Research on wind-induced responses of a large-scale membrane structure

The wind-induced responses of a large-scale membrane structure, Expo Boulevard, are evaluated in this study. To obtain the wind pressure distribution on the roof surface, a wind tunnel test is performed. A brief analysis of wind pressure on the membrane roof is conducted first and then an analysis of the wind-induced responses of the structure is carried out using a numerical integral method in the time domain. In the process of calculation, the geometrical nonlinearity is taken into account. Results indicate that mean, RSM and peak values of the structure responses increase nonlinearly while the approaching flow velocity increases. Strong nonlinear characteristics are observed in the displacement responses, whereas the responses of nodal stress and cable axial force show minimal nonlinear properties when the membrane structure is subjected to wind loads. Different values of the damping ratio only have a minimal impact on the RSM response of the structure because the background component is a dominant part of the total dynamic response and the resonant component is too small. As the damping ratio increases from 0.02 to 0.05, the RMS responses of vertical displacement, nodal stress and cable axial force decrease by 8.1%, 6.7% and 17.9%, respectively. Since the mean component plays a significant role in the wind-induced response, the values of the gust response factor are not high for Expo Boulevard.

Wind-induced responses of super-large cooling towers

Traditional gust load factor(GLF)method,inertial wind load(IWL)method and tri-component method(LRC+IWL)cannot accurately analyze the wind-induced responses of super-large cooling towers,so the real combination formulas of fluctuating wind-induced responses and equivalent static wind loads(ESWLSs)were derived based on structural dynamics and random vibration theory.The consistent coupled method(CCM)was presented to compensate the coupled term between background and resonant response.Taking the super-large cooling tower(H=215 m)of nuclear power plant in Jiangxi Province,China,which is the highest and largest in China,as the example,based on modified equivalent beam-net design method,the aero-elastic model for simultaneous pressure and vibration measurement of super-large cooling tower is firstly carried out.Then,combining wind tunnel test and CCM,the effects of self-excited force on the surface pressures and wind-induced responses are discussed,and the wind-induced response characteristics of background component,resonant component,coupled term between background and resonant response,fluctuating responses,and wind vibration coefficients are discussed.It can be concluded that wind-induced response mechanism must be understood to direct the wind resistant design for super-large cooling towers.

Effects of high modes on the wind-induced response of super high-rise buildings

For super high-rise buildings, the vibration period of the basic mode is several seconds, and it is very close to the period of the fluctuating wind. The damping of super high-rise buildings is low, so super high-rise buildings are very sensitive to fluctuating wind. The wind load is one of the key loads in the design of super high-rise buildings. It is known that only the basic mode is needed in the wind-response analysis of tall buildings. However, for super high-rise buildings, especially for the acceleration response, because of the frequency amplification of the high modes, the high modes and the mode coupling may need to be considered. Three typical super high-rise projects with the SMPSS in wind tunnel tests and the random vibration theory method were used to analyze the effect of high modes on the wind-induced response. The conclusions can be drawn as follows. First, for the displacement response, the basic mode is dominant, and the high modes can be neglected. Second, for the acceleration response, the high modes and the mode coupling should be considered. Lastly, the strain energy of modes can only give the vibration energy distribution of the high-rise building, and it cannot describe the local wind-induced vibration of high-rise buildings, especially for the top acceleration response.

Wind-induced response analysis of conical membrane structures

Conical membrane structures are a typical form of tensile membrane structures. In the past, most studies focused on the static performance, but few on dynamic performance. In this paper, systematic parameter analysis of wind-induced response of conical membrane structures has been performed with nonlinear random simulation method in a time domain, by considering some parameters, such as span, rise-span ratio, prestress of membrane, and characteristic of the approaching wind flow. Moreover, formulas of the dynamic coefficient and nonlinear adjustment factor are advised, which can be conveniently used in wind-resistant design of conical membrane structures.

