Uncertainty Analysis of the Residual Strength of Non-Uniformly Loaded Casingsin Deep Wells

An uncertainty analysis method is proposed for the assessment of the residual strength of a casing subjected to wear and non-uniform load in a deep well.The influence of casing residual stress,out-of-roundness and non-uniform load is considered.The distribution of multi-source parameters related to the residual anti extrusion strength and residual anti internal pressure strength of the casing after wear are determined using the probability theory.Considering the technical casing of X101 well in Xinjiang Oilfield as an example,it is shown that the randomness of casing wear depth,formation elastic modulus and formation Poisson’s ratio are the main factors that affect the uncertainty of residual strength.The wider the confidence interval is,the greater the uncertainty range is.Compared with the calculations resulting from the proposed uncertainty analysis method,the residual strength obtained by means of traditional single value calculation method is either larger or smaller,which leads to the conclusion that the residual strength should be considered in terms of a range of probabilities rather than a single value.

Added Resistance Acting on Hull of a Non Ballast Water Ship

In this paper, added resistances acting on a hull of non ballast water ship(NBS) in high waves is discussed. The non ballast water ships were developed at the laboratory of the authors at Osaka Prefecture University, Japan. In the present paper, the performances of three kinds of bow shapes developed for the NBS were theoretically and experimentally investigated to find the best one in high waves. In previous papers, an optimum bow shape for the NBS was developed in calm water and in moderated waves. For a 2 m model for experiments and computations, the wave height is 0.02 m. This means that the wave height is 15% of the draft of the ship in full load conditions. In this paper, added resistances in high waves up to 0.07 m for a 2 m model or 53% of the full load draft are investigated. In such high waves linear wave theories which have been used in the design stage of a ship for a long time may not work well anymore, and experiments are the only effective tool to predict the added resistance in high waves. With the computations for waves, the ship is in a fully captured condition because shorter waves, λ/Lpp<0.6, are assumed.

Non-coding RNA in drug resistance of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer(GC)is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.The poorly prognosis and survival of GC are due to diagnose in an advanced,non-curable stage and with a limited response to chemotherapy.The acquisition of drug resistance accounts for the majority of therapy failure of chemotherapy in GC patients.Although the mechanisms of anticancer drug resistance have been broadly studied,the regulation of these mechanisms has not been completely understood.Accumulating evidence has recently highlighted the role of non-coding RNAs(ncRNAs),including long non-coding RNAs and microRNAs,in the development and maintenance of drug resistance due to their regulatory features in specific genes involved in the chemoresistant phenotype of GC.We review the literature on ncRNAs in drug resistance of GC.This review summarizes the current knowledge about the ncRNAs’characteristics,their regulation of the genes involved in chemoresistance and their potential as targeted therapies for personalized treatment in resistant GC.

Non-target-site and target-site resistance to AHAS inhibitors in American sloughgrass(Beckmannia syzigachne)

American sloughgrass(Beckmannia syzigachne(Steud.) Fernald) is one of the most competitive and malignant weeds in rice-wheat rotation fields in China. American sloughgrass populations in the Jiangsu Province of China became less sensitive to acetohydroxyacid synthase(AHAS) inhibitors after repeated application for many years in these areas. Two suspected resistant American sloughgrass populations(R1 and R2) collected in the field were detected the resistance to inhibitors of AHAS in whole-plant dose-response assays, compared to the susceptible(S) population. These assays indicated that R1 showed low resistance to mesosulfuron-methyl(3.32-fold), imazapic(2.84-fold) and pyroxsulam(1.55-fold), moderate resistance to flazasulfuron(4.67-fold) and pyribenzoxim(7.41-fold), and high resistance to flucarbazone(11.73-fold). However, using a combination of the cytochrome P450 inhibitor, malathion, with mesosulfuron-methyl resulted in a reduction in R1 resistance relative to mesosulfuron-methyl alone. Furthermore, R2 was highly resistant to flazasulfuron(34.90-fold), imazapic(11.30-fold), flucarbazone(49.20-fold), pyribenzoxim(12.94-fold), moderately resistant to mesosulfuron-methyl(9.77-fold) and pyroxsulam(6.26-fold), and malathion had no effect on R2 resistance to mesosulfuron-methyl. The fulllength of AHAS genes was sequenced and the AHAS enzymes were assayed in vitro in order to clarify the mechanism of resistance to AHAS inhibitors in R1 and R2 populations. The results demonstrated that R2 had a Pro-197-Ser mutation in the AHAS gene, and the sensitivity of R2 to the five AHAS inhibitors was decreased, which may result in R2 resistance to AHAS inhibitors. There was no mutation in the AHAS gene of R1, and there were no significant differences in enzyme sensitivity between susceptible(S) and resistant(R1) populations. An enhanced metabolism may be the main mechanism of R1 resistance to AHAS inhibitors.

