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• Influenza B/Victoria and B/Yamagata co-circulate in Taiwan annually. • Influenza B/Yamagata was the major lineage causing intensive care unit (ICU)-admitted influenza with complications. • Compared to patients with B/Victoria infection, ICU-admitted influenza patients with complications infected by B/Yamagata were older. • Compared to B/Victoria-infected ones, ICU-admitted influenza patients with complications infected by B/Yamagata had longer ICU stays. We describe the relative proportions and epidemiological features of influenza B/Victoria and B/Yamagata, using data from nationwide surveillance systems. We collected respiratory samples from outpatients with influenza-like illness (ILI) and intensive care unit (ICU)-admitted patients with complications (pulmonary or neurological complications, myocarditis/pericarditis or invasive bacterial infection) for virus isolation and lineage typing. Demographics, epidemiological features, and vaccination history from ICU-admitted patients with complications were analyzed. From July 2013–June 2017, 21% of 11517 influenza isolates were influenza B. B/Victoria was the predominant circulating strain in 2013–2014, accounted for 56% of all influenza B positive samples and B/Yamagata was predominant in 2014–2017 (82%, 69%, and 85%, respectively). Among all typed viruses, the proportion of B/Yamagata was higher among specimens from ICU-admitted patients with complications (77%, 154/199) than from ILI outpatients (66%, 276/418, p < 0.005). Compared to B/Victoria, B/Yamagata infected ICU-admitted patients with complications were older, median age (71 vs. 59 years, p < 0.05), had longer durations of hospitalization (15 vs. 7.5 days, p < 0.05) and ICU stays (8.5 vs. 5.5 days, p < 0.05). Two lineages of influenza B viruses co-circulate annually in Taiwan. Among ICU-admitted patients with complications, B/Yamagata causes more severe illness than B/Victoria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We derive necessary and sufficient conditions for stability analysis of a positive feedback interconnection of a discrete-time negative imaginary system and a discrete-time strictly negative imaginary system. General stability analysis results for continuous-time negative imaginary systems connected in positive feedback have recently been proposed. Those recent results extend previous theorems by removing restrictive assumptions on the infinite frequency gains imposed in the earlier literature and by extending the class of negative imaginary systems for which the results are applicable to include systems with free body dynamics (i.e., poles at the origin). Here, we present the discrete-time counterparts of the aforementioned recently developed results which specialise to simple and easy-to-check conditions under specific assumptions. Last, we illustrate some of the results by several examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bankruptcy filings are as high today as ever, calling into question the efficacy of existing bankruptcy prediction models. This paper tries to provide an alternative for bankruptcy prediction by using neuro fuzzy, a hybrid approach combining the functionality of fuzzy logic and the learning ability of neural networks. The empirical results show that neuro fuzzy demonstrates a better accuracy rate, lower misclassification cost and higher detecting power than does logit regression, meaning neuro fuzzy could be a great help in providing warnings of impending bankruptcy. Also, its comprehensive explanation about mapping functions among variables presumably provides a foundation for further development of theory and testing of the membership function shape, the transfer function, the methods to aggregate, the methods to defuzzify, and so on. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Detecting corporate fraud and assessing the relative risk factors have been significant issues confronting the auditing profession for decades. This study therefore aims to apply a neural network system to predict fraud litigation for assisting accountants on audit strategy making. The empirical results show that neural network provides not only a promising predicting accuracy, but also a better detecting power and a less misclassification cost comparing with that of a logit model and auditor judgments. This suggests that an artificial intelligence technique is quite well in identifying a fraud-lawsuit presence, and hence could be a supportive tool for practitioners. Further, a remarkable finding related to the greater effects of management’s capability on fraud commitments acquires an attentive investigation of ethic issues in emerging markets where contribute the most important force in the global economy nowadays. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper develops robust control and power management strategies for a 6 kW stationary proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) hybrid power system. The system consists of two 3 kW PEMFC modules, a Li–Fe battery set, and electrical components to form a parallel hybrid power system that is designed to supply uninterruptible power to telecom base stations during power outages. The study comprises three parts: PEMFC control, power management, and system integration. First, we apply robust control to regulate the hydrogen flow rates of the PEMFC modules in order to improve system stability, performance, and efficiency. Second, we design a parallel power train that consists of two PEMFC modules and one Li–Fe battery set for the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) requirement. Lastly, we integrate the system for experimental verification. Based on the results, the proposed robust control and power management are deemed effective at improving the stability, performance, and efficiency of the stationary power system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper discusses the use of inerters to improve the stability and performance of a full-train system. First, we construct a 28 degree-of-freedom train model in AutoSim, and obtain a linearised model for analysis in Matlab. Then, the benefits of inerters are investigated by the critical speed, settling time and passenger comfort. In addition, we apply a new mechatronic network for further performance improvement, and synthesise the optimal electrical circuit for experimental verification. From the results, inerters are shown to be effective in improving the stability and performance of train systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the microstructural, morphological and nanomechanical properties of Bi 2 Te 3 thin films are investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nanoindentation techniques. The Bi 2 Te 3 thin films were deposited on c -plane sapphire substrates using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) under the various helium gas pressures. The XRD results indicated that the Bi 2 Te 3 thin films are textured with the c -axis preferentially oriented normal to the films surface. Both the grain size and surface roughness of the Bi 2 Te 3 thin films exhibit an increasing trend with increasing the helium gas pressure. Furthermore, the hardness and Young’s modulus of the Bi 2 Te 3 thin films are measured by a Berkovich nanoindenter operated with the continuous contact stiffness measurements (CSM) mode were found to range from 2.92 ± 0.12 to 4.02 ± 0.14 GPa and from 106.31 ± 0.63 to 127.46 ± 9.21 GPa, respectively, when the helium gas pressure was increased from 2 × 10 −5 to 2 × 10 −3 Torr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topological insulators (TIs) are interesting quantum matters that have a narrow bandgap for bulk and a Dirac-cone-like conducting surface state (SS). The recent discovered second Dirac surface state (SS) and bulk bands (BBs) located ~1.5 eV above the first SS are important for optical coupling in TIs. Here, we report on the time-domain measurements of THz radiation generated from TIs n-type Cu0.02Bi2Se3 and p-type Bi2Te3 single crystals by ultrafast optical pulse excitation. The observed polarity-reversal of the THz pulse originated from transient current is unusual, and cannot be reconciled with the photo-Dember effect. The second SS and BBs are found to be indispensable for the explanation of the unusual phenomenon. Thanks to the existence of the second SS and BBs, TIs manifest an effective wide band gap in THz generation. The present study demonstrates that time-domain THz spectroscopy provide rich information of the optical coupling and the electronic structure of TIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]