To make multi-objective reliability-based design optimization (MORBDO) more effective for complex structure with multi-failure modes and multi-physics coupling, multiple response surface method ...(MRSM)-based artificial neural network (ANN) (ANN-MRSM) and dynamic multi-objective particle swarm optimization (DMOPSO) algorithm are proposed based on MRSM and MOPSO algorithm. The mathematical model of ANN-MRSM is established by using artificial neural network to fit the multiple response surface function. The DMOPSO algorithm is proposed by designing dynamic inertia weight and dynamic learning factors. The proposed approach is verified by the MORBDO of turbine blisk deformation and stress with respect to fluid–thermal-structure interaction from probabilistic analysis. The optimization design results show that the proposed approach has the promising potentials to improve computational efficiency with acceptable computational precision for the MORBDO of turbine blisk deformation and stress. Moreover, Pareto front curve and a set of viable design values of turbine blisk are obtained for the high-reliability high-performance design of turbine blisk. The presented efforts provide an effective approach for MORBDO of complex structures, and enrich mechanical reliability design theory as well.
Problems related to water inflow during tunnel construction are challenging to designers, workers, and management departments, as they can threaten tunneling project from safety, time, and economic ...aspects. Identifying the impacts on groundwater environment resulting from tunnel drainage and making a correct assessment before tunnel construction is essential to better understand troubles that would be encountered during tunnel excavation and helpful to adopt appropriate countermeasures to minimize the influences. This study presents an indicator system and quantifies each indicator of Tongluoshan tunnel, which is located in southwest China with a length of 5.2 km and mainly passes through carbonate rocks and sandstones, based on field investigation and related technological reports. Then, an evaluation is made using fuzzy comprehensive assessment method, with a result showing that it had influenced the local groundwater environment at a moderate degree. Information fed back from environmental investigation and hydrologic monitoring carried out during the main construction period proves the evaluation, as the flow of some springs and streams located beside the tunnel route was found experiencing an apparent decline.
•A metamodeling approach (DCNNM) is proposed for probabilistic LCF estimation for the first time.•We built the DCNNM by integrating distributed-coordinated strategy and neural network ...model.•Probabilistic LCF estimation theory is established with the developed DCNNM approach.•Probabilistic LCF estimation of turbine disk is completed, the service life is obtained.•The developed metamodeling approach is validated to possess high efficiency and accuracy.
To improve the computing efficiency and accuracy of probabilistic low cycle fatigue (LCF) estimation for turbine disk, a distributed-coordinated neural network metamodel (DCNNM) is developed. By integrating the proposed neural network metamodel and distributed-coordinated strategy, the mathematical model of DCNNM is studied. The probabilistic LCF estimation theory is introduced in respect of the presented DCNNM. Moreover, the probabilistic LCF estimation for turbine disk is regarded as one case to evaluate the proposed method with respect to various randomness such as material variability, load variation and model randomness. We obtain the distributional traits, reliability degree and sensitivity degree of LCF failure cycle, which provides an effective guidance for the turbine disk life control. By comparing the direct Monte Carlo simulation, support vector regression (SVR), neural network metamodel (NNM), distributed-coordinated SVR (DCSVR) and DCNNM, we observe that the proposed DCNNM approach possesses high efficiency and accuracy for probabilistic LCF estimation of turbine disk. The present effort offers a useful insight for estimating LCF failure from a probabilistic perspective.