Wind-Induced Response Characteristics of a Tall Building from GPS and Accelerometer Measurements

The main objectives of the research are to characterize the wind-induced resonant and slowly-varying (quasi-static) responses of a tall building under ambient wind excitations based on GPS measurements. The equipment used includes two sets of orthogonally aligned accelerometers, two GPS receivers and an ultrasonic anemometer. The natural frequencies of the wind-induced vibration of the tall building are determined by carrying out spectral analysis of the measured time series of acceleration. The time series are also used to estimate the structural damping with the random decrement technique (RDT). The results show that GPS can be effectively used to measure the resonant and slowly-varying responses of tall buildings with 3D mode shapes under wind excitations. The results from the GPS and the accelerometers agree well with each other in both the time and frequency domains.

A Monitoring Method for Transmission Tower Foots Displacement Based on Wind-Induced Vibration Response

The displacement of transmission tower feet can seriously affect the safe operation of the tower,and the accuracy of structural health monitoring methods is limited at the present stage.The application of deep learning method provides new ideas for structural health monitoring of towers,but the current amount of tower vibration fault data is restricted to provide adequate training data for Deep Learning(DL).In this paper,we propose a DT-DL based tower foot displacement monitoring method,which firstly simulates the wind-induced vibration response data of the tower under each fault condition by finite element method.Then the vibration signal visualization and Data Transfer(DT)are used to add tower fault data samples to solve the problem of insufficient actual data quantity.Subsequently,the dynamic response test is carried out under different tower fault states,and the tower fault monitoring is carried out by the DL method.Finally,the proposed method is compared with the traditional online monitoring method,and it is found that this method can significantly improve the rate of convergence and recognition accuracy in the recognition process.The results show that the method can effectively identify the tower foot displacement state,which can greatly reduce the accidents that occurred due to the tower foot displacement.

Complete response of gallbladder cancer treated with gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy combined with durvalumab:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Gallbladder cancer(GBC)is the most common and aggressive subtype of biliary tract cancer(BTC)and has a poor prognosis.A newly developed regimen of gemcitabine,cisplatin,and durvalumab shows promise for the treatment of advanced BTC.However,the efficacy of this treatment for GBC remains unclear.CASE SUMMARY In this report,we present a case in which the triple-drug regimen exhibited marked effectiveness in treating locally advanced GBC,thus leading to a long-term survival benefit.A 68-year-old man was diagnosed with locally advanced GBC,which rendered him ineligible for curative surgery.Following three cycles of therapy,a partial response was observed.After one year of combined therapy,a clinical complete response was successfully achieved.Subsequent maintenance therapy with durvalumab monotherapy resulted in a disease-free survival of 9 months for the patient.The patient experienced tolerable toxicities of reversible grade 2 nausea and fatigue.Tolerable adverse events were observed in the patient throughout the entirety of the treatment.CONCLUSION The combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy with durvalumab was proven to be an effective treatment approach for advanced GBC,with manageable adverse events.Further research is warranted to substantiate the effectiveness of the combined regimen in the context of GBC.

An efficient conversion model between acceleration and pseudo-acceleration response spectra considering effects of magnitude,distance,and site class

Both acceleration and pseudo-acceleration response spectra play important roles in structural seismic design.However,only one of them is generally provided in most seismic codes.Therefore,many studies have attempted to develop conversion models between the acceleration response spectrum(SA)and the pseudo-acceleration response spectrum(PSA).Our previous studies found that the relationship between SA and PSA is affected by magnitude,distance,and site class.Subsequently,we developed an SA/PSA model incorporating these effects.However,this model is suitable for cases with small and moderate magnitudes and its accuracy is not good enough for cases with large magnitudes.This paper aims to develop an efficient SA/PSA model by considering influences of magnitude,distance,and site class,which can be applied to cases not only with small or moderate magnitudes but also with large ones.For this purpose,regression analyses were conducted using 16,660 horizontal seismic records with a wider range of magnitude.The magnitude of these seismic records varies from 4 to 9 and the distances vary from 10 to 200 km.These ground motions were recorded at 338 stations covering four site classes.By comparing them with existing models,it was found that the proposed model shows better accuracy for cases with any magnitudes,distances,and site classes considered in this study.

