Toward understanding the role of genomic repeat elements in neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases cause great medical and economic burdens for both patients and society;however, the complex molecular mechanisms thereof are not yet well understood. With the development of high-coverage sequencing technology, researchers have started to notice that genomic repeat regions, previously neglected in search of disease culprits, are active contributors to multiple neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we describe the association between repeat element variants and multiple degenerative diseases through genome-wide association studies and targeted sequencing. We discuss the identification of disease-relevant repeat element variants, further powered by the advancement of long-read sequencing technologies and their related tools, and summarize recent findings in the molecular mechanisms of repeat element variants in brain degeneration, such as those causing transcriptional silencing or RNA-mediated gain of toxic function. Furthermore, we describe how in silico predictions using innovative computational models, such as deep learning language models, could enhance and accelerate our understanding of the functional impact of repeat element variants. Finally, we discuss future directions to advance current findings for a better understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and the clinical applications of genomic repeat elements.

Edge detection method for remote sensing image based on morphological variable structuring element

There are problems such as incomplete edges and poor noise suppression when a single fixed morphological structuring element is used to detect the edges in remote sensing images. For this reason, a morphological edge detection method for remote sensing image based on variable structuring element is proposed. Firstly, the structuring elements with different scales and multiple directions are constructed according to the diversity of remote sensing imagery targets. In order to suppress the noise of the target background and highlight the edge of the image target in the remote sensing image by adaptive Top hat and Bottom hat transform, the corresponding adaptive morphological operations are constructed based on variable structuring elements; Secondly, adaptive morphological edge detection is used to obtain multiple images with different scales and directional edge features; Finally, the image edges are obtained by weighted summation of each direction edge, and then the least square is used to fit the edges for accurate location of the edge contour of the target. The experimental results show that the proposed method not only can detect the complete edge of remote sensing image, but also has high edge detection accuracy and superior anti-noise performance. Compared with classical edge detection and the morphological edge detection with a fixed single structuring element, the proposed method performs better in edge detection effect, and the accuracy of detection can reach 95 %

An 8-Node Plane Hybrid Element for StructuralMechanics Problems Based on the Hellinger-Reissner Variational Principle

The finite element method (FEM) plays a valuable role in computer modeling and is beneficial to the mechanicaldesign of various structural parts. However, the elements produced by conventional FEM are easily inaccurate andunstable when applied. Therefore, developing new elements within the framework of the generalized variationalprinciple is of great significance. In this paper, an 8-node plane hybrid finite element with 15 parameters (PHQ8-15β) is developed for structural mechanics problems based on the Hellinger-Reissner variational principle.According to the design principle of Pian, 15 unknown parameters are adopted in the selection of stress modes toavoid the zero energy modes.Meanwhile, the stress functions within each element satisfy both the equilibrium andthe compatibility relations of plane stress problems. Subsequently, numerical examples are presented to illustrate theeffectiveness and robustness of the proposed finite element. Numerical results show that various common lockingbehaviors of plane elements can be overcome. The PH-Q8-15β element has excellent performance in all benchmarkproblems, especially for structures with varying cross sections. Furthermore, in bending problems, the reasonablemesh shape of the new element for curved edge structures is analyzed in detail, which can be a useful means toimprove numerical accuracy.

A method of remote sensing image water segmentation based on adaptive morphological elliptical structuring elements

The use of visible and infrared remote sensing images to calculate the water area is an effective means to grasp the basic situation of water resources,and water segmentation is the premise of statistics.Generally,the edge features of the water in the remote sensing images are complex.When the traditional morphology is used for image segmentation,it is easy to change the image edge and affect the accuracy of image segmentation because the fixed structuring elements are used to perform morphological operations on the image.To segment water in the remote sensing image accurately,a remote sensing image water segmentation method based on adaptive morphological elliptical structuring elements is proposed.Firstly,the eigenvalue and eigenvector of the image are estimated by linear structure tensor,and the elliptical structuring elements are constructed by the eigenvalue and eigenvector.Then adaptive morphological operations are defined,combining the close operation to eliminate the influence of dark detail noise on water without overstretching the water edge,so that the water edge can be maintained more accurately.Finally,on this basis,the water area can be segmented by gray slice.The experimental results show that the proposed method has higher segmentation accuracy and the average segmentation error is less than 1.43%.

