hole doping of the Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 layer resulting from theMnO2 interface termination are responsible for the stabilization of the metastable ferroelectric phase of Hf0.5Zr0.5O2. We anticipate that these results will inspire further studies of interface-engineered hafnia-based systems

Idiopathic Male Infertility Is Strongly Associated with Aberrant Promoter Methylation of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR)

Abnormal germline DNA methylation in males has been proposed as a possible mechanism compromising spermatogenesis of some men currently diagnosed with idiopathic infertility. Previous studies have been focused on imprinted genes with DNA methylation in poor quality human sperms. However, recent but limited data have revealed that sperm methylation abnormalities may involve large numbers of genes or shown that genes that are not imprinted are also affected.Using the methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction and bisulfite sequencing method, we examined methylation patterns of the promoter of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene (NG_013351: 1538-1719) in sperm DNA obtained from 94 idiopathic infertile men and 54 normal fertile controls. Subjects with idiopathic infertility were further divided into groups of normozoospermia and oligozoospermia. Overall, 45% (41/94) of idiopathic infertile males had MTHFR hypermethylation (both hemimethylation and full methylation), compared with 15% of fertile controls (P<0.05). Subjects with higher methylation level of MTHFR were more likely to have idiopathic male infertility (P-value for trend  = 0.0007). Comparing the two groups of idiopathic infertile subjects with different sperm concentrations, a higher methylation pattern was found in the group with oligozoospermia.Hypermethylation of the promoter of MTHFR gene in sperms is associated with idiopathic male infertility. The functional relevance of hypermathylation of MTHFR to male fertility warrants further investigation

Molecular classification of patients with NMIBC predicts the efficacy of intravesical chemotherapy with pirarubicin, pharmorubicin and gemcitabine-immunohistochemistry-based classification

Abstract Objective To investigate the relationships between non-muscle invasive bladder cancer molecular subtypes and predict the efficacy of intravesical chemotherapy with pirarubicin, pharmorubicin and gemcitabine. Methods A total of 160 patients with T1 stage non-muscle invasive bladder cancer were enrolled in this study. Fifty-three patients underwent anthracycline (Pirarubicin and Pharmorubicin) therapy and 107 patients accepted gemcitabine therapy. Uroplakin II and CK20 were categorized as immunohistochemistry (IHC) markers for luminal subtype, whereas CK5/6 and CD44 were categorized as immunohistochemistry markers for basal subtype. The cluster results with immunohistochemical score indicated that non-muscle invasive bladder cancer can be subgrouped into three major classes. Results Class 2 showed the luminal-like characteristics, whereas class 3 showed the basal-like characteristics. Class 1 showed no high expression of luminal or basal-associated immunohistochemistry markers. The molecular subtype is an independent risk factor for recurrence-free survival (P = 0.030) and progression-free survival (P = 0.006) in patients with T1 stage non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. In class 1 and class 2 (luminal-like) subtypes, gemcitabine and anthracycline show no difference in recurrence-free survival and progression-free survival. Gemcitabine was associated with reduced recurrence compared with anthracycline (P = 0.039) in class 3 (basal-like) subtypes and show no difference in decreasing progression. Conclusions The molecular classification based on immunohistochemical results is an independent risk factor for the prognosis of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer with T1 stage. Different therapeutic methods should be selected according to different molecular subtypes. </jats:sec

Antimicrobial Susceptibilities and Clinical Characterization of &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Pseudomonas aeruginosa&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Isolates from Urinary Tract Infections

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Introduction:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Pseudomonas aeruginosa&lt;/i&gt; is a uropathogen that is mainly involved in nosocomial infection. The aim of this study was to analyze the antimicrobial susceptibilities and clinical characterization of &lt;i&gt;P. aeruginosa&lt;/i&gt; isolates from urinary tract infections (UTIs). &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; The study collected all &lt;i&gt;P. aeruginosa&lt;/i&gt; UTI strains from a hospital in Chongqing, China, from January 1st, 2010 to December 31st, 2011. The antibiotic susceptibilities of the &lt;i&gt;P. aeruginosa&lt;/i&gt; isolates were analyzed using the agar dilution method and the genotypes were assessed using random amplification of polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR). The clinical characteristics of the patients with UTIs were collected from the hospital information systems, and significance was analyzed using the proportion test. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; A total of 2,778 episodes of culture-proven UTIs were used in the study. There were 198 infections (7.1%) caused by &lt;i&gt;P. aeruginosa&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;i&gt;P. aeruginosa&lt;/i&gt; strains were highly resistant to most drugs tested. The RAPD-PCR data revealed that the 198 &lt;i&gt;P. aeruginosa&lt;/i&gt; infections had 82 different genotypes. Antibacterial use, previous UTI, urinary tract catheter and urinary tract operation were found to be risk factors for the development of UTIs. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;i&gt;P. aeruginosa&lt;/i&gt; is the second most common UTI pathogen in our hospital. We should closely monitor patients with risk factors for &lt;i&gt;P. aeruginosa&lt;/i&gt; infection.</jats:p