An Efficient ΣΔ-STAP Detector for Radar Seeker using RPCA Post-processing

Adaptive detection of moving targets in sea clutter environment is considered as one of the crucial tasks for radar seekers. Due to the severe spreading of the sea clutter spectrum, the ability of space-time adaptive processing with sum and difference beams (ΣΔ-STAP) algorithms to suppress the sea clutter is very limited. This paper, investigated the low-rank property of the range-Doppler data matrix according to the eigenvalue distribution from the eigen spectrum, and proposed an efficient ΣΔ-STAP detector based on the robust principle component analysis (RPCA) algorithm to detect moving targets, which meets the low-rank matrix recovery conditions. The proposed algorithm first adopts ΣΔ-STAP algorithm to preprocess the sea clutter, then separates the sparse matrix of target component from the range-Doppler data matrix through the RPCA algorithm, and finally, effectively detects moving targets in the range-Doppler plane. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed algorithm in the low signal-to-noise ratio scenarios.Defence Science Journal, Vol. 64, No. 4, July 2014, pp. 344-349, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.64.486

The Statistical Damage Constitutive Model of Longmaxi Shale under High Temperature and High Pressure

AbstractIn the exploitation of shale gas in deep and ultradeep formations, the mechanical properties of shale change under the action of high temperature and pressure. High-temperature stimulation can effectively release the damage of water phase trapping, which was caused during the drilling and completion of hydraulic fracturing of shale gas reservoirs. In this paper, the experiments have twelve groups of shale samples (three samples per group) under four target temperatures, 25, 200, 400, and 600°C as well as the confining pressure set as 0 MPa, 15 MPa, and 30 MPa. The servo testing machine is used to perform triaxial compression tests on the shale specimens that have undergone high temperature. The porosity, permeability, and velocity are also obtained under different temperatures. A statistical constitutive model of shale after temperature thermal damage under triaxial compression is established. Based on the characteristics of the random statistical distribution of rock strength and strain strength theory, apply relevant knowledge of damage mechanics as well as consider the failure of the microprotocol and the nonlinear relationship between elastic modulus and temperature. According to the test results, the relationship between the mechanical parameters of the shale and the temperature is discussed. The parameters of the statistical constitutive model considering temperature thermal damage are given also; a comparison with the results of uniaxial compression experiments shows the rationality and reliability. This work not only enriches the theory of shale failure pattern but also contributes to the deep shale development at high temperature

A novel single nucleotide polymorphism within the NOD2 gene is associated with pulmonary tuberculosis in the Chinese Han, Uygur and Kazak populations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The present study aimed to investigate the genetic polymorphisms in exon 4 of the <it>NOD2 </it>gene in tuberculosis patients and healthy controls, in order to clarify whether polymorphisms in the <it>NOD2 </it>gene is associated with tuberculosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A case-control study was performed on the Chinese Han, Uygur and Kazak populations. Exon 4 of the <it>NOD2 </it>gene was sequenced in 425 TB patients and 380 healthy controls to identify SNPs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The frequency of T/G genotypes for the Arg587Arg (CGT → CGG) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in <it>NOD2 </it>was found to be significantly higher in the Uygur (34.9%) and Kazak (37.1%) populations than the Han population (18.6%). Also, the frequency of G/G genotypes for the Arg587Arg SNP was significantly higher in the Uyghur (8.3%) and Kazak (5.4%) populations than the Han population (0.9%). Meanwhile, no significant difference was found in the Arg587Arg polymorphism between the tuberculosis patients and healthy controls in the Uyghur and Kazak populations (<it>P </it>> 0.05) whereas, a significant difference was observed in the Arg587Arg polymorphism between the tuberculosis patients and healthy controls in the Han population (<it>P </it>< 0.01). The odd ratio of 2.16 (95% CI = 1.31-3.58; <it>P </it>< 0.01) indicated that the Arg587Arg SNP in <it>NOD2 </it>may be associated with susceptibility to tuberculosis in the Chinese Han population.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our study is the first to demonstrate that the Arg587Arg SNP in <it>NOD2 </it>is a new possible risk factor for tuberculosis in the Chinese Han population, but not in the Uyghur and Kazak populations. Our results may reflect racial differences in genetic susceptibility to tuberculosis.</p

Serum MicroRNA Expression Profile Distinguishes Enterovirus 71 and Coxsackievirus 16 Infections in Patients with Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Altered circulating microRNA (miRNA) profiles have been noted in patients with microbial infections. We compared host serum miRNA levels in patients with hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) caused by enterovirus 71 (EV71) and coxsackievirus 16 (CVA16) as well as in other microbial infections and in healthy individuals. Among 664 different miRNAs analyzed using a miRNA array, 102 were up-regulated and 26 were down-regulated in sera of patients with enteroviral infections. Expression levels of ten candidate miRNAs were further evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR assays. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that six miRNAs (miR-148a, miR-143, miR-324-3p, miR-628-3p, miR-140-5p, and miR-362-3p) were able to discriminate patients with enterovirus infections from healthy controls with area under curve (AUC) values ranged from 0.828 to 0.934. The combined six miRNA using multiple logistic regression analysis provided not only a sensitivity of 97.1% and a specificity of 92.7% but also a unique profile that differentiated enterovirial infections from other microbial infections. Expression levels of five miRNAs (miR-148a, miR-143, miR-324-3p, miR-545, and miR-140-5p) were significantly increased in patients with CVA16 versus those with EV71 (p<0.05). Combination of miR-545, miR-324-3p, and miR-143 possessed a moderate ability to discrimination between CVA16 and EV71 with an AUC value of 0.761. These data indicate that sera from patients with different subtypes of enteroviral infection express unique miRNA profiles. Serum miRNA expression profiles may provide supplemental biomarkers for diagnosing and subtyping enteroviral HFMD infections