Vibration response of Euler-Bernoulli-damped beam with appendages subjected to a moving mass

This paper addresses the problem of a viscoelastic Euler-Bernoulli beam under the influence of a constant velocity moving mass and different types of appendages.Four types of boundary conditions are considered:pinned-pinned,fixed-pinned,fixed-free(or cantilever),and fixed-fixed.Appendages considered include lumped masses,dampers,and springs.The modal decomposition method is employed to derive the equation of motion of the beam,for which an analytical closed-form expression of the dynamic vibration response is generated.The proposed method enables the study of the effect of a single appendage or a combination of the three types of appendages on the non-dimensional dynamic response of the beam.Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the effects of these appendages and compare them to the reference cases of a beam with no appendages.The results demonstrate the importance of considering these parameters in the design of structures.The proposed method is compared to other techniques in the literature and found to be advantageous due to its direct approach.The method also offers a versatile tool for investigating various configurations,aiding in engineering design and structural analysis for which establishing a precise prediction of beam vibrations is crucial.

Analysis of vibration response characteristics of subway station and superstructure with hard combination

The vibration response and noise caused by subway trains can affect the safety and comfort of superstructures.To study the dynamic response characteristics of subway stations and superstructures under train loads with a hard combination,a numerical model is developed in this study.The indoor model test verified the accuracy of the numerical model.The influence laws of different hard combinations,train operating speeds and modes were studied and evaluated accordingly.The results show that the frequency corresponding to the peak vibration acceleration level of each floor of the superstructure property is concentrated at 10–20 Hz.The vibration response decreases in the high-frequency parts and increases in the lowfrequency parts with increasing distance from the source.Furthermore,the factors,such as train operating speed,operating mode,and hard combination type,will affect the vibration of the superstructure.The vibration response under the reversible operation of the train is greater than that of the unidirectional operation.The operating speed of the train is proportional to its vibration response.The vibration amplification area appears between the middle and the top of the superstructure at a higher train speed.Its vibration acceleration level will exceed the limit value of relevant regulations,and vibration-damping measures are required.Within the scope of application,this study provides some suggestions for constructing subway stations and superstructures.

Comparison of biomechanical indices measured by ocular response analyzer between children and elderly:a systematic review

Biomechanical study of the visual system by ocular response analyzer investigates the inter-structural biological relationships,mechanics,and function of the visual system.This review aimed to investigate the changes in corneal biomechanical parameters with age and sex.The articles published in PubMed between 2000 and 2021 were investigated and critiqued,and valid scientific evidence was collected,reviewed and concluded according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Most studies showed that corneal biomechanical changes occur infrequently in children up to the age of 20y,and with increasing age and wider age range,there was a significant decrease in corneal biomechanical indices,especially corneal hysteresis.In children and adults,most studies have shown that these biomechanical indicators,especially corneal resistance factor,were higher in females.Although hormonal changes may contribute to this finding,the role of axial length and other biometric indicators should not be ignored.The axial length,the intraocular pressure,and the corneal thickness are other factors associated with biomechanical parameters that should be taken into account in clinical diagnosis and management especially for patients undergoing refractive surgery as well as keratoconus patients.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of putative effectors in Heterodera schachtii that suppress plant immune response

The sugar beet cyst nematode(Heterodera schachtii) is one of the most destructive pathogens in sugar beet production, which causes serious economic losses every year. Few molecular details of effectors of H. schachtii parasitism are known. We analyzed the genome and transcriptome data of H. schachtii and identified multiple potential predicted proteins. After filtering out predicted proteins with high homology to other plant-parasitic nematodes, we performed functional validation of the remaining effector proteins. 37 putative effectors of H. schachtii were screened based on the Nicotiana benthamiana system for identifying the effectors that inhibit plant immune response, eventually determines 13 candidate effectors could inhibit cell death caused by Bax. Among the 13 effectors, nine have the ability to inhibit GPA2/RBP1-induced cell death. All 13 effectortriggered immunity(ETI) suppressor genes were analyzed by qRT-PCR and confirmed to result in a significant downregulation of one or more defense genes during infection compared to empty vector. For in situ hybridization,13 effectors were specifically expressed and located in esophageal gland cells. These data and functional analysis set the stage for further studies on the interaction of H. schachtii with host and H. schachtii parasitic control.

