An optical fibre monitoring system for evaluating the performance of a soil nailed slope

Hong-Hu Zhu,Albert N.L. Ho,Jian-Hua Yin,H.W. Sun,Hua-Fu Pei,Cheng-Yu Hong 국제구조공학회 2012 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.9 No.5

Conventional geotechnical instrumentation techniques available for monitoring of slopes, especially soil-nailed slopes have limitations such as electromagnetic interference, low accuracy, poor longterm reliability and difficulty in mounting a series of strain sensors on a soil nail bar with a small-diameter. This paper presents a slope monitoring system based on fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensing technology. This monitoring system is designed to perform long-term monitoring of slope movements, strains along soil nails, and other slope reinforcement elements. All these FBG sensors are fabricated and calibrated in laboratory and a trial of this monitoring system has been successfully conducted on a roadside slope in Hong Kong. As part of the slope stability improvement works, soil nails and a toe support soldier-pile wall were constructed. During the slope works, more than 100 FBG sensors were installed on a soil nail, a soldier pile, and an in- place inclinometer. The paper presents the layout and arrangement of the instruments as well as the installation procedures adopted. Monitoring data have been collected since March 2008. This trial has demonstrated the great potential of the optical fibre monitoring system for long-term monitoring of slope performance. The advantages of the slope monitoring system and experience gained in the field implementation are also discussed in the paper.

An optical fibre monitoring system for evaluating the performance of a soil nailed slope

Zhu, Hong-Hu,Ho, Albert N.L.,Yin, Jian-Hua,Sun, H.W.,Pei, Hua-Fu,Hong, Cheng-Yu Techno-Press 2012 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.9 No.5

Conventional geotechnical instrumentation techniques available for monitoring of slopes, especially soil-nailed slopes have limitations such as electromagnetic interference, low accuracy, poor longterm reliability and difficulty in mounting a series of strain sensors on a soil nail bar with a small-diameter. This paper presents a slope monitoring system based on fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensing technology. This monitoring system is designed to perform long-term monitoring of slope movements, strains along soil nails, and other slope reinforcement elements. All these FBG sensors are fabricated and calibrated in laboratory and a trial of this monitoring system has been successfully conducted on a roadside slope in Hong Kong. As part of the slope stability improvement works, soil nails and a toe support soldier-pile wall were constructed. During the slope works, more than 100 FBG sensors were installed on a soil nail, a soldier pile, and an in- place inclinometer. The paper presents the layout and arrangement of the instruments as well as the installation procedures adopted. Monitoring data have been collected since March 2008. This trial has demonstrated the great potential of the optical fibre monitoring system for long-term monitoring of slope performance. The advantages of the slope monitoring system and experience gained in the field implementation are also discussed in the paper.

Correlation between Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Visceral Adipose Tissue in Non-Obese Chinese Adults: A CT Evaluation

Ai-Hong Yu,Yang-Yang Duan-Mu,Yong Zhang,Ling Wang,Zhe Guo,Yong-Qiang Yu,Yu-Sheng Wang,Xiao-Guang Cheng 대한영상의학회 2018 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.19 No.5

Objective: To investigate the correlation between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and visceral adipose tissue in non-obese Chinese adults using computed tomography (CT). Materials and Methods: The study included 454 subjects undergoing abdominal CT scan. Degree of CT attenuation in liver and spleen, and the degree of fat infiltration in liver were evaluated according to three indices: the attenuation value of liver parenchyma (CTLP), the attenuation ratio of liver and spleen (LSratio) and the attenuation difference between liver and spleen (LSdif). Visceral fat area (VFA) and total fat area (TFA) at L2/3 and L4/5 levels were measured, and the abdominal subcutaneous fat area (SFA) was calculated. Bivariate correlation analysis was carried out to determine the correlation among these factors. Results: In men, VFA, SFA and TFA at L2/3 and L4/5 levels showed significant differences in terms of the three indices to distinguish fatty liver from non-fatty liver (all, p < 0.001). In men, all the three indices showed negative correlation with TFA, SFA and VFA (all, p < 0.001). The negative correlation between the three indices and VFA at the L2/3 level was higher than at L4/5 level (r = -0.476 vs. r = -0.340 for CTLP, r = -0.502 vs. r = -0.413 for LSratio, r = -0.543 vs. r = -0.422 for LSdif, p < 0.001, respectively). The negative correlation between LSratio, LSdif and VFA at L2/3 and L4/5 levels was higher than SFA at the corresponding level. In women, all the three indices showed negative correlation with VFA and TFA at L2/3 and L4/5 levels, and the negative correlation between CTLP and VFA was higher at L2/3 level than at L4/5 level (r = -0.294 vs. r = -0.254, p < 0.001). Conclusion: In non-obese Chinese adults, the degree of hepatic fatty infiltration showed a strong correlation with abdominal fat on CT. VFA at L2/3 level was more closely related to fatty liver compared with VFA at L4/5 level.

