Reply to Commentary on “Role of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Treating Children With Overactive Bladder From Pooled Analysis of 8 Randomized Controlled Trials”

Zhongbao Zhou,Yuanshan Cui 대한배뇨장애요실금학회 2020 International Neurourology Journal Vol.24 No.2

Broadband Stacked Patch Antenna with Low VSWR and Low Cross-Polarization

Zhongbao Wang,Shaojun Fang,Shiqiang Fu 한국전자통신연구원 2010 ETRI Journal Vol.32 No.4

A low cross-polarization broadband stacked patch antenna is proposed. By means of the stacked patch configuration and probe-fed strip feed technique, the VSWR 1.2:1 bandwidth of the patch antenna is enhanced to 22% from 804 MHz to 1,002 MHz, which outperforms the other available patch antennas (<10%). Furthermore, the antenna has a cross-polarization level of less than –20 dB and a gain level of about 9 dBi across the operating bandwidth. Simulation results are compared with the measurements, and a good agreement is observed.

ANN Synthesis Models Trained with Modified GA-LM Algorithm for ACPWs with Conductor Backing and Substrate Overlaying

Zhongbao Wang,Shaojun Fang,Shiqiang Fu 한국전자통신연구원 2012 ETRI Journal Vol.34 No.5

Accurate synthesis models based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) are proposed to directly obtain the physical dimensions of an asymmetric coplanar waveguide with conductor backing and substrate overlaying (ACPWCBSO). First, the ACPWCBSO is analyzed with the conformal mapping technique (CMT) to obtain the training data. Then, a modified genetic-algorithm-Levenberg-Marquardt (GA-LM) algorithm is adopted to train ANNs. In the algorithm, the maximal relative error (MRE) is used as the fitness function of the chromosomes to guarantee that the MRE is small, while the mean square error is used as the error function in LM training to ensure that the average relative error is small. The MRE of ANNs trained with the modified GA-LM algorithm is less than 8.1%, which is smaller than those trained with the existing GA-LM algorithm and the LM algorithm (greater than 15%). Lastly, the ANN synthesis models are validated by the CMT analysis, electromagnetic simulation, and measurements.

Energy-Aware Virtual Data Center Embedding

( Xiao Ma ),( Zhongbao Zhang ),( Sen Su ) 한국정보처리학회 2020 Journal of information processing systems Vol.16 No.2

As one of the most significant challenges in the virtual data center, the virtual data center embedding has attracted extensive attention from researchers. The existing research works mainly focus on how to design algorithms to increase operating revenue. However, they ignore the energy consumption issue of the physical data center in virtual data center embedding. In this paper, we focus on studying the energy-aware virtual data center embedding problem. Specifically, we first propose an energy consumption model. It includes the energy consumption models of the virtual machine node and the virtual switch node, aiming to quantitatively measure the energy consumption in virtual data center embedding. Based on such a model, we propose two algorithms regarding virtual data center embedding: one is heuristic, and the other is based on particle swarm optimization. The second algorithm provides a better solution to virtual data center embedding by leveraging the evolution process of particle swarm optimization. Finally, experiment results show that our proposed algorithms can effectively save energy while guaranteeing the embedding success rate.

Identifying Influential People Based on Interaction Strength

( Muhammad Azam Zia ),( Zhongbao Zhang ),( Liutong Chen ),( Haseeb Ahmad ),( Sen Su ) 한국정보처리학회 2017 Journal of information processing systems Vol.13 No.4

Extraction of influential people from their respective domains has attained the attention of scholastic community during current epoch. This study introduces an innovative interaction strength metric for retrieval of the most influential users in the online social network. The interactive strength is measured by three factors, namely re-tweet strength, commencing intensity and mentioning density. In this article, we design a novel algorithm called IPRank that considers the communications from perspectives of followers and followees in order to mine and rank the most influential people based on proposed interaction strength metric. We conducted extensive experiments to evaluate the strength and rank of each user in the micro-blog network. The comparative analysis validates that IPRank discovered high ranked people in terms of interaction strength. While the prior algorithm placed some low influenced people at high rank. The proposed model uncovers influential people due to inclusion of a novel interaction strength metric that improves results significantly in contrast with prior algorithm.

Identifying Influential People Based on Interaction Strength

Zia, Muhammad Azam,Zhang, Zhongbao,Chen, Liutong,Ahmad, Haseeb,Su, Sen Korea Information Processing Society 2017 Journal of information processing systems Vol.13 No.4

Extraction of influential people from their respective domains has attained the attention of scholastic community during current epoch. This study introduces an innovative interaction strength metric for retrieval of the most influential users in the online social network. The interactive strength is measured by three factors, namely re-tweet strength, commencing intensity and mentioning density. In this article, we design a novel algorithm called IPRank that considers the communications from perspectives of followers and followees in order to mine and rank the most influential people based on proposed interaction strength metric. We conducted extensive experiments to evaluate the strength and rank of each user in the micro-blog network. The comparative analysis validates that IPRank discovered high ranked people in terms of interaction strength. While the prior algorithm placed some low influenced people at high rank. The proposed model uncovers influential people due to inclusion of a novel interaction strength metric that improves results significantly in contrast with prior algorithm.

