Study on wave localization in disordered periodic layered piezoelectric composite structures

AbstractThe two-dimensional wave propagation and localization in disordered periodic layered 2-2 piezoelectric composite structures are studied by considering the mechanic-electric coupling. The transfer matrix between two consecutive sub-layers is obtained based on the continuity conditions. Regarding the variables of mechanical and electrical fields as the elements of the state vector, the expression of the localization factors in disordered periodic layered piezoelectric composite structures is derived. Numerical results are presented for two cases—disorder of the thickness of the polymers and disorder of the piezoelectric and elastic constants of the piezoelectric ceramics. The results show that due to the piezoelectric effects, the characteristics of the wave localization in disordered periodic layered piezoelectric composite structures are different from those in disordered periodic layered purely elastic ones. The wave localization is strengthened due to the piezoelectricity. And the larger the piezoelectric constant is, the larger the wave localization factors are. It is found that slight disorder in the piezoelectric or elastic constants of the piezoelectric ceramics can lead to more prominent localization phenomenon

Statistical Modeling of MicroRNA Expression with Human Cancers

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs (containing about 22 nucleotides) that regulate gene expression. MiRNAs are involved in many different biological processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, fat metabolism, and human cancer genes; while miRNAs may function as candidates for diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and predictors of drug response. This paper emphasizes the statistical methods in the analysis of the associations of miRNA gene expression with human cancers and related clinical phenotypes: 1) simple statistical methods include chi-square test, correlation analysis, t-test and one-way ANOVA; 2) regression models include linear and logistic regression; 3) survival analysis approaches such as non-parametric Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test as well as semi-parametric Cox proportional hazards models have been used for time to event data; 4) multivariate method such as cluster analysis has been used for clustering samples and principal component analysis (PCA) has been used for data mining; 5) Bayesian statistical methods have recently made great inroads into many areas of science, including the assessment of association between miRNA expression and human cancers; and 6) multiple testing

Bayesian Survival Analysis of Genetic Variants in PTPRN2 Gene for Age at Onset of Cancer

Background: The protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type, N polypeptide 2 (PTPRN2) gene may play a role in cancer; however, no study has focused on the associations of genetic variants within the PTPRN2 gene with age at onset (AAO) of cancer. Methods: This study examined 220 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the PTPRN2 gene in the Marshfield sample with 716 cancer cases (any diagnosed cancer, excluding minor skin cancer) and 2,848 non-cancer controls. Multiple logistic regression model and linear regression model in PLINK software were used to examine the association of each SNP with the risk of cancer and AAO, respectively. For survival analysis of AAO, both classic Cox regression and Bayesian survival analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model in SAS v. 9.4 were applied to detect the association of each SNP with AAO. The hazards ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. Results: Single marker analysis identified 10 SNPs associated with the risk of cancer and 9 SNPs associated with AAO (p \u3c 0.05). SNP rs7783909 revealed the strongest association with cancer (p = 6.52x10-3); while the best signal for AAO was rs4909140 (p = 6.18x10-4), which was also associated with risk of cancer (p = 0.0157). Classic Cox regression model showed that 11 SNPs were associated with AAO (top SNP rs4909140 with HR = 1.38, 95%CI = 1.11-1.71, p = 3.3x10-3). Bayesian Cox regression model showed similar results to those using the classic Cox regression (top SNP rs4909140 with HR = 1.39, 95%CI = 1.1-1.69). Conclusions: This study provides evidence of several genetic variants within the PTPRN2 gene influencing the risk of cancer and AAO, and will serve as a resource for replication in other populations