Dynamic assessment of curved cable-stayed bridge by model updating

Author's manuscript version. the final published version is available via the publisher at http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9445(2000)126:2(252). © 2000 American Society of Civil EngineersBridges are indispensable components of the infrastructure of modern society, and their assessment via techniques of structural dynamics is assuming greater importance. This assessment concerns performance of the as-built structure compared to the design and can also extend to the assessment of structural deterioration or damage. Simple validation of numerical results by dynamic testing has met some success; however, feedback from testing into analysis is usually crude, and only recently have systematic techniques been developed that can be supplied to such structures. This paper investigates the application of sensitivity-based model updating technology to the dynamic assessment of the Safti Link Bridge, a curved cable-stayed bridge in Singapore. Based on the measured modal data from prototype testing, the simulated dynamic properties obtained via finite-element analysis have been significantly improved by modification of uncertain structural parameter such as Young’s modulus of concrete and structural geometry

Bridge structural condition assessment using systematically validated finite-element model

Author's manuscript. The final publishe dversion is available from the publisher via http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1084-0702(2004)9:5(418). Copyright © 2004 American Society of Civil EngineersStructural condition assessment of highway bridges is largely based on visual observations described by subjective indices, and it is necessary to develop methodology for accurate and reliable condition assessment of aging and damaged structures. This paper presents a method using a systematically validated finite element model for quantitative condition assessment of a damaged reinforced concrete bridge deck structure, including damage location and extent, residual stiffness evaluation and loadcarrying capacity assessment. In a trial of the method in a cracked bridge beam, the residual stiffness distribution was determined by model updating thereby locating the damage in the structure. Furthermore the damage extent was identified through a defined damage index and the residual load-carrying capacity was estimated

Civil structure condition assessment by FE model updating: Methodology and case studies

Author's manuscript version. the version of record is available from the publisher via: doi:10.1016/S0168-874X(00)00071-8. Copyright © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V.Development of methodology for accurate and reliable condition assessment of civil structures has become increasingly important. In particular, the finite element (FE) model updating method has been successfully used for condition assessment of bridges. However, the success of applications of the method depends on the analytical conceptualization of complex bridge structures, a well-designed and controlled modal test and an integration of analytical and experimental arts. This paper describes the sensitivity-analysis-based FE model updating method and its application to structure condition assessment with particular reference to bridges, including specific considerations for FE modeling for updating and the model updating procedure for successful condition assessment. Finally, the accuracy analysis of damage assessment by model updating was investigated through a case study. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Description of variation of genlculate's features of _Phyllodiaptomustunguidus_ shen et Tai and sex-linked inheritance of Calanoida in freshwater

In the present paper, variation of genlculate's features of _Phyllodiaptomustunguidus_ shen et Tai of Calanoida are described.The authors find that the right first antenna of female species has changed into genlculate and first antenna of male species changed into genlculate, which can be explained by X-sex-linked inheritance. This isn't a disease but a genetic characteristic that is better for the living of the species

Estrogen receptor–α in medial amygdala neurons regulates body weight

Estrogen receptor–α (ERα) activity in the brain prevents obesity in both males and females. However, the ERα-expressing neural populations that regulate body weight remain to be fully elucidated. Here we showed that single-minded–1 (SIM1) neurons in the medial amygdala (MeA) express abundant levels of ERα. Specific deletion of the gene encoding ERα (Esr1) from SIM1 neurons, which are mostly within the MeA, caused hypoactivity and obesity in both male and female mice fed with regular chow, increased susceptibility to diet-induced obesity (DIO) in males but not in females, and blunted the body weight–lowering effects of a glucagon-like peptide-1–estrogen (GLP-1–estrogen) conjugate. Furthermore, selective adeno-associated virus-mediated deletion of Esr1 in the MeA of adult male mice produced a rapid body weight gain that was associated with remarkable reductions in physical activity but did not alter food intake. Conversely, overexpression of ERα in the MeA markedly reduced the severity of DIO in male mice. Finally, an ERα agonist depolarized MeA SIM1 neurons and increased their firing rate, and designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drug–mediated (DREADD-mediated) activation of these neurons increased physical activity in mice. Collectively, our results support a model where ERα signals activate MeA neurons to stimulate physical activity, which in turn prevents body weight gain

COSMIC (Cohort Studies of Memory in an International Consortium): An international consortium to identify risk and protective factors and biomarkers of cognitive ageing and dementia in diverse ethnic and sociocultural groups

BACKGROUND: A large number of longitudinal studies of population-based ageing cohorts are in progress internationally, but the insights from these studies into the risk and protective factors for cognitive ageing and conditions like mild cognitive impairment and dementia have been inconsistent. Some of the problems confounding this research can be reduced by harmonising and pooling data across studies. COSMIC (Cohort Studies of Memory in an International Consortium) aims to harmonise data from international cohort studies of cognitive ageing, in order to better understand the determinants of cognitive ageing and neurocognitive disorders. METHODS/DESIGN: Longitudinal studies of cognitive ageing and dementia with at least 500 individuals aged 60 years or over are eligible and invited to be members of COSMIC. There are currently 17 member studies, from regions that include Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. A Research Steering Committee has been established, two meetings of study leaders held, and a website developed. The initial attempts at harmonising key variables like neuropsychological test scores are in progress. DISCUSSION: The challenges of international consortia like COSMIC include efficient communication among members, extended use of resources, and data harmonisation. Successful harmonisation will facilitate projects investigating rates of cognitive decline, risk and protective factors for mild cognitive impairment, and biomarkers of mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Extended implications of COSMIC could include standardised ways of collecting and reporting data, and a rich cognitive ageing database being made available to other researchers. COSMIC could potentially transform our understanding of the epidemiology of cognitive ageing, and have a world-wide impact on promoting successful ageing

Semiconducting Metal Oxide Based Sensors for Selective Gas Pollutant Detection

A review of some papers published in the last fifty years that focus on the semiconducting metal oxide (SMO) based sensors for the selective and sensitive detection of various environmental pollutants is presented

Retrospective evaluation of whole exome and genome mutation calls in 746 cancer samples

Funder: NCI U24CA211006Abstract: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) curated consensus somatic mutation calls using whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), respectively. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, which aggregated whole genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancers across 38 tumour types, we compare WES and WGS side-by-side from 746 TCGA samples, finding that ~80% of mutations overlap in covered exonic regions. We estimate that low variant allele fraction (VAF < 15%) and clonal heterogeneity contribute up to 68% of private WGS mutations and 71% of private WES mutations. We observe that ~30% of private WGS mutations trace to mutations identified by a single variant caller in WES consensus efforts. WGS captures both ~50% more variation in exonic regions and un-observed mutations in loci with variable GC-content. Together, our analysis highlights technological divergences between two reproducible somatic variant detection efforts

Condition assessment of bridges by dynamic measurements and finite element model updating

In this thesis, a new and reliable method for accurate condition assessment of bridges is developed. Through the synthetic analysis, the concept of structural identification integrating the finite element (FE) analysis and experimental modal analysis was incorporated into the condition assessment of bridges.Doctor of Philosophy (CEE