Visual electrophysiological assessment of children with poor response to treatment for functional amblyopia

AIM:To assess the visual electrophysiological outcomes in children with functional amblyopia who exhibited poor response to conventional treatment.METHODS:Twenty-one children with functional amblyopia,aged 5.7±2.1y(range:4-10y),underwent comprehensive ophthalmic and refractive evaluations.Spectral domain-optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT)and multifocal electroretinography(mfERG)were conducted to analyze the macular retinal thickness and the first-order response P1 ring of the mfERG in the amblyopic eye(AE)compared to the fellow good eye(GE).RESULTS:Initially,visual acuity in the AE ranged from 20/800 to 20/40,while the GE exhibited a range of 20/25 to 20/20(P<0.01).After 6mo of treatment,17 patients demonstrated improved visual acuity in the AE to 20/50 or better,while 4 children showed no improvement.SD-OCT revealed comparable macular and optic disc structures between the AE and GE.Prior to treatment,the mfERG P1 ring amplitude was significantly reduced in the AE compared to GE(P<0.05).The AE/GE ratio of P1 ring amplitude showed significant improvement post-treatment.However,a smaller AE/GE ratio before treatment was associated with poorer improvement post-treatment.CONCLUSION:In the management of functional amblyopia,a thorough assessment of amblyopic eye examinations is crucial.Approximately 20%of amblyopic eyes may not achieve significant improvement in visual acuity,despite the absence of detectable organic retinal abnormalities.mfERG may reveal underlying abnormalities.Integrating mfERG into initial assessments or treatment follow-ups can aid in identifying potential hidden retinal defects and predicting the prognosis of the amblyopic eye.

Response surface optimization of preparation parameters and evaluation of the antioxidant and antihypertensive activities of Spirulina protein hydrolysates

Safety,high protein content,and the numerous health benefits make Spirulina an outstanding source of bioactive peptides.Peptides from Spirulina,which exhibit antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,and antihypertensive effects,may assist in the management of cardiovascular diseases(CVDs).Here,we present the optimization of enzyme-digested hydrolysates derived from Spirulina sp.by using response surface methodology(RSM).We also evaluated the biological activity of Spirulina protein hydrolysates(SPHs)in contributing to the amelioration of hypertension and associated cardiovascular diseases.Our findings suggest that Spirulina protein extracts contain a complex proteinaceous composition with phycocyanin being the dominant protein,as evidenced by both SDS-PAGE and LC-MS/MS profiling.Alkaline protease,protease K,andα-chymotrypsin exhibited a substantial hydrolytic effect on Spirulina protein,taking into account their degree of hydrolysis(DH),peptide yield,and molecular weight distribution.Single-factor experiments identified pH,temperature,and enzyme/substrate ratio as the key factors influencing DH.Moreover,optimal hydrolysis conditions for the proteases were determined via RSM,leading to a considerable enhancement of the actual DH.Bioassays showed that SPHs have strong antioxidant activity against various free radicals,with a higher ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals.Furthermore,SPHs inhibited macrophage nitric oxide secretion and significantly inhibited angiotensin I-converting enzyme in vitro at 400μg/mL.It is worth noting that SPHs prepared with protease K exhibited a potent anti-hypertensive effect in vivo.The findings indicate the potential usefulness of including dietary SPHs in preventing hypertension and associated CVDs.This research could be valuable in guiding the development of health-promoting foods within the Spirulina industry.