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of non-typhoid Solmonella in military personnel,1988-2013

Objective:To describe the spanning 25 years data for the occurrence, magnitude, and trends regarding antimicrobial resistance of non-typhoidalSalmonella (NTS) isolated from non-immune travelers to Thailand participating in joint military operations.Methods:A total of 355 NTS isolates, obtained from 2052 fecal samples from US soldiers deployed for military maneuvers in Thailand during 1988-2013, were examined for NTS serogroup/serotypes and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility by disk diffusion to these 10 antibiotics:ampicillin, azithromycin (AZM), ciprofloxacin, colistin, gentamicin, kanamycin, nalidixic acid, streptomycin (STR), tetracycline (TET), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Identified AZM-resistant NTS isolates were further evaluated for their minimal inhibitory concentration by the E-test method.Results:NTS infections accounted for 17.3％ (355/2052), including 11 serogroups and 50 different serotypes. The most prevalent serogroup wasSalmonella group C2-C3 (35.8％, 127/355) followed by groups B (21.1％, 75/355) and C1 (18.6％, 66/355). Identified serotypes includedSalmonellahadar (n=60),Salmonellarissen (n=45), andSalmonella blockley (n=34). Among the predominate serogroups, antimicrobial resistance was consistently high against TET (76.9％, 273/355) followed by STR (40.8％, 145/355). OneSalmonella senftenberg isolate demonstrated decreased ciprofloxacin susceptibility. Most isolates (94.6％) were resistant to one or more antimicrobials, and the most common multidrug resistance was TET-STR-nalidixic acid (11.5％, 41/355).Conclusions:The prevalence of NTS serotypes and the growing magnitude of antibiotic resistant bacteria isolated from deployed US military in Thailand are documented from 1988-2013. This study demonstrates the antibiotic resistance profiles, highlighting the effectiveness of AZM that is a first-line treatment for travelers to Southeast Asia. AZM-resistant NTS isolates are periodically observed over a 25-year period. Hence, the ongoing surveillance and prevalence efforts are required to monitor NTS resistant strains causing further treatment failure.

miR-124 Modulates Gefitinib Resistance through SNAI2 and STAT3 in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Gefitinib is used as a first-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer（NSCLC）.Unfortunately,most NSCLC patients inevitably develop gefitinib resistance during treatment.In addition to EGFR mutation status,the mechanisms involved are largely unknown.In this study,we showed that mi R-124,a tumor suppressor,was significantly down-regulated in gefitinib-resistant NSCLC patients and cell lines compared with gefitinib-sensitive patients and cell lines.In addition,the mi R-124 depletion induced gefitinib resistance,and mi R-124 overexpression sensitized gefitinib-resistant cells to gefitinib.Mechanistic analysis revealed that mi R-124 decreased SNAI2 and STAT3 expression by directly targeting their 3＇UTRs and that knocking down SNAI2 or STAT3 partly reversed the gefitinib resistance induced by mi R-124 depletion.Our data demonstrate that the mi R-124 plays a new critical role in acquired resistance to gefitinib and that the manipulation of mi R-124 might provide a therapeutic strategy for reversing acquired gefitinib resistance.

