In this study, a probabilistic method was proposed for an aircraft’s thermal protective layers. The uncertainties of material properties, geometric dimensions, and incoming flow environments were ...considered for the design inputs. To accelerate the design efficiency, Latin hypercube sampling and surrogate models were built based on finite element method calculations to enhance the simulation efficiency. Thus, the Monte Carlo method can be implemented with such a fast simulation method and produce a massive number of samples for the uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis, exploring their impact on the back temperature of the thermal protection layer. Compared to the deterministic method with the extreme deviation design, the probabilistic design yields a weight reduction of 15.61%. This indicates that probabilistic design is an efficient approach to enhance the performance of aircraft and reduce the overall weight of the aircraft. The general goal of this study is to provide a new design method for the coating film of thermal protection systems by considering multiple sources of uncertainties.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
•The gas-liquid throttle mode and smaller valve opening contribute to reduced fluid mass loss.•The control strategy which operates the pump and vent valve through separate methods is preferred.•The ...TVS operation is more challenging with helium pressurization than without helium pressurization.
The performance of the thermodynamic vent systems (TVS) is significantly influenced by the operating parameters, initial condition, and geometry of the tank. This paper presents an experimental investigation on the effects of operating parameters on liquid nitrogen tank pressure control including different throttling modes and control strategies. Two control strategies were implemented experimentally on a TVS-equipped LN2 tank. The first strategy involves starting the pump and vent valve simultaneously once the ullage pressure increases to the upper limit of the control band. The second strategy involves operating the pump based on the ullage pressure, while the vent valve is controlled based on both the ullage pressure and bulk-liquid temperature. The results showed that the pressure-drop rate under the gas–liquid throttling mode was found to be approximately 1.95 times higher than that under the liquid-only throttling mode. The temperature increase rates of the ullage and liquid in the first strategy are slightly slower than those in the second strategy, whereas the average mass lost in the first strategy is approximately 3.25 times that in the second strategy for the same operation time. In addition, the effect of a noncondensable gas on the TVS performance was comparatively investigated.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Autophagy plays an important role in the progression of carotid atherosclerosis (CAS). This study aimed to identify hub autophagy-related genes (ATGs) associated with CAS.
GSE43292 and GSE28829 ...datasets of early and advanced CAS plaques were enrolled from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. A comprehensive analysis of differentially expressed ATGs (DE-ATGs) was conducted. Functional enrichment assay was used to explore biological functions of DE-ATGs. The hub ATGs were identified by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Real-time reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to validate hub ATGs at the protein level and mRNA level. Correlation analysis of hub ATGs with immune cells was also conducted. In addition, a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed, and diagnostic value of hub ATGs was evaluated.
A total of 19 DE-ATGs were identified in early and advanced CAS plaques. Functional enrichment analysis of DE-ATGs suggested that they were closely correlated to autophagy, apoptosis, and lipid regulation. Moreover, 5 hub ATGs, including TNFSF10, ITGA6, CTSD, CCL2, and CASP1, were identified and further verified by IHC. The area under the curve (AUC) values of the 5 hub ATGs were 0.818, 0.732, 0.792, 0.814, and 0.812, respectively. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks targeting the hub ATGs were also constructed. In addition, the 5 hub ATGs were found to be closely associated with immune cell infiltration in CAS.
In this study, we identified 5 hub ATGs including CASP1, CCL2, CTSD, ITGA6 and TNFSF10, which could serve as candidate diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
During the development, tight regulation of the expansion of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and their differentiation into neurons is crucial for normal cortical formation and function. In this ...study, we demonstrate that microRNA (miR)-128 regulates the proliferation and differentiation of NPCs by repressing pericentriolar material 1 (PCM1). Specifically, overexpression of miR-128 reduced NPC proliferation but promoted NPC differentiation into neurons both in vivo and in vitro. In contrast, the reduction of endogenous miR-128 elicited the opposite effects. Overexpression of miR-128 suppressed the translation of PCM1, and knockdown of endogenous PCM1 phenocopied the observed effects of miR-128 overexpression. Furthermore, concomitant overexpression of PCM1 and miR-128 in NPCs rescued the phenotype associated with miR-128 overexpression, enhancing neurogenesis but inhibiting proliferation, both in vitro and in utero. Taken together, these results demonstrate a novel mechanism by which miR-128 regulates the proliferation and differentiation of NPCs in the developing neocortex.