Experimental investigations on combined high and low cycle fatigue:Material-level specimen design and strain response characteristics

The paper designs a novel material-level specimen and its dedicated fixture suitable for applying Combined high-and low-Cycle Fatigue(CCF)loads.Unlike full-scale or simulation specimens,the CCF specimen eliminates geometrically induced stress gradients in the test region.Experimental data on CCF life and strain responses of ZSGH4169 alloy are acquired under different CCF loads.The Maximum Strain within Each(MSE)CCF cycle is demonstrated to be independent of the Low-Cycle Fatigue(LCF)loads and High-Cycle Fatigue(HCF)stress amplitudes,but exhibits a correlation with the Cycle Ratio of HCF/LCF(Rf).The growth law of MSE changes from linear to logarithmic as Rfdecreases.Strain amplitudes in the dwell stage,observed unaffected by Rf,are quantified as a function of LCF nominal stresses and HCF stress amplitudes.However,under a defined CCF load,strain amplitudes in the dwell stage remain constant.Strain peaks in the dwell stage in a single CCF cycle decrease in a power function with increasing HCF cycles.

Laparoscopic hepatectomy using indocyanine green attenuates postoperative inflammatory response for hepatocellular carcinoma:A propensity score matching analysis

BACKGROUND Improving the intraoperative and postoperative performance of laparoscopic hepatectomy was quite a challenge for liver surgeons.AIM To determine the benefits of indocyanine green(ICG)fluorescence imaging in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)who underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy during and after surgery.METHODS We retrospectively collected the clinicopathological data of 107 patients who successfully underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy at Zhongshan Hospital(Xiamen),Fudan University from June 2022 to June 2023.Whether using the ICG fluorescence imaging technique,we divided them into the ICG and non-ICG groups.To eliminate statistical bias,a 1:1 propensity score matching analysis was conducted.The comparison of perioperative outcomes,including inflammationrelated markers and progression-free survival,was analyzed statistically.RESULTS Intraoperatively,the ICG group exhibited lower blood loss,a shorter surgical time,lower hepatic inflow occlusion(HIO)frequency,and a shorter total HIO time.Postoperatively,the participation of ICG resulted in a shorter duration of hospitalization(6.5 vs 7.6 days,P=0.03)and postoperative inflammatory response attenuation(lower neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio on the first day after surgery and platelet-lymphocyte ratio on the third day,P<0.05).Although the differences were not significant,the levels of all inflammation-related markers were lower in the ICG group.The rates of postoperative complications and the survival analyses,including progression-free and overall survivals showed no significant difference between the groups.CONCLUSION The involvement of ICG fluorescence imaging may lead to improved perioperative outcomes,especially postoperative inflammatory response attenuation,and ultimately improve HCC patients’recovery after surgery.

Effect of Modulen vs budesonide on clinical response and mucosal healing in Crohn’s patients

BACKGROUND Mucosal healing has become an important goal of Crohn’s disease(CD)treat-ments.Modulen,enriched with transforming growth factor-beta 2,and budeso-nide are commonly accepted treatments for mild-moderate CD.However,their effects on the small bowel(SB)mucosa remain underexplored.AIM To prospectively assess clinical and mucosal responses to Modulen vs budesonide in adults with CD,using SB capsule endoscopy.METHODS Thirty patients were divided into two groups:Modulen+home-based diet(21 patients)and budesonide(9 patients)for an eight-week intervention followed by four weeks of follow-up.Clinical,laboratory,and endoscopic responses were evaluated.The mucosal changes were assessed through SB capsule endoscopy.RESULTS Results indicated significant clinical improvement in the Modulen group with reduced CD activity index(P=0.041)and improved inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire score(P=0.016).Moreover,Modulen was associated with a signifi-cant SB mucosal improvement,evidenced by a decrease in Lewis score(P=0.027).No significant changes were observed in calprotectin or other laboratory parame-ters.Conversely,budesonide exhibited more modest clinical effects,but it improved calprotectin,hemoglobin,and C-reactive protein levels(P=0.051,P=0.014,and P=0.038,respectively).The capsule endoscopy did not reveal a significant mucosal response in the budesonide group.CONCLUSION Both interventions have a role in CD treatment.Yet,their effects differ and may complement each other:Modulen yields clinical and mucosal improvements,while budesonide primarily leads mainly to laboratory improvements.