A Computational Model of Soil Adhesion and Resistance for a Non-smooth Bulldozing Plate

Adhesive forces exist between soil and the surfaces of soil-engaging components; they increase working resistance and energy consumption. This paper tries to find an approach to reduce the adhesion and resistance of bulldozing plate. A simplified mechanical model of adhesion and resistance between soil and a non-smooth bulldozing plate is proposed. The interaction force between moist soil and a non-smooth bulldozing plate is analyzed. The pressure and friction distribution on the bulldozing plate are computed, and the anti-adhesive effect of a corrugated bulldozing plate is simulated numerically. Numerical results show that the wavy bulldozing plate achieves an effective drag reduction in moist soil. The optimal wavy shape of the corrugated bulldozing plate with the minimal resistance is designed. The basic principle of reducing soil adhesion of the non-smooth surface is discovered.

Preliminary Study on Drug Susceptibility Profile and Resistance Mechanisms to Macrolides of Clinical Isolates of Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria from China

Objective Macrolide susceptibility and drug resistance mechanisms of clinical non-tuberculous mycobacteria（NTM） isolates were preliminarily investigated for more accurate diagnosis and treatment of the infection in China. Methods Four macrolides, including clarithromycin（CLAR）, azithromycin（AZM）, roxithromycin（ROX）, and erythromycin（ERY）, were used to test the drug susceptibility of 310 clinical NTM isolates from six provinces of China with the broth microdilution method. Two resistance mechanisms, 23 S r RNA and erm, were analyzed with nucleotide sequence analysis. Results Varied effectiveness of macrolides and species-specific resistance patterns were observed. Most Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. massiliense were susceptible and all M. fortuitum were highly resistant to macrolides. All the drugs, except for erythromycin, exhibited excellent activities against slow-growing mycobacteria, and drug resistance rates were below 22.2%. Only four highly resistant strains harbored 2,058/2,059 substitutions on rrl and none of other mutations were related to macrolide resistance. G2191 A and T2221 C on rrl were specific for the M. abscessus complex（MABC）. Seven sites, G2140 A, G2210 C, C2217 G, T2238 C, T2322 C, T2404 C, and A2406 G, were specifically carried by M. avium and M. intracellulare. Three sites, A2192 G, T2358 G, and A2636 G, were observed only in M. fortuitum and one site G2152 A was specific for M. gordonae. The genes erm（39） and erm（41） were detected in M. fortuitum and M. abscessus and inducible resistance was observed in relevant sequevar. Conclusion The susceptibility profile of macrolides against NTM was demonstrated. The well-known macrolide resistance mechanisms, 23 S r RNA and erm, failed to account for all resistant NTM isolates, and further studies are warranted to investigate macrolide resistance mechanisms in various NTM species.

Role of MetallothioneinlH in Cisplatin Resistance of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Objective： Despite platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy has improved greatly patients＇ outcomes, drug resistance poses a major impediment to the successful use of such an effective agent. Metallothioneins（MTs） are known to play putative roles in cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, drug resistance and prognosis. The present studiy was to investigte the role of metallethioeinlH（MTIH） in cisplatin resistance of human non-small cell lung cancer（NSCLC） cell lines in vitro or its possible molecular mechanisms. Methods： MTIH mRNA expression in A549 and A549/DDP cells was detected by RT-PCR. A recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3.1（-）-MT1H was constructed and transfected into A549 cells which express no MTIH. MT1H siRNA was transfected into A549/DDP cells which express MTIH highly. MTIH expression was detected by RT-PCR and Immunoblot. The chemosensitivity to cisplatin was assessed by MTT assay. Apoptosis rate was determined by Tunel and FCM. Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by immunohistochemistry. Results： MT1H mRNA was expressed in A549/DDP but not in A549. After transfection of MT1H, MT1H expression was enhanced and the chemosensitivity to cisplatin was decreased in A549 cells. Inversely, after transfection of MT1H siRNA, MT1H expression was decreased and the chemosensitivity to cisplatin was increased in A549/DDP. The apoptosis rate induced by cisplatin was increased and Bcl-2 was down-regulated but Bax showed little change in A549/DDP cells interferred with MT1H siRNA. Conclusion： MT1H overexpression can promote drug resistance in A549 cells . Down-regulation of MTIH interfered with siRNA can effectively reverses the drug resistance in A549/DDP cells by down-regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and increasing cisplatin induced apoptosis. SiRNA targeting MT1H combined with chemotherapy may be a very promising strategy for treatment of lung cancer.

