Unstructured mesh generation based on Parallel Virtual Machine in cyber-physical system

Abstract A parallel unstructured mesh generation technique is proposed based on the built-in cyber-physical system (CPS) of Parallel Virtual Machine context. A static load-balancing strategy for computational domain decomposition is firstly presented in the paper. After dividing the whole computational domain into several sub-domains, unstructured grids are separately generated in each sub-domain using the advancing-front grid generation technique. Besides, for a dynamic load-balancing strategy, Lohner’s advancing front domain-splitting algorithm is improved to make the sub-grids and their boundaries more favorable for the grid generation. Moreover, a new optimization strategy of sub-domain’s boundary is simultaneously presented to smooth the boundaries and improve the quality of grids. Finally, conditions of receiving new points and elements are also developed during the grid generation in the sub-domain. Meanwhile, a new strategy of receiving new elements and refusing new points during the interface grid generation is proposed, which can save computational cost. A new parallel Laplacian smoother technique is implemented to generate high-quality mesh. Meshes for NACA0012 airfoil, cylinder, and multi-element airfoil are generated by the improved parallel algorithm using the static and dynamic load-balancing strategies. Some comparisons of parallel calculations are also made using the different number of processors in the tables

Strength Design of Ultra-High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composites Using Local Ecological Admixture

The ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composite (UHPFRC) is a new generation of building material with extremely high mechanical strength and durability, which can be used for ultra-high, thin-wall or long-span construction, that prolongs the service life of construction in severe environments. In this study, UHPFRC was prepared with a high range of local ecological admixture to decrease the material’s cost and the environmental impact. Raw materials’ proportions, water/binder ratio, fiber-volume contents, and hybrid-fiber ratio were studied on the property improvement of UHPFRC, and an F-test analysis was induced to reveal the important significance on compressive strength. The results demonstrated that the compressive strength of 237.8 MPa was achieved with mineral admixture substitution over 40%. The particle-packing density and the binder reactivity both succeeded on the compressive strength. Water/binder ratio determined the hydration degree and the flowability of UHPFRC, which affected compressive strength through hydration products and microstructure. Also, compressive strength was more sensitive with hybrid-fiber than fiber-volume content. The order of importance for compressive strength was powder proportion > hybrid-fiber ratio > fiber-volume content > water/binder ratio

Strength Design of Ultra-High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composites Using Local Ecological Admixture

The ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composite (UHPFRC) is a new generation of building material with extremely high mechanical strength and durability, which can be used for ultra-high, thin-wall or long-span construction, that prolongs the service life of construction in severe environments. In this study, UHPFRC was prepared with a high range of local ecological admixture to decrease the material’s cost and the environmental impact. Raw materials’ proportions, water/binder ratio, fiber-volume contents, and hybrid-fiber ratio were studied on the property improvement of UHPFRC, and an F-test analysis was induced to reveal the important significance on compressive strength. The results demonstrated that the compressive strength of 237.8 MPa was achieved with mineral admixture substitution over 40%. The particle-packing density and the binder reactivity both succeeded on the compressive strength. Water/binder ratio determined the hydration degree and the flowability of UHPFRC, which affected compressive strength through hydration products and microstructure. Also, compressive strength was more sensitive with hybrid-fiber than fiber-volume content. The order of importance for compressive strength was powder proportion > hybrid-fiber ratio > fiber-volume content > water/binder ratio

Drug–drug interaction between tacrolimus and caspofungin in Chinese kidney transplant patients with different genotypes

Background: The effect of drug–drug interaction between tacrolimus and caspofungin on the pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus in different CYP3A5 genotypes has not been reported in previous studies. Objectives: To investigate the effect of caspofungin on the blood concentration and dose of tacrolimus under different CYP3A5 genotypes. Design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital from January 2015 to December 2022. All kidney transplant patients were divided into the combination or non-combination group based on whether tacrolimus was combined with caspofungin or not. Patients were subdivided into CYP3A5 expressers ( CYP3A5*1/*1 or CYP3A5*1/*3 ) and CYP3A5 non-expressers ( CYP3A5*3/*3 ). Methods: Data from the combination and the non-combination groups were matched with propensity scores to reduce confounding by SPSS 22.0. A total of 200 kidney transplant patients receiving tacrolimus combined with caspofungin or not were enrolled in this study. Statistical analysis was conducted on the dose-corrected trough concentrations ( C 0 / D ) and dose requirements ( D ) of tacrolimus using independent sample two-sided t- test and nonparametric tests to investigate the impact on patients with different. Results: In this study, the C 0 / D values of tacrolimus were not significantly different between the combination and non-combination groups ( p  = 0.054). For CYP3A5 expressers, there was no significant difference in tacrolimus C 0 / D or D values between the combination and non-combination groups ( p  = 0.359; p  = 0.851). In CYP3A5 nonexpressers, the C 0 / D values of tacrolimus were significantly lower in the combination than in the non-combination groups ( p  = 0.039), and the required daily dose of tacrolimus was increased by 11.11% in the combination group. Conclusion: Co-administration of caspofungin reduced tacrolimus blood levels and elevated the required daily dose of tacrolimus. In CYP3A5 non-expressers, co-administration of caspofungin had a significant effect on tacrolimus C 0 / D values. An approximate 10% increase in the weight-adjusted daily dose of tacrolimus in CYP3A5 non-expressers is recommended to ensure the safety of tacrolimus administration

Probing cell membrane damage using a molecular rotor probe with membrane-to-nucleus translocation

10.1039/d0mh01141jMATERIALS HORIZONS7123226-323

DataSheet_1_Csf2ra deletion attenuates acute lung injuries induced by intratracheal inoculation of aerosolized ricin in mice.docx

Specific therapeutics are not available for acute lung injury (ALI) induced by ricin toxin (RT). Inhibiting the host immune response in the course of pulmonary ricinosis is hypothesized to be of benefit and can be achieved by impairing granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) signaling, thereby reducing the pro-inflammatory response to exogenous foreign body invasion. However, it is unknown whether mice with impaired GM-CSF signaling can survive after RT inhalation. To test this, colony stimulating factor 2 receptor alpha (Csf2ra) knockout (KO) mice that lack GM-CSF signaling and wild-type (WT) mice models of intratracheal exposure to a lethal dose (2× LD50) of RT were established. Survival was greater in Csf2ra KO mice 21 days after RT inhalation compared with WT mice. Highly co-expressed genes that probably attenuated the pro-inflammatory response in the lung of Csf2ra KO mice were identified. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that transcriptome changes involved mostly inflammation-related genes after RT exposure in both Csf2ra KO mice and WT mice. However, the activity levels of pro-inflammatory pathways, such as the TNF signaling pathway and NF-κB signaling pathway, in Csf2ra KO mice were significantly decreased and the degree of neutrophil chemotaxis and recruitment inhibited after RT-exposure relative to WT mice. RT-qPCR and flow cytometry validated results of RNA-Seq analysis. This work provides potential avenues for host-directed therapeutic applications that can mitigate the severity of ALI-induced by RT.</p