Genetic factors that predict response and failure of biologic therapy in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)represents a significant disease burden marked by chronic inflammation and complications that adversely affect patients’quality of life.Effective diagnostic strategies involve clinical assessments,endoscopic evaluations,imaging studies,and biomarker testing,where early diagnosis is essential for effective management and prevention of long-term complications,highlighting the need for continual advancements in diagnostic methods.The intricate interplay between genetic factors and the outcomes of biological therapy is of critical importance.Unraveling the genetic determinants that influence responses and failures to biological therapy holds significant promise for optimizing treatment strategies for patients with IBD on biologics.Through an indepth examination of current literature,this review article synthesizes critical genetic markers associated with therapeutic efficacy and resistance in IBD.Understanding these genetic actors paves the way for personalized approaches,informing clinicians on predicting,tailoring,and enhancing the effectiveness of biological therapies for improved outcomes in patients with IBD.

3D wind-induced response analysis of a cable-membrane structure

Wind loading is a dominant factor for design of a cable-membrane structure. Three orthogonal turbulent components, including the longitudinal, lateral and vertical wind velocities, should be taken into account for the wind loads. In this study, a stochastic 3D coupling wind field model is derived by the spectral representation theory. The coherence functions of the three orthogonal turbulent components are considered in this model. Then the model is applied to generate the three correlated wind turbulent components. After that, formulae are proposed to transform the velocities into wind loads, and to introduce the modified wind pressure force. Finally, a wind-induced time-history response analysis is conducted for a 3D cable-membrane structure. Analytical results indicate that responses induced by the proposed wind load model are 10%-25% larger than those by the con- ventional uncorrelated model, and that the responses are not quite influenced by the modified wind pressure force. Therefore, we concluded that, in the time-history response analysis, the coherences of the three orthogonal turbulent components are necessary for a 3D cable-membrane structure, but the modified wind pressure force can be ignored.

LncRNA pol-lnc78 as a ceRNA regulates antibacterial responses via suppression of pol-miR-n199-3p-mediated SARM down-regulation in Paralichthys olivaceus

Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)function as key modulators in mammalian immunity,particularly due to their involvement in lncRNA-mediated competitive endogenous RNA(ceRNA)crosstalk.Despite their recognized significance in mammals,research on lncRNAs in lower vertebrates remains limited.In the present study,we characterized the first immune-related lncRNA(pol-lnc78)in the teleost Japanese flounder(Paralichthys olivaceus).Results indicated that pol-lnc78 acted as a ceRNA for pol-miR-n199-3p to target the sterile alpha and armadillo motif-containing protein(SARM),the fifth discovered member of the Toll/interleukin 1(IL-1)receptor(TIR)adaptor family.This ceRNA network regulated the antibacterial responses of flounder via the Toll-like receptor(TLR)signaling pathway.Specifically,SARM acted as a negative regulator and exacerbated bacterial infection by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-1βand tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α).Pol-miR-n199-3p reduced SARM expression by specifically interacting with the 3’untranslated region(UTR),thereby promoting SARM-dependent inflammatory cytokine expression and protecting the host against bacterial dissemination.Furthermore,pol-lnc78 sponged pol-miR-n199-3p to ameliorate the inhibition of SARM expression.During infection,the negative regulators pol-lnc78 and SARM were significantly down-regulated,while pol-miR-n199-3p was significantly up-regulated,thus favoring host antibacterial defense.These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying fish immunity and open new horizons to better understand ceRNA crosstalk in lower vertebrates.