Elevated expression of WSB2 degrades p53 and activates the IGFBP3-AKT-mTOR-dependent pathway to drive hepatocellular carcinoma

Li Xun,Zhang Cheng-Cheng,Lin Xiao-Tong,Zhang Jie,Zhang Yu-Jun,Yu Hong-Qiang,Liu Ze-Yu,Gong Yi,Zhang Lei-Da,Xie Chuan-Ming 생화학분자생물학회 2024 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.56 No.-

Dysregulation of wild-type p53 turnover is a key cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet its mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we report that WD repeat and SOCS box containing protein 2 (WSB2), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, is an independent adverse prognostic factor in HCC patients. WSB2 drives HCC tumorigenesis and lung metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, WSB2 is a new p53 destabilizer that promotes K48-linked p53 polyubiquitination at the Lys291 and Lys292 sites in HCC cells, leading to p53 proteasomal degradation. Degradation of p53 causes IGFBP3-dependent AKT/mTOR signaling activation. Furthermore, WSB2 was found to bind to the p53 tetramerization domain via its SOCS box domain. Targeting mTOR with everolimus, an oral drug, significantly blocked WSB2-triggered HCC tumorigenesis and metastasis in vivo. In clinical samples, high expression of WSB2 was associated with low wild-type p53 expression and high p-mTOR expression. These findings demonstrate that WSB2 is overexpressed and degrades wild-type p53 and then activates the IGFBP3-AKT/mTOR axis, leading to HCC tumorigenesis and lung metastasis, which indicates that targeting mTOR could be a new therapeutic strategy for HCC patients with high WSB2 expression and wild-type p53.

Modeling and Design of Zero-Voltage-Switching Controller for Wireless Power Transfer Systems Based on Closed-Loop Dominant Pole

Cheng Chen,Hong Zhou,Qijun Deng,Wenshan Hu,Yanjuan Yu,Xiaoqing Lu,Jingang Lai 전력전자학회 2019 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.19 No.5

Zero-Voltage-Switching (ZVS) operation for a Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) system can be achieved by designing a ZVS controller. However, the performance of the controller in some industrial applications needs to be designed tightly. This paper introduces a ZVS controller design method for WPT systems. The parameters of the controller are designed according to the desired performance based on the closed loop dominant pole placement method. To describe the dynamic characteristics of the system ZVS angle, a nonlinear dynamic model is deduced and linearized using the small signal linearization method. By analyzing the zero-pole distribution, a low-order equivalent model that facilitates the controller design is obtained. The parameters of the controller are designed by calculating the time constant of the closed-loop dominant poles. A prototype of a WPT system with the designed controller and a five-stage multistage series variable capacitor (MSVC) is built and tested to verify the performance of the controller. The recorded response curves and waveforms show that the designed controller can maintain the ZVS angle at the reference angle with satisfactory control performance.

Thermus amyloliquefaciens sp. nov., isolated from a hot spring sediment sample.

Yu, Tian-Tian,Ming, Hong,Yao, Ji-Cheng,Zhou, En-Min,Park, Dong-Jin,Hozzein, Wael N,Kim, Chang-Jin,Wadaan, Mohammed A M,Li, Wen-Jun Society for General Microbiology 2015 International journal of systematic and evolutiona Vol.65 No.8

<P>A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic bacterium, designated strain YIM 77409T, was isolated from the Niujie hot spring in the Eryuan county of Dali, Yunnan province, south-west China. Cells of the strain were rod-shaped and colonies were yellow and circular. The strain grew at pH?6.0-8.0 (optimum, pH?7.0) and 50-70C (optimum, 60-65C). The predominant menaquinone was MK-8 and the DNA G+C content was 66.4?mol%. Major fatty acids (>10?%) were iso-C15?:?0 and iso-C17?:?0.The polar lipids consisted of one aminophospholipid, one phospholipid and two glycolipids. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain YIM 77409T formed a cluster with Thermus scotoductus DSM 8553T, Thermus antranikianii DSM 12462T, Thermus caliditerrae YIM 77925T and Thermus tengchongensis YIM 77924T, with highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to T. scotoductus DSM 8553T (97.57?%). However, DNA-DNA hybridization indicated that strain YIM 77409T should be viewed as a representative of a novel species, as there was only 30.6??1.6?% reassociation with T. scotoductus DSM 8553T. On the basis of the morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, as well as the genotypic data, it is proposed that strain YIM 77409T represents a novel species of the genus Thermus, with the name Thermus amyloliquefaciens sp. nov. The type strain is YIM 77409T (?=?DSM 25898T?=?KCTC 32024T).</P>

