A product module mining method for PLM database

Modular technology can effectively support the rapid design of products, and it is one of the key technologies to realize mass customization design. With the application of product lifecycle management(PLM) system in enterprises, the product lifecycle data have been effectively managed. However, these data have not been fully utilized in module division, especially for complex machinery products. To solve this problem, a product module mining method for the PLM database is proposed to improve the effect of module division. Firstly, product data are extracted from the PLM database by data extraction algorithm. Then, data normalization and structure logical inspection are used to preprocess the extracted defective data. The preprocessed product data are analyzed and expressed in a matrix for module mining. Finally, the fuzzy c-means clustering(FCM) algorithm is used to generate product modules, which are stored in product module library after module marking and post-processing. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method are verified by a case study of high pressure valve.

Tropical cyclone spiral band extraction and center locating by binary ant colony optimization

Tropical cyclone (TC) center locating is crucial because it lays the foundation for TC forecasting. Locating TC centers, usually by manual means, continues to present many difficulties. Not least is the problem of inconsistency between TC center locations forecast by different agencies. In this paper, an objective TC center locating scheme is developed, using infrared satellite images. We introduce a pattern-matching concept, which we illustrate using a spiral curve model. A spiral band model, based on a spiral band region, is designed to extract the spiral cloud-rain bands (SCRBs) of TCs. We propose corresponding criteria on which to score the fitting value of a candidate template defined by our models. In the proposed scheme, TC location is an optimization problem, solved by an ant colony optimization algorithm. In numerical experiments, a minimal mean distance error of 17.9 km is obtained when the scheme is tested against best-track data. The scheme is suitable for TCs with distinct SCRBs or symmetrical central dense overcast, and for TCs both with and without clear eyes.

Inhibition mechanism of compound ethanol extracts from Wuweizi(Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis) on renal interstitial fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy model mice

OBJECTIVE：To evaluate inhibition effect and mech- anism of compound ethanol extracts from Wuweizi （Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis）, Chuanxiong （Rhi- zoma Chuanxiong） and Muli （Cocha Ostreae） （FRC） on glomerular and tubular interstitial fibrosis in streptozocin （STZ）-induced diabetic nephropathy （ND） model mice. METHODS： Twenty-seven male C57BL/6 mice were divided randomly into 3 groups： nondibetic （ND）, STZ-induced diabetic （D）, and STZ-induced diabetic that were treated with .5 g. kg1. daylof FRC by oral gavage （DFRc）, with 9 in each group. The protein ex- pressions of E-cadherin, a-smooth muscle actin （a-SMA）, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 （PAl-l） in renal tissues were investigated by Western blot- ting. The expressions of fibronectin （FN） and o-SMA were detected by immunohistochemical method. The morphological changes of renal tissues were observed under a microscope. RESULTS： Renal tissues in the DFRC group showed a lessened degree of fibrosis. Meanwhile, the expres- sions of FN, o-SMA and PAl-lwere significantly lower in the DrRc group than those in the D group （all P〈0.05）.CONCLUSION： FRC can ameliorate the DN in the C57BL/6 mice, and its mechanism may relate to in- hibition on the epithelial to mesenchymal transdif- ferentiation, endothelial-myofibroblast transition and PAl-1 expression.