S空位及非金属掺杂单层Bi_(2)S_(2)Se的第一性原理研究

Bi_(2)S_(2)Se是一种新兴的具有优异光电性能的材料,因此受到了广泛的关注.本研究采用第一性原理方法和开源程序,研究了本征单层Bi_(2)S_(2)Se以及掺杂非金属元素X(X=P,Cl,Br和I)和S空位的体系的电子结构和光学特性.计算结果表明,改性后出现了晶格缺陷.含S空位和P、Cl、Br掺杂体系的带隙减少,而I掺杂体系的带隙增加.同时,含S空位和Cl、Br、I掺杂体系的费米能级穿过导带底,而P掺杂体系的费米能级穿过价带顶.所有改性体系在费米能级附近都出现了缺陷能级或杂质能级,表现出较高的可见光吸收能力和散射能力,改性体系的对可见光的吸收能力和散射能力有所增加.

Salience adaptive morphological structuring element construction method based on minimum spanning tree

Classical mathematical morphology operations use a fixed size and shape structuring element to process the whole image.Due to the diversity of image content and the complexity of target structure,for processed image,its shape may be changed and part of the information may be lost.Therefore,we propose a method for constructing salience adaptive morphological structuring elements based on minimum spanning tree(MST).First,the gradient image of the input image is calculated,the edge image is obtained by non-maximum suppression(NMS)of the gradient image,and then chamfer distance transformation is performed on the edge image to obtain a salience map(SM).Second,the radius of structuring element is determined by calculating the maximum and minimum values of SM and then the minimum spanning tree is calculated on the SM.Finally,the radius is used to construct a structuring element whose shape and size adaptively change with the local features of the input image.In addition,the basic morphological operators such as erosion,dilation,opening and closing are redefined using the adaptive structuring elements and then compared with the classical morphological operators.The simulation results show that the proposed method can make full use of the local features of the image and has better processing results in image structure preservation and image filtering.

Finite element model updating and validating of Runyang Suspension Bridge based on SHMS

Based on the finite element （FE） program ANSYS, a three-dimensional model for the Runyang Suspension Bridge （RSB） is established. The structural natural frequency, vibration mode, stress and displacement response under various load cases are given. A new method of FE model updating is presented based on the physical meaning of sensitivity and the penalty function concept. In this method, the structural model is updated by modifying the parameters of design, and validated by structural natural vibration characteristics, stress response as well as displacement response. The design parameters used for updating are bounded according to measured static response and engineering judgment. The FE model of RSB is updated and validated by the measurements coming from the structural health monitoring system （SHMS）, and the FE baseline model reflecting the current state of RSB is achieved. Both the dynamic and static results show that the method is effective in updating the FE model of long span suspension bridges. The results obtained provide an important research basis for damage alarming and health monitoring of the RSB.

Dynamic analysis and optimization of car's body-in-white based on superelement approach

An approach based on the superelement theory is proposed, and it is applied to model the car's body-in-white as well as to dynamic simulation and optimization. This approach can improve the calculation speed and do the dynamic optimization among substructures respectively in the car's body design. To meet the car's design of harshness, a dynamic optimal design model, based on the mean square of vertical displacement response at two points of the car floor, is proposed. Satisfactory results are achieved.

SMART STRUCTURES USING PIEZOELEMENTS FOR ACTIVE VIBRATION AND NOISE SUPPRESSION IN AVIATION AND AEROSPACE

Smart material and structure (SMS) is a challenging novel technique for the 21 century especially in fields of aviation and aerospace. Vibration and noise suppression smart structure is an important branch of SMS. There are several typical structures such as the cabin of an airplane, space station, the solar board of satellite and the rotor blade of a helicopter, of which the vibrations and radiation noises have bad influences on precise equipments and aiming systems. In order to suppress vibrations and noises of these structures, several algorithms are applied to the models which simulate the structures. Experiments are performed to suppress vibrations and noises by bonding sensors and actuators to the structures at the optimized locations and using computer based measurement and control systems. For the blade vibration control of a helicopter, a non contact method of signal transmission by magneto electric coupling is discussed. The experimental results demonstrate that the methods used for active control are effective.

GEOMETRICALLY NONLINEAR FINITE ELEMENT MODEL OF SPATIAL THIN-WALLED BEAMS WITH GENERAL OPEN CROSS SECTION

Based on the theory of Timoshenko and thin-walled beams, a new finite element model of spatial thin-walled beams with general open cross sections is presented in the paper, in which several factors are included such as lateral shear deformation, warp generated by nonuni- form torsion and second-order shear stress, coupling of flexure and torsion, and large displacement with small strain. With an additional internal node in the element, the element stiffness matrix is deduced by incremental virtual work in updated Lagrangian （UL） formulation. Numerical examples demonstrate that the presented model well describes the geometrically nonlinear property of spatial thin-walled beams.

