Multi-task learning boosted predictions of the remaining useful life of aero-engines under scenarios of working-condition shift

International audienc

Effect of freeze–thaw cycle on physical and mechanical properties and damage characteristics of sandstone

Abstract Rock deterioration under freeze–thaw cycles is a concern for in-service tunnel in cold regions. Previous studies focused on the change of rock mechanical properties under unidirectional stress, but the natural rock mass is under three dimensional stresses. This paper investigates influences of the number of freeze–thaw cycle on sandstone under low confining pressure. Twelve sandstone samples were tested subjected to triaxial compression. Additionally, the damage characteristics of sandstone internal microstructure were obtained by using acoustic emission (AE) and mercury intrusion porosimetry. Results indicated that the mechanical properties of sandstone were significantly reduced by freeze–thaw effect. Sandstone’ peak strength and elastic modulus were 7.28–37.96% and 6.38–40.87% less than for the control, respectively. The proportion of super-large pore and large pore in sandstone increased by 19.53–81.19%. We attributed the reduced sandstone’ mechanical properties to the degenerated sandstone microstructure, which, in turn, was associated with increased sandstone macropores. The macroscopic failure pattern of sandstone changed from splitting failure to shear failure with an increasing of freeze–thaw cycles. Moreover, the activity of AE signal increased at each stage, and the cumulative ringing count also showed upward trend with the increase of freeze–thaw number

Significant Reduction of the Friction and Wear of PMMA Based Composite by Filling with PTFE

Polytetrafluoroethylene/Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PTFE/PMMA) composite was prepared by mixing PTFE into PMMA matrix which synthesized by the PMMA powder mixture and methyl methacrylate (MMA) liquid mixture. The effects of the filling mass ratio of PTFE and powder/liquid (P/L) ratio on the friction and wear properties of PTFE/PMMA composites against bearing steel were studied by a ball-on-disk tribometer. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to characterize the synthesis of PTFE/PMMA composite. The shore hardness and glass transition temperature (Tg) were obtained respectively by shore hardness tester and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results show that the friction coefficient and wear rate of PMMA based composite, comparing with the unfilled PMMA, can be significantly reduced by filling with PTFE. With the increasing of PTFE filling mass ratio, the wear rate of PTFE/PMMA composite increases. The friction coefficient and wear rate of the unfilled PMMA and PTFE/PMMA composite generally decrease with the P/L ratio increasing. The main wear mechanism of the unfilled PMMA is adhesive wear. While the main wear mechanisms of PTFE/PMMA composites are fatigue wear and abrasive wear

Experiment and Mechanism Investigation on Freezing-Thawing of Sandstone with Different Water Contents

Freezing-thawing cycles seriously affect the safety of underground engineering in cold regions. At present, most research studies focus on the effect of number and freezing temperature on freezing-thawing cycles. As another important factor, the mechanism of rock mass water content affecting freezing-thawing is less studied. This paper studied the influence of the water content on mechanical property, microstructure, and acoustic emission characteristics of sandstone. The results indicated that the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and elastic modulus (E) of sandstone after 20 freezing-thawing cycles decreased as the water content increased. However, the decreasing rate of UCS gradually decreased, while the decreasing rate of E gradually increased. Furthermore, the empirical formulas of UCS and E about water content were obtained. The porosity and plasticity of sandstone after 20 freezing-thawing cycles increased as the water content increased. The empirical formulas of UCS and E about water content were obtained. The porosity and plasticity of sandstone after 20 freezing-thawing cycles increased as the water content increased. The decreasing trend of UCS with porosity was the same as that of UCS with water content. The failure form of sandstone gradually changed from splitting failure to shear failure. The results of the acoustic emission test showed that the stress-strain curves combined with acoustic emission ring counting could reveal the damage evolution process of sandstone during loading

A Data Augmentation Boosted Dual Informer Framework for the Performance Degradation Prediction of Aero-Engines

International audienc

PKM2 Promotes Breast Cancer Progression by Regulating Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition

Breast cancer is the leading cause of females characterized by high invasive potential. It is necessary to explore the underlying mechanism of breast cancer metastases and to find specific therapeutic targets. PKM2 is considered a new biomarker of cancer with upregulated expression in tumor tissue. PKM2 participates in the cancer-specific Warburg effect to regulate fast glucose intake consumption. Besides, PKM2 also contributes to cancer progression, especially tumor metastasis. In this study, we showed that PKM2 is upregulated in breast cancer tissues and the upregulating of PKM2 in breast cancer correlates with poor prognosis. PKM2 can regulate tumor progression by promoting tumor cell viability and mobility. Furthermore, overexpression of PKM2 can promote EMT to encourage tumor metastasis. These findings indicate PKM2 is a potentially useful diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target in breast cancer

Cloning, Synthesis and Functional Characterization of a Novel α-Conotoxin Lt1.3

α-Conotoxins (α-CTxs) are small peptides composed of 11 to 20 amino acid residues with two disulfide bridges. Most of them potently and selectively target nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes, and a few were found to inhibit the GABAB receptor (GABABR)-coupled N-type calcium channels (Cav2.2). However, in all of α-CTxs targeting both receptors, the disulfide connectivity arrangement “C1-C3, C2-C4” is present. In this work, a novel α4/7-CTx named Lt1.3 (GCCSHPACSGNNPYFC-NH2) was cloned from the venom ducts of Conus litteratus (C. litteratus) in the South China Sea. Lt1.3 was then chemically synthesized and two isomers with disulfide bridges “C1-C3, C2-C4” and “C1-C4, C2-C3” were found and functionally characterized. Electrophysiological experiments showed that Lt1.3 containing the common disulfide bridges “C1-C3, C2-C4” potently and selectively inhibited α3β2 nAChRs and not GABABR-coupled Cav2.2. Surprisingly, but the isomer with the disulfide bridges “C1-C4, C2-C3” showed exactly the opposite inhibitory activity, inhibiting only GABABR-coupled Cav2.2 and not α3β2 nAChRs. These findings expand the knowledge of the targets and selectivity of α-CTxs and provide a new structural motif to inhibit the GABABR-coupled Cav2.2

Table_1_Exploring the prognostic differences in patients of Chiari malformation type I with syringomyelia undergoing different surgical methods.DOCX

BackgroundThe best surgical treatment of Chiari malformation patients with syringomyelia remains controversial, and whether cerebellar tonsillectomy should be performed has not been decided.ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of posterior fossa decompression with duraplasty (PFDD) and Posterior fossa decompression with resection of tonsils (PFDRT) in patients of Chiari malformation type I (CM-I) with syringomyelia and explore relevant factors affecting prognosis.Patients and methodsWe retrospectively analyzed 182 adult patients of CM-I with syringomyelia who underwent PFDD or PFDRT over a 6-year period, and analyzed their clinical manifestations, imaging features, and follow-up data. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Chicago Chiari Outcome Scale (CCOS), and imaging outcomes were assessed using the syrinx remission rate. Difference comparisons were performed to compare the differences between different surgical groups. Influencing factors associated with outcome were investigated using bivariate analysis and multiple linear regression analysis.ResultsThere were statistically significant differences in CCOS score (p = 0.034) and syrinx remission rates (p = 0.046) between the PFDRT group and the PFDD group after surgery. Regression analysis showed that preoperative motor dysfunction, cerebellar-related symptoms and different surgical methods may have influenced the CCOS score and that brainstem-related symptoms and age may have influenced the syrinx remission rates in the total patient group (p ConclusionThis study showed that the CCOS score in the PFDRT group was better than that in the PFDD group. Preoperative motor dysfunction, cerebellar-related symptoms, and different surgical methods in patients of CM-I with syringomyelia affected postoperative CCOS score. Both the duration of symptoms and the age of the patients should be actively considered as factors influencing prognosis. Symptomatic CM-I patients with syringomyelia should undergo surgical treatment as early as possible.</p