Molecular characterization of antimicrobial multi-drug resistance in non-typhoidal Salmonellae from chicken and clam in Mangalore, India

Salmonella enterica has been documented as one of the leading causes of salmonellosis throughout the world and is most commonly associated with the consumption of contaminated food products. Thus, this research was aimed at studying the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and detection of quinolone resistance in Salmonella spp isolated from food of animal origin. Thirty-six Salmonella isolates comprising 8 from poultry and 28 from seafood（clams） were identified, serotyped and characterized for their antimicrobial susceptibility against 10 different antibiotics. Plasmid DNA was isolated from all the isolates by alkaline lysis, quinolone resistant non-typhoidal S. Weltevreden were examined for mutation in the DNA gyrase coding gene. Among the 36 Salmonella isolates, 20 were S. weltevreden（8 from poultry and 12 from seafood） and 16 were S. Typhimurium（from seafood）. All the isolates showed multiple resistance to nalidixic acid, tetracycline, co-trimoxazole and nitrofurantoin, but, interestingly, the isolates were 100% susceptible to ampicillin, chloramphenicol and gentamicin. Resistant isolates from the study carried the genes responsible for resistance to respective antibiotics. The strain S130 isolated in the study showed single point mutation,Asp87Gly, at position 87 in quinolone resistance determining region. It revealed mutation in quinolone resistance determining region as a cause for quinolone resistance in non-typhoidal Salmonellae. The occurrence of genes accountable for plasmid mediated resistance to quinolones（viz., qnrA, qnrB and qnrS） in plasmid of non-typhoidal Salmonellae isolates provides evidence for plasmid mediated quinolone resistance.

Comparison of extended spectrum β-lactamasesproducing Escherichia coli with non-ESBLsproducing E.coli:drug-resistance and virulence

The virulent factors of Escherichia coil （E.cofi） play an important role in the process of pathopoiesis. The study aimed to compare drug-resistant genes and virulence genes between extended spectrum β-1actamases （ESBLs）-producing E.coli and non-ESBLs-producing E.cofi to provide a reference for physicians in management of hospital infection. From October 2010 to August 2011,96 drug-resistant strains of E. coli isolated were collected from the specimens in Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China. These bacteria strains were divided into a ESBLs-producing group and a non-ESBLs-producing group. Drug sensitivity tests were performed using the Kirby-Bauer （K-B） method. Disinfectant gene, qacEAl-sull and 8 virulence genes （CNF2, hlyA, eaeA, VT1, est, bfpA, elt, and CNF1） were tested by polymerase chain reaction （PCR）. Among the 96 E.coli isolates, the ESBLs-producing E.coli comprised 46 （47.9%） strains and the non-ESBLs-producing E.cofi consisted of 50 （52.1%） strains. The detection rates of multiple drug-resistant strain, qacEAl-sull, CNF2, hlyA, eaeA,VT1, est, bfpA, elt, and CNF1 in 46 ESBLs-producing E.coli isolates were 89.1%, 76.1%, 6.5%, 69.6%, 69.6%, 89.1%, 10.9%, 26.1%, 8.7%, and 19.6%, respectively. In the non-ESBLs-producing E.cofi strains, the positive rates of multiple drug-resistant strain, qacEAl-sull, CNF2, hlyA, eaeA, VT1, est, bfpA, elt, and CNF1 were 62.0%, 80.0%, 16.0%, 28.0%, 64.0%, 38.0%, 6.0%, 34.0%, 10.0%, and 24.0%, respectively. The difference in the detection rates of multiple drug-resistant strain, hlyA and VT1 between the ESBLs-producing E.cofi strains and the non-ESBLs-producing E.cofi strains was statistically significant （P〈0.05）. The positive rate of multiple drug-resistant strains is higher in the ESBLs-producing strains than in the non-ESBLs-producing strains. The expression of some virulence genes hlyA and VT1 varies between the ESBLs-producing strains and the non-ESBLs-producing strains. Increased awareness of clinicians and enhanced testing by laboratories are required to reduce treatment failures and prevent the spread of multiple drug-resistant strains.