Dynamic Finite Element Analysis for Interaction between Two Phase Saturated Soil Foundation and Platform

In this paper, the foundation soil of offshore structure is simulated as a two phase saturated porous medium. The dynamic equations of porous medium and finite element formulation are given. For structural analysis, the technique of multilevel substructure is used, and the saturated soil analysis is set in the highest level substructure model. Based on these theories a dynamic finite element analysis program DIASS for the analysis of interaction between two phase ocean soil foundation and platform structures has been developed. A numerical example is given here to illustrate the influence of the pore water in soil on the structural response of an ocean platform.

Nonlinear finite-element-based structural system failure probability analysis methodology for gravity dams considering correlated failure modes

The structural system failure probability(SFP) is a valuable tool for evaluating the global safety level of concrete gravity dams.Traditional methods for estimating the failure probabilities are based on defined mathematical descriptions,namely,limit state functions of failure modes.Several problems are to be solved in the use of traditional methods for gravity dams.One is how to define the limit state function really reflecting the mechanical mechanism of the failure mode;another is how to understand the relationship among failure modes and enable the probability of the whole structure to be determined.Performing SFP analysis for a gravity dam system is a challenging task.This work proposes a novel nonlinear finite-element-based SFP analysis method for gravity dams.Firstly,reasonable nonlinear constitutive modes for dam concrete,concrete/rock interface and rock foundation are respectively introduced according to corresponding mechanical mechanisms.Meanwhile the response surface(RS) method is used to model limit state functions of main failure modes through the Monte Carlo(MC) simulation results of the dam-interface-foundation interaction finite element(FE) analysis.Secondly,a numerical SFP method is studied to compute the probabilities of several failure modes efficiently by simple matrix integration operations.Then,the nonlinear FE-based SFP analysis methodology for gravity dams considering correlated failure modes with the additional sensitivity analysis is proposed.Finally,a comprehensive computational platform for interfacing the proposed method with the open source FE code Code Aster is developed via a freely available MATLAB software tool(FERUM).This methodology is demonstrated by a case study of an existing gravity dam analysis,in which the dominant failure modes are identified,and the corresponding performance functions are established.Then,the dam failure probability of the structural system is obtained by the proposed method considering the correlation relationship of main failure modes on the basis of the mechanical mechanism analysis with the MC-FE simulations.

Conversion between solid and beam element solutions of finite element method based on meta-modeling theory:development and application to a ramp tunnel structure

In this study, a new method for conversion of solid finite element solution to beam finite element solution is developed based on the meta-modeling theory which constructs a model consistent with continuum mechanics. The proposed method is rigorous and efficient compared to a typical conversion method which merely computes surface integration of solid element nodal stresses to obtain cross-sectional forces. The meta-modeling theory ensures the rigorousness of proposed method by defining a proper distance between beam element and solid element solutions in a function space of continuum mechanics. Results of numerical verification test that is conducted with a simple cantilever beam are used to find the proper distance function for this conversion. Time history analysis of the main tunnel structure of a real ramp tunnel is considered as a numerical example for the proposed conversion method. It is shown that cross-sectional forces are readily computed for solid element solution of the main tunnel structure when it is converted to a beam element solution using the proposed method. Further, envelopes of resultant forces which are of primary importance for the purpose of design, are developed for a given ground motion at the end.

Process and mechanism of hydrothermal stabilization for arsenic sulfide sludge containing elemental sulfur

An optimized hydrothermal treatment was employed to stabilize the arsenic sulfide sludge(ASS). Under the optimal conditions(160 ℃, 2 h, liquid-to-solid(L/S) ratio of 1:1, and initial pH of 2), the leaching concentrations of As and Cd decreased from 504.0 and 12.0 mg/L to 1.23 and 0.03 mg/L of the treated ASS, respectively. The results indicate that the stabilization of the ASS was achieved through structure transformation from the particles into a bulk and the speciation transformation of As and Cd. Besides, sulfur in the ASS could significantly improve the stabilization property due to its melting and polymerization.

Review on Alkali Element Doping in Cu（In,Ga）Se2 Thin Films and Solar Cells

This paper reviews the development history of alkali element doping on Cu（In,Ga）Se2 （CIGS） solar cells and summarizes important achievements that have been made in this field. The influences of incorporation strategies on CIG5 absorbers and device performances are also reviewed. By analyzing CIGS surface structure and electronic property variation induced by alkali fluoride （NaF and KF） post-deposition treatment （PDT）, we discuss and interpret the following issues： ① The delamination of CIGS thin films induced by Na incorporation facilitates CulnSe2 formation and inhibits Ga during low-temperature co-evaporation process- es. ② The mechanisms of carrier density increase due to defect passivation by Na at grain boundaries and the surface. ③ A thinner buffer layer improves the short-circuit current without open-circuit voltage loss, This is attributed not only to better buffer layer coverage in the early stage of the chemical bath deposition process, but also to higher donor defect （Cd^＋Cu） density, which is transferred from the acceptor defect （C^-cu） and strengthens the buried homojunction. ④ The KF-PDT-induced lower valence band maximum at the absorber surface reduces the recombination at the absorber/buffer interface, which improves the open-circuit voltage and the fill factor of solar cells.