The conductive and radiative properties of participating medium can be estimated by solving an inverse problem that combines transient temperature measurements and a forward model to predict the ...coupled conductive and radiative heat transfer. The procedure, as well as the estimates of parameters, are not only affected by the measurement noise that intrinsically exists in the experiment, but are also influenced by the known model parameters that are used as necessary inputs to solve the forward problem. In the present study, a stochastic Cramér–Rao bound (sCRB)-based error analysis method was employed for estimation of the errors of the retrieved conductive and radiative properties in an inverse identification process. The method took into account both the uncertainties of the experimental noise and the uncertain model parameter errors. Moreover, we applied the method to design the optimal location of the temperature probe, and to predict the relative error contribution of different error sources for combined conductive and radiative inverse problems. The results show that the proposed methodology is able to determine, a priori, the errors of the retrieved parameters, and that the accuracy of the retrieved parameters can be improved by setting the temperature probe at an optimal sensor position.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Objective
To evaluate the correlation of serum biological markers and related scales to the occurrence of delayed cerebral ischemia and clinical prognosis in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid ...hemorrhage (aSAH) complicated with acute hydrocephalus before admission.
Methods
The clinical data of 227 patients with pre-admission aSAH complicated with acute hydrocephalus admitted to Henan Provincial People's Hospital from April 2017 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were grouped according to the presence or absence of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after surgery and the prognosis at 6 months after discharge. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed to analyze the relationship between serum biological indicators combined with aneurysm related clinical score scale and the occurrence and prognosis of delayed cerebral ischemia. ROC curves and nomogram were drawn.
Results
Multivariable Logistic regression analysis showed that high Hunt-Hess grade and surgical clipping were independent risk factors for postoperative DCI (
P
< 0.05). Older age, higher Hunt-Hess grade, higher CRP and neutrophil levels were independent risk factors for poor prognosis at 6 months after surgery (
P
< 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of Hunt-Hess grade and surgical method for predicting DCI in patients with aSAH combined with hydrocephalus after surgery were 0.665 and 0.593. The combined AUC of Hunt-Hess grade and surgical method was 0.685, the sensitivity was 64.9%, and the specificity was 64.7%. The AUC of CRP, neutrophil, age and Hunt-Hess grade for predicting poor prognosis in patients with aSAH combined with hydrocephalus at 6 months after surgery were 0.804, 0.735, 0.596, 0.757, respectively. The combined AUC of CRP, neutrophil, age, Hunt-Hess grade was 0.879, the sensitivity was 79%, and the specificity was 84.5%. According to the correction curve, the predicted probability of the nomogram is basically consistent with the actual probability.
Conclusion
Hunt-Hess grade and surgical method are independent predictors of postoperative DCI in patients with aSAH complicated with hydrocephalus. “CRP,” “neutrophil,” “age” and “Hunt-Hess grade” at admission are independent predictors of clinical prognosis in patients with aSAH complicated with hydrocephalus. The combination of the above indicators has high predictive value.
Objective
Tumor
in situ
fluid (TISF) refers to the fluid within surgical cavities of glioma. Several studies preliminarily proved the value of cell-free tumor DNA (cf-tDNA) from TISF in the dynamic ...characterization of the glioma genome. Here, we assessed the potential utility of TISF cf-tDNA in broad aspects of tumor evolution under therapeutic pressure.
Methods
This study was conducted under an Institutional Review Board-approved protocol at Henan Provincial People’s Hospital (China). Cf-tDNA samples were sequenced with a designed 68-gene panel. A total of 205 cf-tDNA samples from 107 patients were studied. The clinical relevance of serial cf-tDNA profiling during the postoperative course was analyzed.
Results
At least one tumor mutations were detected in 179/205 (87.3%) TISF cf-tDNA samples. Serial cf-tDNA was complementary to molecular residual disease and to initial tumors. Serial cf-tDNA revealed the selection of pre-existing mismatch repair-deficient cells by temozolomide as a resistant mechanism. Cf-tDNA parameters during treatment were predictive of recurrence, and serial cf-tDNA monitoring had diagnostic value for early recurrence. A total of 223 potentially actionable genomic alterations were assessed in cf-tDNA samples, wherein 78% were not found in any tumor tissue.
