Improving Equipment Reliability in Non-operating State with an Integrated Prognostics Method : A Case Study of HLD-9C

It is known that the equipment performance and reliability are decreasing as the storage time increases due to many factors such as humility, temperature, shocks, vibration, radiation and corrosion. To specify these factors and characterize their impacts are therefore important in storage reliability design and maintenance strategy development. The purpose of this thesis is to identify the impact factors which will influence the equipment reliability in a non-operating state and explore the methods to improve the equipment reliability. A case study is implemented with a qualitative approach. The literature related to the impact factors and prognostics method of equipment reliability in a non-operating state, FMEA and PHM has been reviewed for identifying the existing methods in order to develop new ones. Telephone interviews have been made for collecting valuable information on the case system: one type of the emergency rescue equipment on the HLD-9C ship. As the result, the impact factors on the equipment reliability in a non-operating state have been identified, and an integrated prognostics method integrating FMEA and PHM is developed in this thesis. Moreover, the limitations, the recommendations for the administrators and suggestions for further research are provided

Association between Migraine and Workplace Social Support in the Social Context of China: Using a Validated Chinese Version of the DCSQ

Background: Workplace social support might have a protective function against migraine in the social context of China, as close co-worker relationships and collectivism are acknowledged as work values in Chinese society. Objectives: This paper aimed to analyse the association between migraine and workplace social support. The validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Support scale of the Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire (DCSQ) used were also determined. Methods: Following international guidelines, this study was carried out in two stages. Stage I involved translations and pilot testing to assess content and face validity of the Chinese version of the DCSQ Support scale. Stage II was a cross-sectional survey (N = 677 bank employees) to evaluate structural validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the Support scale, as well as to examine the association between workplace social support and a migraine-positive diagnosis. Results: A high level of social support in the workplace was associated with a 74% decreased likelihood of migraine (adjusted OR = 0.26, 95%CI: 0.14–0.46). Of the six aspects of workplace social support, co-worker support had the greatest protective effect (adjusted OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.39–0.60). The Chinese version of the DCSQ Support scale established satisfactory content and face validity (I-CVIs ≥ 0.78; S-CVIAVE ≥ 0.90). Confirmatory factor analysis verified its one-dimensional theoretical factor, with adequate internal consistency (Cronbach’s α 0.98; item-total correlations ≥ 0.80) and test-retest reliability (weighted Kappa coefficients 0.81–0.87; percentages agreement 85.23–88.92%). Conclusions: In the Chinese social context, workplace social support could protect against migraine, with the strongest benefit coming from co-workers. This study also provides a Chinese-language DCSQ Support scale as a valid and reliable instrument for measuring workplace social support

Effects of selenylation modification on immune-enhancing activity of garlic polysaccharide.

The garlic polysaccharide was modified by HNO3-Na2SeO3 method according to orthogonal design L9(3(4)) to obtain nine selenizing garlic polysaccharides, sGPS1-sGPS9. Their effects on chicken peripheral lymphocytes proliferation in vitro were compared by MTT assay. The results showed that sGPSs could significantly promote lymphocytes proliferation, sGPS3, sGPS5 and sGPS6 presented stronger efficacy. In vivo experiment, 14-day-old chickens were injected respectively with sGPS3, sGPS5 and sGPS6 when they were vaccinated with ND vaccine taking unmodified GPS as control. The results showed that three sGPSs could significantly promote lymphocyte proliferation, enhance serum antibody titer, IFN-γ and IL-2 contents. These results indicated that selenylation modification could significantly enhance the immune-enhancing activity of GPS, sGPS6 possessed the best efficacy and could be as a candidate drug of immunoenhancer. Its optimal modification conditions were 400 mg of sodium selenite for 500 mg of GPS, reaction temperature of 70°C and reaction time of 6 h

Evaluation of canine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells for neurological functional recovery in a rat model of traumatic brain injury

Abstract Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common condition in veterinary medicine that is difficult to manage.Veterinary regenerative therapy based on adipose mesenchymal stem cells seem to be an effective strategy for the treatment of traumatic brain injury. In this study, we evaluated therapeutic efficacy of canine Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs)in a rat TBI model, in terms of improved nerve function and anti-neuroinflammation. Results Canine AD-MSCs promoted neural functional recovery, reduced neuronal apoptosis, and inhibited the activation of microglia and astrocytes in TBI rats. According to the results in vivo, we further investigated the regulatory mechanism of AD-MSCs on activated microglia by co-culture in vitro. Finally, we found that canine AD-MSCs promoted their polarization to the M2 phenotype, and inhibited their polarization to the M1 phenotype. What’s more, AD-MSCs could reduce the migration, proliferation and Inflammatory cytokines of activated microglia, which is able to inhibit inflammation in the central system. Conclusions Collectively, the present study demonstrates that transplantation of canine AD-MSCs can promote functional recovery in TBI rats via inhibition of neuronal apoptosis, glial cell activation and central system inflammation, thus providing a theoretical basis for canine AD-MSCs therapy for TBI in veterinary clinic

The average lymphocyte proliferation rates of every group in vivo test.

<p>Bars without the same superscripts (a–c) differ significantly (<i>P</i><0.05).</p

The serum IFN-γ contents of every group in vivo test.

<p>Bars in same time point without the same superscripts (a–e) differ significantly (<i>P</i><0.05).</p

The cellular <i>A</i>₅₇₀ values of every group in vitro test.

<p>Column data without the same superscripts (a–f) differ significantly (<i>P<</i>0.05). Values are mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM), <i>n</i> = 4/group.</p

The antibody titers of every group in vivo test.

<p>Bars in same time point without the same superscripts (a–e) differ significantly (<i>P</i><0.05).</p

Modification conditions, yields and contents of selenium and carbohydrate of every sGPS.

<p>Modification conditions, yields and contents of selenium and carbohydrate of every sGPS.</p

The cellular <i>A</i>₅₇₀ values of every group in vivo test.

<p>Bars in same time point without the same superscripts (a–e) differ significantly (<i>P</i><0.05).</p