Elevated alanine aminotransferase activity is not associated with dyslipidemias,but related to insulin resistance and higher disease grades in non-diabetic non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Objective:To explore demographic and metabolic factors associated with increased alanine aminotransferase(ALT)activity in non-diabetic non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)patients.Methods:Overall 372 patients who consecutively attended to Gastroenterology Clinic of Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences,Tehran,Iran awere diagnosed as NAFLD entered into analysis.Exclusion criteria were having diabetes mellitus and fasting blood glucose over126 mg/dL,active hepatitis B virus infection,having hepatitis C virus positive serology,and to be under corticosteroid therapy.ALT levels were considered pathologically high when it was over30 IU/L for men and over 19 IU/L for women.Results:Bivariate analyses using t test and chisquare test showed that patients with pathologically augmented ALT levels had significantly higher NAFLD grades in their ultrasonographic evaluations(P=0.003).Moreover,these patients represented significantly higher homeostatic model assessment levels(P=0.003),levels of serum insulin(P=0.002),fasting blood glucose(P<0.001),and uric acid(P=0.02).The prevalence of insulin resistance was also higher in patients with increased serum ALT concentrations.Multifactorial logistic regression models showed that ultrasonographic grading of NAFLD(P=0.027)and insulin resistance(P=0.013)were the only variables significantly associated with abnormal ALT levels.Conclusions:This study shows that the associations of increased ALT serum levels in NAFLD patients are different from what are supposed before.By excluding diabetic patients from our population,we find that increased ALT levels are not associated with dyslipidemias but are independently associated with insulin resistance and NAFLD grading on ultrasonographic evaluations.Further studies are needed to confirm our results.

Image Non-Uniformity Correction in 3T Gd-EOB-DTPA-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Comparison among Different Software Versions

Background: Non-uniformity in signal intensity occurs commonly in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, which may pose substantial problems when using a 3T scanner. Therefore, image non-uniformity correction is usually applied. Purpose: To compare the correction effects of the phased-array uniformity enhancement (PURE), a calibration-based image non-uniformity correction method, among three different software versions in 3T Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging. Material and Methods: Hepatobiliary-phase images of a total of 120 patients who underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging on the same 3T scanner were analyzed retrospectively. Forty patients each were examined using three software versions (DV25, DV25.1, and DV26). The effects of PURE were compared by visual assessment, histogram analysis of liver signal intensity, evaluation of the spatial distribution of correction effects, and evaluation of quantitative indices of liver parenchymal enhancement. Results: The visual assessment indicated the highest uniformity of PURE-corrected images for DV26, followed by DV25 and DV25.1. Histogram analysis of corrected images demonstrated significantly larger variations in liver signal for DV25.1 than for the other two versions. Although PURE caused a relative increase in pixel values for central and lateral regions, such effects were weaker for DV25.1 than for the other two versions. In the evaluation of quantitative indices of liver parenchymal enhancement, the liver-to-muscle ratio (LMR) was significantly higher for the corrected images than for the uncorrected images, but the liver-to-spleen ratio (LSR) showed no significant differences. For corrected images, the LMR was significantly higher for DV25 and DV26 than for DV25.1, but the LSR showed no significant differences among the three versions. Conclusion: There were differences in the effects of PURE among the three software versions in 3T Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging. Even if the non-uniformity correction method has the same brand name, correction effects may differ depending on the software version, and these differences may affect visual and quantitative evaluations.