Structure of the Intermetallic Compound Ni_3Al Synthesized under Compression of the Powder Mixture of Pure Elements Part Ⅰ: Phase Composition and Microstructure of Main Phase

It was shown by TEM and X-ray analysis that there are four types of grains of the main Ni3Al phase in the structure of the intermetallic obtained by the self-propagation high temperature method (SHS). Every type of grains has its own domain and dislocation structure. There are mono- and polydomains with and without dislocations. The grains of the main phase of monoand polydomains without dislocations and polydomains with dislocations were formed by diffusion in the solid phase. In these conditions NiAl3 phase is located on the grain boundary of the main phase. The Ni2Al3 phase is located at the triple joints of the main phase.

Three-Dimensional Thermo-Elastic-Plastic Finite Element Method Modeling for Predicting Weld-Induced Residual Stresses and Distortions in Steel Stiffened-Plate Structures

The objective of the present paper is to develop nonlinear finite element method models for predicting the weld-induced initial deflection and residual stress of plating in steel stiffened-plate structures. For this purpose, three-dimensional thermo-elastic-plastic finite element method computations are performed with varying plate thickness and weld bead length (leg length) in welded plate panels, the latter being associated with weld heat input. The finite element models are verified by a comparison with experimental database which was obtained by the authors in separate studies with full scale measurements. It is concluded that the nonlinear finite element method models developed in the present paper are very accurate in terms of predicting the weld-induced initial imperfections of steel stiffened plate structures. Details of the numerical computations together with test database are documented.

Effect of Reaction Temperature and Time on the Structural Properties of Cu(In,Ga)Se_2 Thin Films Deposited by Sequential Elemental Layer Technique

Thin films of copper indium gallium selenide Cu（In,Ga）Se2 （CIGS） were prepared by sequential elemental layer deposition in vacuum at room temperature. The as-deposited films were heated in vacuum for compound formation, and were studied at temperature as high as 1250℃ for the first time. These films were concurrently studied for their structural properties by X-ray diffraction （XRD） technique. The XRD analyses include phase transition studies, grain size variation and microstrain measurements with the reaction temperature and time.It has been observed that there are three distinct regions of variation in all these parameters. These regions belong to three temperature regimes： 〈450℃, 450-950℃, and 〉950℃. It is also seen that the compound formation starts at 250℃, with ternary phases appearing at 350℃ or above. Whereas, there is another phase shift at 950℃ without any preference to the quaternary compound.

Finite element analysis of dynamic response and structure borne noise of gearbox

A dynamic finite element method combined with finite element mixed formula for contact problem is used to analyze the dynamic characteristics of gear system. Considering the stiffness excitation, error excitation and meshing shock excitation, the dynamic finite element model is established for the entire gear system which includes gears, shafts, bearings and gearbox housing. By the software of I-DEAS, the natural frequency, normal mode, dynamic time-domain response, frequency-domain response and one-third octave velocity grade structure borne noise of gear system are studied by the method of theoretical modal analysis and dynamic response analysis. The maximum values of vibration and structure borne noise are occurred at the mesh frequency of output grade gearing.

Structure of the Intermetallic Compound Ni_3Al Synthesized under Compression of the Powder Mixture of Pure Elements Part Ⅱ: Influence of Alloying by Boron on the Phase Composition and the Microstructure of Grains of the Main Phase

The Ni_3B phase was formed when boron (0.5 at. pct B) was added to the intermetallic of sto- ichiometric and off-stoichiometric (Ni-24 at. pct Al) compounds. In the alloy of stoichiometric composition the particles of Ni_3B phase has the size around 0.1μm and is located on the grain boundary of the main phase. The decreasing of concentrations of Al in the ofF-stoichiometric alloy leads to increase in the degree of the long-range order parameter, increasing the concen- trations of boron in the solid solution and decreasing its localization on the grain boundary. Microalloying of boron leads to increasing in the fraction of grain monodomains with disloca- tions up to 0.7 in the alloy of the off-stoichiometric composition and up to 1 in the alloy of the stoichiometric composition. It was established the correlation between the degree of the concentration inhomogeneity, average density of the dislocations and the average long range-order parameter.