Structure effect of a suction pipe on slag-discharging performance in a shaft boring machine

Hejia Jiang,Laikuang Lin,Zhongbao Wen,Xuemeng Xiao,Zixiong Zhou,Yimin Xia 대한기계학회 2023 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.37 No.9

The efficiency and stability of shaft boring machines depend critically on the slag-discharging system. In this study, we simulate the slagging process by using the coupled computational fluid dynamics/discrete element method and validate the method’s reliability through experiments. We investigate the impact of outlet diameter, inlet diameter, and outlet section length on slag-discharging performance. We establish the slag-discharging principle of the suction pipe by analyzing the particle motion trajectory. The flow field close to the suction pipe can be classified into collecting and lifting zones on the basis of the main flow direction velocity. Furthermore, we propose pipes with seven typical types, among which the straightconical type exhibits the most favorable slag-discharging performance. The straight-conical pipe enhances the slag-discharging mass by 22.49 % compared with the straight pipe.

Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of Imidafenacin for Overactive Bladder Induced by Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Men Receiving Alpha-Blocker Therapy

Tong Cai,Ning Wang,Liye Liang,Zhongbao Zhou,Yong Zhang,Yuanshan Cui 대한배뇨장애요실금학회 2020 International Neurourology Journal Vol.24 No.4

Purpose: The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of imidafenacin for overactive bladder (OAB) induced by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men receiving alpha-blocker monotherapy.Methods: We performed a systematic research of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases, and searched for studies about alpha-blocker with or without imidafenacin treatment for OAB in patients with BPH. We also investigated the original references of the included texts.Results: Four randomized controlled trials including 779 participants with BPH (389 in the alpha-blocker+imidafenacin group and 390 in the alpha-blocker only group) were studied. The main efficacy endpoint was the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score, which showed a mean difference of -1.88 (95% confidence interval, -2.32 to -1.44; P<0.00001), suggesting that alpha-blocker and imidafenacin treatment was effective in treating men with OAB. As other primary efficacy end points, the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) total score (P=0.47), the IPSS storage symptom score (P=0.07), the IPSS voiding symptom score (P=0.60), and the IPSS quality of life score (P=0.18) indicated that 2 methods had no significant differences in treating men with OAB. In terms of safety, which was assessed using postvoid residual volume (P=0.05) and maximum flow rate (P=0.53), the analysis suggested that combination treatment was very well tolerated.Conclusions: This study suggested that imidafenacin plus alpha-blocker was an efficacious and safe treatment for OAB symptoms in BPH patients.

Role of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Treating Children With Overactive Bladder From Pooled Analysis of 8 Randomized Controlled Trials

Huanqin Cui,Yi Yao,Zhunan Xu,Zhenli Gao,Jitao Wu,Zhongbao Zhou,Yuanshan Cui 대한배뇨장애요실금학회 2020 International Neurourology Journal Vol.24 No.1

Purpose: Transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS), as a non-invasive modality, has been clinically used as an alternative treatment for children with overactive bladder (OAB). We conducted a pooled analysis to explore the effect of TENS on OAB. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guideline was followed in this study. The MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases, as well as the reference lists of the retrieved studies, were used to find trials relevant for assessing the use of TENS to treat OAB. Results: Of the 246 records identified, 8 publications were analyzed in our study. Our analysis found that TENS resulted in a greater decrease of wet days/wk, daily voiding frequency, daily incontinence episodes, and daily number of voids than was observed in the control group. Furthermore, TENS-treated patients showed similar visual analogue scale (VAS) scores to patients in the control group, demonstrating that the application of TENS did not increase patients’ discomfort and pain. TENS had a relative advantage in the number of partial responses, but no clear differences were found in frequency of no response or a full response compared to the control group. In urodynamic testing, TENS led to obvious improvements in average voided volume and maximum voided volume in children with OAB. Conclusions: TENS had a remarkable effect on the improvement of urodynamic indexes and objective OAB symptoms without a significant increase in VAS scores for children with OAB.

Heterologous expression of ZmNF-YA12 confers tolerance to drought and salt stress in Arabidopsis

Zhang Tongtong,Zheng Dengyu,Zhang Chun,Wu Zhongyi,Yu Rong,Zhang Zhongbao 한국식물생명공학회 2022 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.16 No.4

Drought and salinity are serious environmental factors limiting the growth and productivity of plants worldwide. Therefore, it is necessary to develop ways to improve drought and salinity stress tolerance in plants. In this study, a drought-responsive nuclear factor Y subunit A gene, ZmNF-YA12, was cloned from maize. qPCR revealed ZmNF-YA12 transcript in all vegeta- tive and reproductive tissues, with higher levels in young roots. Expression analyses of maize revealed that ZmNF-YA12 was induced by abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA), and abiotic stresses, including dehydration, high salinity, cold, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatment. The heterologous expression of ZmNF-YA12 in Arabidopsis plants resulted in increased root length and better plant growth than in wild-type (WT) plants under conditions of mannitol, salt, and JA stress on 1/2 MS medium. Transgenic Arabidopsis showed improved tolerance to drought and salt stresses in soil, and higher proline content and lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content than WT controls. The transgenic plants also maintained higher peroxidase (POD) activities than WT plants under conditions of NaCl stress. A yeast two-hybrid experiment demonstrated that ZmNF-YA12 interacted with ZmNF-YC1 and ZmNF-YC15. Moreover, the transcript levels of stress-responsive genes (RD29A, RD29B, RAB18, and RD22) were markedly increased in transgenic lines under conditions of drought and salt stress. These observa- tions suggested that the ZmNF-YA12 gene may confers drought and salt stress tolerance by regulating stress-related genes or interacting with ZmNF-YC1 and ZmNF-YC15, and has potential applications in molecular breeding with maintenance of production under conditions of stress.