Conclusions
In conclusion, serial TISF cf-tDNA profiling is valuable in tracking the tumor evolution of glioma during treatment and may be a feasible non-invasive option for monitoring glioma in future prospective studies and clinical practice.
To investigate the relationship between CLR and disease severity and clinical prognosis of aSAH.
The authors retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 221 patients with aSAH, who were admitted to ...the intensive care unit from January 2017 to December 2020. The indicators of inflammatory factors in the first blood routine examination within 48 h of bleeding were obtained. The prognosis was evaluated by mRS score at discharge, mRS>2 was a poor outcome. Through the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the area under the curve was calculated and the predicted values of inflammatory factors (CLR, CRP, WBC, and neutrophils) were compared. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between CLR and the clinical prognosis of patients. ROC curve analysis was performed to determine the optimal cut-off threshold, sensitivity, and specificity of CLR in predicting prognosis at admission.
According to the mRS score at discharge, 139 (62.90%) patients were classified with poor outcomes (mRS>2). The inflammatory factor with the best predictive value was CLR, which had an optimal cut-off threshold of 10.81 and an area under the ROC curve of 0.840 (95%CI.788-0.892,
< 0.001). Multivariable Logistic regression analysis showed that the Modified Fisher grade, Hunt-Hess grade, and CLR at admission were independent risk factors for poor outcomes of patients with aSAH (
< 0.05). According to Hunt-Hess grade, patients were divided into a mild group (Hunt-Hess ≤ 3) and a severe group (Hunt-Hess > 3), and the CLR value was significantly higher in severe patients with aSAH than in mild patients. The optimal cut-off threshold of CLR in the severe group was 6.87, and the area under the ROC curve was 0.838 (95% CI.752-0.925,
< 0.001).
The CLR value at the admission of patients with aSAH was significantly associated with Hunt-Hess grade, The higher Hunt-Hess grade, the higher the CL R-value, and the worse the prognosis. Early CLR value can be considered as a feasible biomarker to predict the clinical prognosis of patients with aSAH.
The ratio of white blood cell to platelet count (WPR) is considered a promising biomarker in some diseases. However, its prediction of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) and prognosis after aneurysmal ...subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) has not been studied. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the predictive value of WPR in DCI after aSAH and its impact on 90-day functional outcome.
This study retrospectively analyzed the data of blood biochemical parameters in 447 patients with aSAH at early admission. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the risk factors for DCI. According to multivariate analysis results, a nomogram for predicting DCI is developed and verified by R software. The influence of WPR on 90-day modified Rankin score (mRS) was also analyzed.
Among 447 patients with aSAH, 117 (26.17%) developed DCI during hospitalization. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that WPR OR = 1.236; 95%CI: 1.058-1.444;
= 0.007 was an independent risk factor for DCI. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive ability of WPR for DCI, and the cut-off value of 5.26 (AUC 0.804, 95% CI: 0.757-0.851,
< 0.001). The ROC curve (AUC 0.875, 95% CI: 0.836-0.913,
< 0.001) and calibration curve (mean absolute error = 0.017) showed that the nomogram had a good predictive ability for the occurrence of DCI. Finally, we also found that high WPR levels at admission were closely associated with poor prognosis.
WPR level at admission is a novel serum marker for DCI and the poor prognosis after aSAH. A nomogram model containing early WPR will be of great value in predicting DCI after aSAH.
Tumor
fluid (TISF) refers to the fluid at the local surgical cavity. We evaluated the feasibility of TISF-derived circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) characterizing the genomic landscape for glioma. This ...retrospective study included TISF and tumor samples from 10 patients with glioma, we extracted cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from the TISF and then performed deep sequencing on that. And we compared genomic alterations between TISF and tumor tissue. Results showed that the concentration of cfDNA fragments from the patients for TISF ranged from 7.2 to 1,397 ng/ml. At least one tumor-specific mutation was identified in all 10 patients (100%). Further analysis of TISF ctDNA revealed a broad spectrum of genetic mutations, which have been reported to have clinical relevance. The analysis of concordance between TISF and tumor tissue reflected the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of glioma. Collectively, TISF ctDNA was a powerfully potential source for characterizing the genomic landscape of glioma, which provided new possibilities for precision medicine in patients with glioma.