Outlier identification and group satisfaction of rating experts: density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise based on multi-objective large-scale group decision-making evaluation

Group satisfaction is a trending issue in large-scale group decision- making (LSGDM) but most existing studies maximize the group satisfaction of LSGDM from the perspective of consensus. However, the clustering algorithm in LSGDM also has an impact on group satisfaction. Hence, this paper proposes a density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN)-based LSGDM approach in an intuitionistic fuzzy set (IFS) environment. The DBSCAN algorithm is used to identify experts with outlier ratings that can reduce the time consumption and iterations of the LSGDM process and maximize the satisfaction of the group decision. An easy-to-use function is then provided to estimate group satisfaction. Finally, a numerical example of data centre supplier evaluation and comparative analysis is constructed to validate the rationality and feasibility of the proposed DBSCAN-based LSGDM approach in an IFS environment. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively identify outliers in expert ratings and improve group satisfaction in the LSGDM process

Genotype–Phenotype Analysis of RPGR Variations: Reporting of 62 Chinese Families and a Literature Review

PurposeRPGR is the most common cause of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (RP), of which female carriers are also frequently affected. The aim of the current study was to explore the RPGR variation spectrum and associated phenotype based on the data from our lab and previous studies.MethodsVariants in RPGR were selected from exome sequencing data of 7,092 probands with different eye conditions. The probands and their available family members underwent comprehensive ocular examinations. Similar data were collected from previous reports through searches in PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Systematic analyses of genotypes, phenotypes and their correlations were performed.ResultsA total of 46 likely pathogenic variants, including nine missense and one in-frame variants in RCC1-like domain and 36 truncation variants, in RPGR were detected in 62 unrelated families in our in-house cohort. In addition, a total of 585 variants, including 491 (83.9%) truncation variants, were identified from the literature. Systematic analysis of variants from our in-house dataset, literature, and gnomAD suggested that most of the pathogenic variants of RPGR were truncation variants while pathogenic missense and in-frame variants were enriched in the RCC1-like domain. Phenotypic variations were present between males and female carriers, including more severe refractive error but better best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in female carriers than those in males. The male patients showed a significant reduction of BCVA with increase of age and males with exon1-14 variants presented a better BCVA than those with ORF15 variants. For female carriers, the BCVA also showed significant reduction with increase of age, but BCVA in females with exon1-14 variants was not significant difference compared with those with ORF15 variants.ConclusionMost pathogenic variants of RPGR are truncations. Missense and in-frame variants located outside of the RCC1-like domain might be benign and the pathogenicity criteria for these variants should be considered with greater caution. The BCVA and refractive error are different between males and female carriers. Increase of age and location of variants in ORF15 contribute to the reduction of BCVA in males. These results are valuable for understanding genotypes and phenotypes of RPGR

Transient Co-Expression of Post-Transcriptional Gene Silencing Suppressors for Increased in Planta Expression of a Recombinant Anthrax Receptor Fusion Protein

Potential epidemics of infectious diseases and the constant threat of bioterrorism demand rapid, scalable, and cost-efficient manufacturing of therapeutic proteins. Molecular farming of tobacco plants provides an alternative for the recombinant production of therapeutics. We have developed a transient production platform that uses Agrobacterium infiltration of Nicotiana benthamiana plants to express a novel anthrax receptor decoy protein (immunoadhesin), CMG2-Fc. This chimeric fusion protein, designed to protect against the deadly anthrax toxins, is composed of the von Willebrand factor A (VWA) domain of human capillary morphogenesis 2 (CMG2), an effective anthrax toxin receptor, and the Fc region of human immunoglobulin G (IgG). We evaluated, in N. benthamiana intact plants and detached leaves, the expression of CMG2-Fc under the control of the constitutive CaMV 35S promoter, and the co-expression of CMG2-Fc with nine different viral suppressors of post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS): p1, p10, p19, p21, p24, p25, p38, 2b, and HCPro. Overall, transient CMG2-Fc expression was higher on intact plants than detached leaves. Maximum expression was observed with p1 co-expression at 3.5 days post-infiltration (DPI), with a level of 0.56 g CMG2-Fc per kg of leaf fresh weight and 1.5% of the total soluble protein, a ten-fold increase in expression when compared to absence of suppression. Co-expression with the p25 PTGS suppressor also significantly increased the CMG2-Fc expression level after just 3.5 DPI