Field surveys and laboratory analysis were carried out in Chagan Lake and Xinlicheng Reservoir under different salinity conditions in September 2012. In the laboratory, the absorption coefficients of ...particulates and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) were measured, aiming to compare the absorption features, source of optical active substances and relative contribution of optical active constituents over the range of PAR (400-700 nm) in Chagan Lake and Xinlicheng Reservoir. The results showed that the Chagan Lake and Xinlicheng Reservoir were water bodies with medium eutrophication in autumn by TAL nutrient index and the absorption spectra of particulates matters were similar to those of phytoplankton. For the Chagan Lake with high salinity( EC = 988. 87 micro S x cm(-1)), the total particulate absorption was dominated by the nonalgal particles, and the contribution rate was in the order of nonalgal particles > phytoplankton > CDOM. For the Xinlicheng Reservoir with low salinity (EC = 311.67 microS
Tremendous amount of whole-genome sequencing data have been provided by large consortium projects such as TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas), COSMIC and so on, which creates incredible opportunities for ...functional gene research and cancer associated mechanism uncovering. While the existing web servers are valuable and widely used, many whole genome analysis functions urgently needed by experimental biologists are still not adequately addressed. A cloud-based platform, named CG (ClickGene), therefore, was developed for DIY analyzing of user's private in-house data or public genome data without any requirement of software installation or system configuration. CG platform provides key interactive and customized functions including Bee-swarm plot, linear regression analyses, Mountain plot, Directional Manhattan plot, Deflection plot and Volcano plot. Using these tools, global profiling or individual gene distributions for expression and copy number variation (CNV) analyses can be generated by only mouse button clicking. The easy accessibility of such comprehensive pan-cancer genome analysis greatly facilitates data mining in wide research areas, such as therapeutic discovery process. Therefore, it fills in the gaps between big cancer genomics data and the delivery of integrated knowledge to end-users, thus helping unleash the value of the current data resources. More importantly, unlike other R-based web platforms, Dubbo, a cloud distributed service governance framework for 'big data' stream global transferring, was used to develop CG platform. After being developed, CG is run on an independent cloud-server, which ensures its steady global accessibility. More than 2 years running history of CG proved that advanced plots for hundreds of whole-genome data can be created through it within seconds by end-users anytime and anywhere. CG is available at http://www.clickgenome.org/.
Diffuse gliomas, grades II and III, hereafter called lower-grade gliomas (LGG), have variable, difficult to predict clinical courses, resulting in multiple studies to identify prognostic biomarkers. ...The purpose of this study was to assess expression or methylation of the homeobox family gene SHOX2 as independent markers for LGG survival.
We downloaded publically available glioma datasets for gene expression and methylation. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) (LGG, n=516) was used as a training set, and three other expression datasets (n=308) and three other methylation datasets (n=320), were used for validation. We performed Kaplan-Meier survival curves and univariate and multivariate Cox regression model analyses.
SHOX2 expression and gene body methylation varied among LGG patients and highly significantly predicted poor overall survival. While they were tightly correlated, SHOX2 expression appeared more potent as a prognostic marker and was used for most further studies. The SHOX2 prognostic roles were maintained after analyses by histology subtypes or tumor grade. We found that the combination of SHOX2 expression and IDH genotype status identified a subset of LGG patients with IDH wild-type (IDHwt) and low SHOX2 expression with considerably favorable survival. We further investigated the combination of SHOX2 with other known clinically relevant markers of LGG (TERT expression, 1p/19q chromosome co-deletion, MGMT methylation, ATRX mutation and NES expression). When combined with SHOX2 expression, we identified subsets of LGG patients with significantly favorable survival outcomes, especially in the subgroup with worse prognosis for each individual marker. Finally, multivariate analysis demonstrated that SHOX2 was a potent independent survival marker.
We have identified that SHOX2 expression or methylation are potent independent prognostic indicators for predicting LGG patient survival, and have potential to identify an important subset of LGG patients with IDHwt status with significantly better overall survival. The combination of IDH or other relevant markers with SHOX2 identified LGG subsets with significantly different survival outcomes, and further understanding of these subsets may benefit therapeutic target identification and therapy selections for glioma patients.
•SHOX2 is a potent independent prognostic indicator for grade II and III diffuse gliomas. SHOX2 in combination with IDH has the potential to identify important diffuese gliomas subsets with significantly better survivals. SHOX2 in combination with other markers is potentially useful for identifying distinct prognostic subsets of diffuse gliomas.