Draft genome sequence of the mulberry tree Morus notabilis

Human utilization of the mulberry–silkworm interaction started at least 5,000 years ago and greatly influenced world history through the Silk Road. Complementing the silkworm genome sequence, here we describe the genome of a mulberry species Morus notabilis. In the 330-Mb genome assembly, we identify 128 Mb of repetitive sequences and 29,338 genes, 60.8% of which are supported by transcriptome sequencing. Mulberry gene sequences appear to evolve ~3 times faster than other Rosales, perhaps facilitating the species’ spread worldwide. The mulberry tree is among a few eudicots but several Rosales that have not preserved genome duplications in more than 100 million years; however, a neopolyploid series found in the mulberry tree and several others suggest that new duplications may confer benefits. Five predicted mulberry miRNAs are found in the haemolymph and silk glands of the silkworm, suggesting interactions at molecular levels in the plant–herbivore relationship. The identification and analyses of mulberry genes involved in diversifying selection, resistance and protease inhibitor expressed in the laticifers will accelerate the improvement of mulberry plants

Information sharing, coordination and supply chain performance The moderating effect of demand uncertainty

Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects that customer structured and unstructured information sharing (IS) can have on customer operational and strategic coordination and on supply chain performance (SCP). In addition, the study examines how customer IS influences customer coordination under various levels of demand uncertainty (DU). Design/methodology/approach-The conceptual model for this study is designed on the basis of information-processing theory (IPT). Using data collected from 622 manufacturers in mainland China and Taiwan, the theoretical model is tested using the structural equation modeling method. Findings-The authors find that both customer structured IS and unstructured IS are positively associated with customer strategic coordination. Customer structured IS increases customer operational coordination, but customer unstructured IS does not. DU positively moderates the relations between customer unstructured IS and strategic coordination, and between customer structured IS and operational coordination. Also, DU negatively moderates the relationship between customer structured IS and strategic coordination. Customer strategic coordination is positively related to SCP and to operational coordination. Customer operational coordination has no significant impact on SCP. Originality/value-This study deepens our understanding of customer IS by distinguishing between customer structured and unstructured IS. The study also provides a greater understanding of customer coordination by making a distinction between the customer strategic and the operational coordination. The findings extend the empirical application of IPT. In addition, this study's findings direct SC managers to apply varied customer IS practices that can enhance specific kinds of customer coordination activities, thereby enabling improved SCP

The Potential and Approach of Flue Gas Waste Heat Utilization of Natural Gas for Space Heating

AbstractAfter the combustion of natural gas, the flue gas contains large amounts of water vapor. The latent heat of the water vapor in the flue gas account for 10%-11% of the lower heating value of natural gas, that is, if the condensing heat of the flue gas were recovered, the energy efficiency could be improved greatly. In order to improve the efficiency of the space heating system by natural gas, the potential of waste heat of the flue gas were analyzed, and the problems of the conventional space heating system were proposed. A new approach was proposed, which could decrease the temperature of the flue gas, and recover the waste heat of the flue gas simultaneously. The flue gas outlet temperature could be reduced to below 25°C. The different processes were proposed for gas boiler, distributed energy system, and natural gas cogeneration systems. The energy saving analysis and economic evaluation were investigated. A remarkable economic advantage can be achieved in this technology. The payback year is within 4 years. It provides the important reference for reasonable application of the technique

Protection of Retina by Mini-αA in NaIO3-Induced Retinal Pigment Epithelium Degeneration Mice

Background: Studies have shown that mini-αA can protect retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells from apoptosis. However, no in vivo study concerning the anti-apoptotic function of mini-αA has been conducted yet. Methods: MTT assay, HE staining and TUNEL assay were used to assess levels of cells, and an animal model was established to examine the protective effects of mini-αA against NaIO3-induced RPE cell apoptosis. Western blot analysis and RT-qPCR were performed to explore the possible mechanism of mini-αA’s protective function against NaIO3-induced RPE cell apoptosis. Results: Results from in vivo and animal experiments showed that mini-αA antagonized NaIO3-induced RPE cell apoptosis. Further investigation into how mini-αA provided protection against NaIO3-induced RPE cell apoptosis showed that mini-αA reduced NaIO3-induced RPE cell apoptosis and autophagy. In addition, unfolded protein response was also involved in the protective effects of mini-αA against NaIO3-induced RPE cell apoptosis. Conclusions: mini-αA can antagonize RPE cell apoptosis induced by NaIO3. A possible mechanism is by inhibition of apoptosis by repressing autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum stress

Isoliquiritigen Enhances the Antitumour Activity and Decreases the Genotoxic Effect of Cyclophosphamide

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