Effect of retained austenite and nonmetallic inclusions on the thermal/electrical properties and resistance spot welding nuggets of Si-containing TRIP steels

Five advanced high-strength transformation-induced plasticity(TRIP) steels with different chemical compositions were studied to correlate the retained austenite and nonmetallic inclusion content with their physical properties and the characteristics of the resistance spot welding nuggets. Electrical and thermal properties and equilibrium phases of TRIP steels were predicted using the JMatPro? software. Retained austenite and nonmetallic inclusions were quantified by X-ray diffraction and saturation magnetization techniques. The nonmetallic inclusions were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the contents of Si, C, Al, and Mn in TRIP steels increase both the retained austenite and the nonmetallic inclusion contents. We found that nonmetallic inclusions affect the thermal and electrical properties of the TRIP steels and that the differences between these properties tend to result in different cooling rates during the welding process. The results are discussed in terms of the electrical and thermal properties determined from the chemical composition and their impact on the resistance spot welding nuggets.

Multi-Drug Resistance Pattern of Lactose Non-Fermenting <i>Escherichia coli</i>as Causative Agent of Urine Tract Infections in Luanda, Angola

This prospective study was carried out to assess the sensitivity and resistance pattern of lactose non-fermenting Escherichia coli from July 2018 to December 2018 in the Laboratory of Microbiology at Luanda Medical Center, Angola. Out of 1170 patient, a total of 120 urine specimens infected with Escherichia coli (>105 CFU/ml) were collected according to the routine protocol of urinalysis. Among these 120 isolates, 25 (21%) isolates were determined as “atypical”, lactose non-fermenting E. colis trains. The twenty-five lactose non-fermenting Escherichia coli strains isolated from urine samples in Luanda Medical Center were declared as Multiple Drugs-Resistant strains with high resistance to Cefalexine (100%), Cefuroxime (100%), Ceftriaxone (92%), Gentamycin (92%), Ciprofloxacin (72%) and Amoxiciclin/Clavulanic (80%). The alarming resistance level to the first-choice drugs for the treatment of urinary tract infections caused by non-fermentative lactose E. coli was observed.

Molecular Detection of Mutations within the Quinolone Resistance-Determining Regions in Non Typhoidal Salmonella Isolates from Malaysia

Introduction: The efficacy of chemotherapy in bacteraemia caused by non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) is compromised by antibiotic resistance. Objective: This study was undertaken to describe the mechanism of resistance among clinical NTS isolates. Materials & Methodology: Thirty of NTS were isolated from blood (n = 19), stool (n = 10) and bronchioalveolar lavage (BAL;n = 1) respectively. These isolates were tested for susceptibility testing by disc diffusion method against ampicillin, gentamicin, tetracycline, co-trimoxazole, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone. Epsilometer tests (E-test) for nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin were performed for nalidixic acid resistant isolates by disc diffusion method. DNA sequencing was carried out on six of the nalidixic acid resistant Salmonella Enteritidis isolates to identify mutations within quinolones resistance determining regions (QRDR) of gyrA, gyrB, parC and parE genes. Results: Resistance rates of NTS isolates from blood, stool, and BAL were respectively 37%, 20% and 0% for ampicillin, 79%, 40% and 0% for tetracycline, 32%, 40% and 0% for co-trimoxazole, 37%, 10% and 100% for nalidixic acid. Eight isolates were resistant to nalidixic acid and had exhibited reduced susceptibility towards ciprofloxacin by E-test. Mutation within QRDR was detected in gyrA gene (n = 6;Asp 47 → His [3], Asp 51 → Asn [1], Asp 73 → Gly [1], and Gly 48 → Asp [1]) and double mutation was detected in parE gene (n = 3;Gly 48 → Asp [3], Glu 82 → Ser [3]). Out of six isolates, three isolates were found to have both gyrA and parE gene mutations. Conclusions: There was no mutation observed in gyrB and parC gene. Mutation in gyrA gene was sufficient to induce decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin. Variation in amino acid sequences are novel, while detection of other gene mutation was uncommon.

