A Vision-Based Sensor for Noncontact Structural Displacement Measurement

Conventional displacement sensors have limitations in practical applications. This paper develops a vision sensor system for remote measurement of structural displacements. An advanced template matching algorithm, referred to as the upsampled cross correlation, is adopted and further developed into a software package for real-time displacement extraction from video images. By simply adjusting the upsampling factor, better subpixel resolution can be easily achieved to improve the measurement accuracy. The performance of the vision sensor is first evaluated through a laboratory shaking table test of a frame structure, in which the displacements at all the floors are measured by using one camera to track either high-contrast artificial targets or low-contrast natural targets on the structural surface such as bolts and nuts. Satisfactory agreements are observed between the displacements measured by the single camera and those measured by high-performance laser displacement sensors. Then field tests are carried out on a railway bridge and a pedestrian bridge, through which the accuracy of the vision sensor in both time and frequency domains is further confirmed in realistic field environments. Significant advantages of the noncontact vision sensor include its low cost, ease of operation, and flexibility to extract structural displacement at any point from a single measurement

Free vibration analysis of suspended super long span CFRP cables

The dynamic characteristics of an assumed isolated CFRP main cable are studied. The section area of the CFRP cable is determined for suspension bridge in different spans and sag-span ratios based on the principle of limit design at a given security coefficient. The Irvine parameter for suspension bridge with backstay and without backstay is calculated and a rule that Irvine parameter is linearly changed with span and sag ratio respectively is found. The analysis of frequency change with span shows that the first and third symmetric frequency is lager and less than the corresponding antisymmetric frequency respectively, but the second symmetric and antisymmetric frequencies are close to each other. The analysis on frequency and dimensionless frequency change with sag ratio show that for bridge with and without backstay the first and third order symmetric frequencies are larger and less than the corresponding antisymmetric frequencies respectively, but for a bridge without backstay the crossover phenomenon happens and the second symmetric mode changes from two to four internal nodes mode

Modal analysis of the triple-tower twin-span suspension bridge in deck unit erection stage

Modal analysis of large span suspension bridge in different construction stages has to be carried out for the aerodynamic instability analysis. Based on the finite element (FE) model of a triple-tower twin-span (TTTS) suspension bridge in the completed stage, the FE models of the tower-cable-deck system corresponding to 0 %, 5 %, 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, and 40 % deck units erection stage are established respectively by a backward dismantling method. Then, the dynamic characteristics of each of the tower-cable-deck systems are analyzed to study the modal properties of TTTS suspension bridge in various deck erection stages. The results demonstrate that the natural frequencies of each erection stage are closely distributed in the low-order range. In the beginning of the deck units erection stage, the tower-cable-dominated modes are the primary modes and the deck-dominated modes come to next. Due to the strong interactions between deck unites and the cables, both the in-plane and out-of-plane vibrations of cables would excite the swing, lifting or torsional modes of the deck units. Both the in-plane and out-of-plane modes including in-phase and out-of-phase modes of the two main cables in the same span or symmetry and anti-symmetry modes of the neighboring-span cables as well as their corresponding combinations can be classified into groups. With more deck unites erected, the main girder is built up gradually, and thus the frequencies of deck-dominated mode would arise. The different frequency variations result in the modal crossover phenomena, which reflect the instability of the dynamic characteristics during the long deck erection period. At last, the aerodynamic stability of the suspension bridge is checked at each early erection stage, and a wind ropes application for the aerodynamic stability enhancement is investigated. The study of dynamic characteristics provides a reference for the wind-resistance analysis of the TTTS suspension bridge during the deck units erection stage

THE VALUE OF CHIEF DATA OFFICER PRESENCE ON FIRM PERFORMANCE

In the era of big data, there are more and more organizations trying to establish a new breed of executive, Chief Data Officer (CDO), to identify new business opportunity from data assets and optimize corporate revenue. However, the relationship between CDO presence and firm’s financial performance has not been rigorously studied and validated in literature. Based on upper echelon theory and strategic change perspectives, we examined the impact of pre-performance on the CDO appointment, as well as the CDO presence on post-performance. We collected a multi-industry dataset of 68 firms with a CDO position. The results show that the return on assets (ROA) is positively related to CDO appointment, while, market to book ratio (M/B) is negatively related to CDO appointment. In addition, we found that firms with CDO have superior financial performance than their peers who do not. This study provides an initial step towards understanding the empirical linkages between CDO presence and firm performance

Optimization of Millet Axial Flow Threshing and Separation Device Based on Discrete Element Method

The difficulties of threshing and separation of millet have not been solved yet which has restricted the development of the millet industry because of the special biological structure and lack of professional agricultural machinery. In order to improve the quality of millet harvest and meet the market demand for millet, in this paper, according to the branching structure of millet, the millet earhead model was established by Discrete Element Method. Using virtual models of millet and device, the simulation tests were carried out whose results have shown that the threshing effect of the rasp-bar threshing element is better than that of the teeth threshing element. Then the rotor structure was optimized into a combined type of the rasp-bar and the teeth. A three-factor five-level quadratic orthogonal rotation combination test was carried out whose results have shown that the combined rotor can meet the requirements of millet harvest

Individual and combined associations of alanine aminotransferase and hemoglobin with metabolic syndrome in the elderly in Qingdao, China

Background and aimsCombined associations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and hemoglobin (Hb) with metabolic syndrome (MetS) have not been assessed yet. The current study investigated the independent and combined relationships between ALT, Hb, and MetS in the elderly.MethodsThe 37,966 elderly participants aged 65 years and older were recruited from community centers in Qingdao, China. The sampled elderly population visited the health centers once a year where they were offered a free health checkup. Based on a combination of ALT and Hb levels categorized by tertile, participants were grouped into nine groups (Group 1–9). Logistic regression models were used to analyze the individual and combined associations of ALT and Hb with MetS.ResultsALT and Hb were both independently related to MetS in both genders. With the elevation of ALT or Hb levels, risks for MetS and its components increased. Compared to the reference group (the 1st tertiles of both ALT and Hb levels), respective odds ratio of combined ALT and Hb for MetS in Group 2–9 ranged from 1.32–3.38 and 1.14–2.31 in men and women after adjusting for age, sex, education, married status, current smoking, current drinking, physical activity, and diet habit.ConclusionALT and Hb were both independently related to MetS and its components. Combined ALT and Hb levels could increase risks of MetS and its components than an elevation in ALT or Hb alone

The MBD7 complex promotes expression of methylated transgenes without significantly altering their methylation status.

DNA methylation is associated with gene silencing in eukaryotic organisms. Although pathways controlling the establishment, maintenance and removal of DNA methylation are known, relatively little is understood about how DNA methylation influences gene expression. Here we identified a METHYL-CpG-BINDING DOMAIN 7 (MBD7) complex in Arabidopsis thaliana that suppresses the transcriptional silencing of two LUCIFERASE (LUC) reporters via a mechanism that is largely downstream of DNA methylation. Although mutations in components of the MBD7 complex resulted in modest increases in DNA methylation concomitant with decreased LUC expression, we found that these hyper-methylation and gene expression phenotypes can be genetically uncoupled. This finding, along with genome-wide profiling experiments showing minimal changes in DNA methylation upon disruption of the MBD7 complex, places the MBD7 complex amongst a small number of factors acting downstream of DNA methylation. This complex, however, is unique as it functions to suppress, rather than enforce, DNA methylation-mediated gene silencing