BACKGROUND We previously described an index, defined as the ratio between the inspiratory muscle pressure (Pmus) and the electrical activity of the diaphragm (EA(di)) (Pmus/EA(di) index). In the present work, we describe the trend of Pmus/EA(di) index over time, investigating whether it could be an indicator of muscular efficiency associated with risk factors for diaphragmatic injury and/or cli...

The distinguishing number D(G) of a graph G is the least integer d such that has vertex labeling with labels preserved only by trivial automorphism. Let ? be group acting on set X. for this action X, denoted D? (X), smallest natural k elements X can labeled so any label-preserving element fixes all x ? In particular, if faithful, then preserving identity. paper, we obtain an upper bound knowing...

Cluster validation is a major issue in cluster analysis. Many existing validity indices do not perform well when clusters overlap or there is significant variation in their covariance structure. The contribution of this paper is twofold. First, we propose a new validity index for fuzzy clustering. Second, we present a new approach for the objective evaluation of validity indices and clustering ...

The histopathological characteristic of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is the presence of chronic enthesitis. Our aim was to develop a clinical measurement of the severity of tenderness over entheses. The scoring system was based on the patients' response to palpation over entheses easily accessible to examination. The enthesis index (EI) correlated with pain (r = 0.67, p less than 0.01) and stiff...

Albertson and Collins defined the distinguishing number of a graph to be the smallest number of colors needed to color its vertices so that the coloring is preserved only by the identity automorphism. Collins and Trenk followed by defining the distinguishing chromatic number of a graph to be the smallest size of a coloring that is both proper and distinguishing. We show that, with two exception...