This paper concerns with the issues of designing an improved-equivalent-input-disturbance (IEID) based robust two dimensional modified repetitive control (2D MRC) for a class of fuzzy systems in the presence of aperiodic disturbances. Specifically, IEID-estimator is implemented to the 2D MRC systems that estimates all types of disturbances and compensates them for assuring robust stability. In particular, the proposed 2D MRC system has two different type of behaviours such as continuous control and discrete learning independently. To obtain gains of the observer and the controller, an adequate set of robust stability conditions is derived in the form of a linear-matrix-inequalities. Finally, simulation results for three numerical examples are provided to depict the efficacy of the proposed control technique.In this paper, a novel memristive neural networks model is developed. In the new model, the states of memristors are related to the initial resistance of the memristors and the amount of charge flowing through them in a specific direction, which embodies the memory characteristic of memristors. As a consequence, parameters in the model vary continuously and cannot be determined by the states of neurons. Existing results on synchronization of memristive neural networks are useless to this model. To investigate the synchronization of the new model, the main difficulty is how to deal with the time-varying parameter mismatches between the drive and response networks. Since the error is unbounded and only utilizing output feedback control is not enough, a sliding mode controller is designed. An integral sliding surface is designed for the desired sliding motion, and a feasible control law is proposed. Moreover, an example is given to demonstrate the novelty of our model and to illustrate the effectiveness of the sliding mode controller.

Skin toxicity is a common adverse effect of breast radiotherapy. We investigated whether inverse-planned intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) would reduce the incidence of skin toxicity compared with forward field-in-field breast IMRT (FiF-IMRT) in early stage breast cancer.

This phase III randomised controlled trial compared whole-breast irradiation with either FiF-IMRT or helical tomotherapy IMRT (HT-IMRT), with skin toxicity as the primary end point. Patients received 50 Gy in 25 fractions and were assessed to compare skin toxicity between treatment arms.

In total, 177 patients were available for assessment and the median follow-up was 73.1 months. Inverse IMRT achieved more homogeneous coverage than FiF-IMRT; erythema and moist desquamation were higher with FiF-IMRT compared with HT-IMRT (61% versus 34%; P<0.001; 33% versus 11%; P<0.001, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed large breast volume, FiF-IMRT and chemotherapy were independent factors associated with worse acute toxicity. There was no difference between treatment arms in the incidence of late toxicities. AR-C155858 in vitro The 5-year recurrence-free survival was 96.3% for both FiF-IMRT and HT-IMRT and the 5-year overall survival was 96.3% for FiF-IMRT and 97.4% for HT-IMRT.

Our study showed significant reduction in acute skin toxicity using HT-IMRT compared with FiF-IMRT, without significant reduction in late skin toxicities. On the basis of these findings, inverse-planned IMRT could be used in routine practice for whole-breast irradiation with careful plan optimisation to achieve the required dose constraints for organs at risk.

Our study showed significant reduction in acute skin toxicity using HT-IMRT compared with FiF-IMRT, without significant reduction in late skin toxicities. On the basis of these findings, inverse-planned IMRT could be used in routine practice for whole-breast irradiation with careful plan optimisation to achieve the required dose constraints for organs at risk.This article has been retracted please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https//www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief and Author. This article has not been retracted for any ethics infringement but because the article on which it is commenting has been retracted.The current study aimed 1) to describe changes in patient-reported outcomes and physical activity measured with an accelerometer preoperatively, 6 months and 2 years postoperatively in older patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for arthritis, and 2) to examine the predictors of the changes in physical activity (PA). This study included 58 patients (mean age 72.6 years, 84.5% women) who completed the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) and the 8-item Short Form Health Survey. Physical activity measured mean steps per day, duration of light physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per week. All PA indicators and patient-reported outcomes improved 6 months postoperatively. After 6 months, knee-related pain and function gradually improved, and MVPA increased. The OKS was a sole predictor of improvement in PA during the 2-year study period, suggesting the importance of disease-specific quality of life.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the efficacy of chest physiotherapy (CPT) in patients with inhalation injury in the acute phase.

This was a single-institution retrospective study of patients with inhalation injury admitted to the Chukyo Hospital Burn Center from April 2004 to March 2014 who required endotracheal intubation for respiratory care. The patients were divided into two groups the CPT group and the conventional physical therapy group. We compared the two groups according to the incidence of pneumonia, length of ICU/hospital stay, and level of activities of daily living at discharge. To match subject backgrounds, we conducted a propensity score matching analysis, and using a Cox regression analysis, we evaluated the effect of CPT on the first pneumonia event.

Of 271 patients admitted to the burn center, 139 patients were included. The incidence of pneumonia in the CPT group was significantly lower and these patients required fewer days until they could sit on the edge of the bed compared with the conventional physical therapy group.