EXPRESSION OF MULTIDRUG RESISTANCE-ASSOCIATED PROTEIN (MRP) AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL FACTORS IN NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the expression of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) and clinicopathological factors and prognosis. Methods: The expression of MRP in 62 cases with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was detected using immunohistochemistry method. The expression of MRP in 30 cases of NSCLC and corresponding normal lung tissues were detected using immunohistochemistry and Western Blot. Results: this study of tumor tissues confirmed the plasma membrane and/or cytoplasm locations of MRP. There was apparent difference between normal lung tissues and NSCLC in MRP. The survival analysis of 62 NSCLC showed that the mean survival time of the patients with negative MRP expression was 69.8117.41 months and that of patients with positive MRP expression, 25.384.46 months. Log-rank test suggested that the difference between them was significant (P=0.0156). It was also found that in squamous cell lung cancer the statistically significant difference between the mean survival time of patients with positive MRP expression and those with negative MRP expression (P=0.0153). Multivariate Cox model analysis suggested that the survival time was significantly related to expression of MRP (P=0.035) and lymphatic metastasis (P=0.038). Conclusion: MRP expression in NSCLC is significantly higher compared with normal lung tissues. The mean survival time of patients with negative MRP was relative longer and expression of MRP was an independent factor for prognosis.

Buckling of un—stiffened cylindrical shell under non—uniform axial compressive stress

This paper provides a review of recent research advances and trends in the area of stability of unstiffened circular cylindrical shells subjected to general non-uniform axial compressive stresses.Only the more important and interesting aspects of the research,judged from a personal viewpoint,are discussed.They can be crudely classified into four categories:(1) shells subjected to non-uniform loads;(2) shells on discrete supports;(3) shells with intended cutouts/holes;and (4) shells with non-uniform settlements.

Effect of Non-Uniform Basic Concentration Gradient on the Onset of Double-Diffusive Convection in Micropolar Fluid

The effect of non-uniform basic concentration gradient on the onset of double diffusive convection in a micropolar fluid layer heated and saluted from below and cooled from above has been studied. The linear stability analysis is performed. The eigen value of the problem is obtained using Galerkian method. The eigen values are obtained for 1) free-free 2) rigid-free 3) rigid-rigid velocity boundary combination with isothermal temperature condition on spin-vanishing permeable boundaries. The influence of various micropolar parameters on the onset of convection has been analyzed. One linear and five non linear concentration profiles are considered and their comparative influence on onset is discussed and results are depicted graphically. It is observed that fluid layer with suspended particles heated and soluted from below is more stable compare to the classical fluid without suspended particles.

An improved binarization algorithm of wood image defect segmentation based on non-uniform background

In this study,an image binarization optimization algorithm,based on local threshold algorithms,is proposed because global and traditional local threshold segmentation algorithms cannot effectively address the problems of nonuniform backgrounds of wood defect images.The proposed algorithm calculates the threshold by the mean,standard deviation and the extreme value of the window.The results indicate that this modified algorithm enhances the image segmentation for wood defect images on a complex background,which is much superior to the global threshold algorithm and the Bernsen algorithm,and slightly better than the Niblack algorithm and Sauvola algorithm.Compared with similar models,the algorithm proposed in this paper has higher segmentation accuracy,as high as 92.6%for wood defect images with a complex background.