3D numerical simulation of flow field with incompletely flaring gate pier in large unit discharge and deep tail water project

Limited by large unit discharge above the overflow weir and deep tail water inside the stilling basin, the incoming flow inside stilling basin is seriously short of enough energy dissipation and outgoing flow still carries much energy with large velocity, bound to result in secondary hydraulic jump outside stilling basin and scour downstream river bed. Based on the RNG k-ε turbulence model and the VOF method, this paper comparatively studies flow field between the conventional flat gate pier program and the incompletely flaring gate pier program to reveal energy dissipation mechanism of incomplete flaring gate pier. Results show that incompletely flaring gate pier can greatly promote the longitudinally stretched water jet to laterally diffuse and collide in the upstream region of stilling basin due to velocity gradients between adjacent inflow from each chamber through shrinking partial overflow flow chamber weir chamber, which would lead to large scale vertical axis vortex from the bottom to the surface and enhance mutual shear turbulence dissipation. This would significantly increase energy dissipation inside stilling basin to reduce outgoing velocity and totally solve the common hydraulic problems in large unit discharge and deep tail water projects

Numerical Simulation of Hydraulic Characteristics in A Vortex Drop Shaft

A new type of vortex drop shaft without ventilation holes is proposed to resolve the problems associated with insufficient aeration, negative pressure (Unless otherwise specified, the pressure in this text is gauge pressure and time-averaged pressure) on the shaft wall and cavitation erosion. The height of the intake tunnel is adjusted to facilitate aeration and convert the water in the intake tunnel to a non-pressurized flow. The hydraulic characteristics, including the velocity (Unless otherwise specified, the velocity in this text is time-averaged velocity), pressure and aeration concentration, are investigated through model experiment and numerical simulation. The results revealed that the RNG k-ε turbulence model can effectively simulate the flow characteristics of the vortex drop shaft. By changing the inflow conditions, water flowed into the vertical shaft through the intake tunnel with a large amount of air to form a stable mixing cavity. Frictional shearing along the vertical shaft wall and the collisions of rotating water molecules caused the turbulence of the flow to increase; the aeration concentration was sufficient, and the energy dissipation effect was excellent. The cavitation number indicated that the possibility of cavitation erosion was small. The results of this study provide a reference for the analysis of similar spillways

Energy dissipation in a deep tailwater stilling basin with partial flaring gate piers

Flaring gate piers (FGPs) have been used to increase energy dissipation in stilling basins downstream of spillways. For projects with a low water head and large unit discharge together with a deep tailwater level, energy dissipation inside a conventional stilling basin is usually insufficient. This paper proposes a new partial flaring gate pier (partial FGP) scheme to intensify the energy dissipation inside the stilling basin. The results for the no FGP scheme, the conventional FGP scheme, and the partial FGP scheme were compared using a physical model study and numerical simulations. It was found that the partial FGP scheme (the alternation of flaring and no flaring gate piers in chambers) can contain the submerged hydraulic jump and high-speed water jet in the upstream region of the stilling basin. Thus, the water jet from the FGP chamber was forced to laterally diffuse, thereby intensifying the shear friction and turbulent kinetic energy and forming a vertical vortex from the bottom to the surface. Compared with the other two schemes, the flow pattern in the partial FGP scheme was improved significantly with much deeper air entrainment depth inside the stilling basin and much lower turbulent kinetic energy in the outgoing flow. The mean velocity of the outgoing flow also decreased by more than 20%. The common problems of secondary hydraulic jump outside the stilling basin were eliminated.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

An integrative approach to reappraising species validity in Pseudexostoma (Teleostei: Sisoridae)

Yang, Kunfeng, Jiang, Wansheng, Chen, Xiaoyong, Zhou, Wei, Yang, Junxing (2016): An integrative approach to reappraising species validity in Pseudexostoma (Teleostei: Sisoridae). Zootaxa 4158 (3): 352-366, DOI: http://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4158.3.