Diffuse glioma brain tumors (gliomas encompassing astrocytomas and oligodedrogliomas, grades II and III), have highly variable, difficult to predict clinical courses and a number of specific alterations have been identified that have prognostic or therapeutic implications, whether as single markers or in various combinations. The use of mutation status of the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) enzyme genes has been demonstrated to be a potent prognostic marker greatly improving survival prognosis. SHOX2 methylation was suggested to be associated with lung and breast cancers. In this study we assessed SHOX2 gene methylation and expression as independent markers for diffuse gliomas survival prognosis, by multiple statistical survival analyses of multiple genome-wide datasets. We have identified that SHOX2 is a potent independent prognostic marker, both by itself and in combination with other markers (IDH mutation status, 1p/19q codeltion, ATRX mutation, nestin or TERT expression and MGMT methylation), and potentially useful for refining the molecular classification of diffuse gliomas, and for distinguishing clinically distinct prognostic subgroups of gliomas patients for better therapy selection.
Compositional dependences on microstructures and martensitic transformation behaviors in(Cu_(0.5)Zr_(0.5))_(100-x)Zn_x(x=1.5,2.5,4.5,7.0,10.0,and 14.0at.%)alloys were investigated.It was found that ...CuZr martensites were present in the present alloys.With increasing Zn content,the volume fractions of CuZr martensitic crystals and B2 CuZr phase gradually decrease and increase,respectively.With the addition of high Zn contents(i.e.,7.0,10.0,and 14.0at.%),the matrix proves to be eutectic.Thermal analysis results show that the initial martensitic transformation temperature(M_s)decreases from(412±5)K to(329±5)K as the Zn content increases from 1.5at.% to14.0at.%.The values of Msof Cu-Zr-Zn shape memory alloys are inversely proportional to the number and concentrations of valence electrons(i.e.,e_v/a and c_v),respectively,implying that the martensitic transformation in CuZrZn alloys could be of electronic nature.
Pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) and vertebral column decancellation (VCD) are frequently used methods for correction of thoracolumbar kyphosis resulting from ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, ...there are limited reports performed to evaluate the difference of loss of correction and the effectiveness of PSO and VCD techniques in patients with thoracolumbar kyphosis secondary to AS.
To retrospectively estimate the effectiveness of correction and loss of correction of PSO and VCD techniques in patients with thoracolumbar kyphosis secondary to AS.
We performed a retrospective review of 61 consecutive AS kyphosis patients undergoing PSO or VCD surgery from March 2012 to April 2015. The patients were divided into PSO group (n = 25) and VCD group (n = 36) according to the types of osteotomies. Measurement of the radiographic parameters was performed and the change was analyzed.
Mean loss of correction in the global kyphosis was 2.31° in the PSO group and 2.29° in VCD group at the last follow-up, respectively, with no significant difference. Progressive junctional kyphosis occurred in both groups. VCD obtained a significantly larger correction than PSO while sharing a similar incidence of complications. No serious complications were observed in the two groups.
The PSO osteotomy and VCD osteotomy are both safe and effective methods in treating thoracolumbar kyphosis secondary to AS. Mild loss of correction mainly occurred in the global kyphosis in both techniques with no significant difference.
Excretory and secretory products (ESPs) of nematode contain various proteins which are capable of inducing the instigation or depression of the host immune response and are involved in the ...pathogenesis of the worms. In the present study, Haemonchus contortus excretory and secretory products (HcESPs) were collected from the adult worms. Binding of HcESPs to goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was confirmed by immune-fluorescence assay. Effects of the HcESPs on cytokine production, cell proliferation, cell migration and nitric oxide (NO) production of PBMCs were checked by co-incubation of HcESPs with goat PBMCs. The results indicated that the production of IL-4 and IFN-γ were significantly decreased by HcESPs in dose dependent manner. On the contrary, the production of IL-10 and IL-17 were increased. Cell migration was significantly enhanced by HcESPs, whereas, HcESPs treatment significantly suppressed the cell proliferation and NO production. These results indicated that the HcESPs played important suppressive regulatory roles on PBMCs and provided highlights to the understanding of the host-parasite interactions.