Association between Thioridazine Use and Cancer Risk in Adult Patients with Schizophrenia-A Population-Based Study

Cheng-Chen Chang,Ming-Hong Hsieh,Jong-Yi Wang,Nan-Ying Chiu,Yu-Hsun Wang,Jeng-Yuan Chiou,Hsiang-Hsiung Huang,Po-Chung Ju 대한신경정신의학회 2018 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.15 No.11

Objective Several cell line studies have demonstrated thioridazine’s anticancer, multidrug resistance-reversing and apoptosis-inducing properties in various tumors. We conducted this nationwide population-based study to investigate the association between thioridazine use and cancer risk among adult patients with schizophrenia. Methods Based on the Psychiatric Inpatient Medical Claim of the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, a total of 185,689 insured psychiatric patients during 2000 to 2005 were identified. After excluding patients with prior history of schizophrenia, only 42,273 newly diagnosed patients were included. Among them, 1,631 patients ever receiving thioridazine for more than 30 days within 6 months were selected and paired with 6,256 randomly selected non-thioridazine controls. These patients were traced till 2012/12/31 to see if they have any malignancy. Results The incidence rates of hypertension and cerebrovascular disease were higher among cases than among matched controls. The incidence of hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease and chronic pulmonary disease did not differ between the two groups. By using Cox proportional hazard model for cancer incidence, the crude hazard ratio was significantly higher in age, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cerebrovascular disease, coronary artery disease and chronic pulmornary disease. However, after adjusting for other covariates, only age and hypertension remained significant. Thioridazine use in adult patients with schizophrenia had no significant association with cancer. Conclusion Despite our finding that thioridazine use had no prevention in cancer in adult patients with schizophrenia. Based on the biological activity, thioridazine is a potential anticancer drug and further investigation in human with cancer is warranted.

Validation of a Palliative Prognostic Index to Predict Life Expectancy for Terminally Ill Cancer Patients in a Hospice Consultation Setting in Taiwan

Cheng, Wei-Hong,Kao, Chen-Yi,Hung, Yu-Shin,Su, Po-Jung,Hsieh, Chia-Hsun,Chen, Jen-Shi,Wang, Hung-Ming,Chou, Wen-Chi Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.6

Background: The aim of our study was to assess the practical utility of the palliative prognostic index (PPI) as a prognostic tool used by nurse specialists in a hospice consultation setting in Taiwan. Methods: In total, 623 terminal cancer patients under hospice consultation care from one medical center in northern Taiwan were enrolled between January 1 and June 30, 2011. PPI was assessed by a nurse specialist at first hospice consultation and patients categorized into groups by prognosis (good, intermediate, poor). Patient survival was analyzed retrospectively to determine significance of between-group differences. Results: By PPI sum score, 37.2% of patients were in the good prognosis group, 18% in the intermediate prognosis group and 44.8% in the poor prognosis group. The death rates were 56%, 81.2% and 89.6% and median survivals were 76, 18 and 7 days, respectively. The hazard ratio was 0.19 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.10-0.24, p<0.001) for the poor versus good prognosis group and 0.54 (95% CI 0.43-0.69, p<0.001) for the poor versus intermediate prognosis group. The sensitivity and specificity for the poor prognosis group was 66% and 71%; the positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 81% and 52%, respectively, to predict patient death within 21 days (area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic was 0.68). Conclusions: Assessment by PPI can accurately predict survival of terminal cancer patients receiving hospice consultation care. PPI is a simple tool and can be administered by nurse members of hospice consultation teams.

Pricing Catastrophe Derivatives Using A Recursive Evaluation Approach

Yu Hong Liu,Mao Wei Hung,I Ming Jiang,Cheng Han Kuei 한국증권학회 2008 Asia-Pacific Journal of Financial Studies Vol.37 No.4

ERRATUM Bull. Korean Chem. Soc. 2011, Vol. 32, No. 4, pp 1187~1194

Cheng-gang Ci,Hong-bo Yu,Su-qin Wan,Jing-yao Liu,Chia-Chung Sun 대한화학회 2011 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.32 No.7