Optimal coordinate sensor placements for estimating mean and variance components of variation sources

In-process Optical Coordinate Measuring Machine (OCMM) offers the potential of diagnosing in a timely manner variation sources that are responsible for product quality defects. Such a sensor system can help manufacturers improve product quality and reduce process downtime. Effective use of sensory data in diagnosing variation sources depends on the optimal design of a sensor system, which is often known as the problem of sensor placements. This thesis addresses coordinate sensor placement in diagnosing dimensional variation sources in assembly processes. Sensitivity indices of detecting process mean and variance components are defined as the design criteria and are derived in terms of process layout and sensor deployment information. Exchange algorithms, originally developed in the research of optimal experiment deign, are employed and revised to maximize the detection sensitivity. A sort-and-cut procedure is used, which remarkably improve the algorithm efficiency of the current exchange routine. The resulting optimal sensor layouts and its implications are illustrated in the specific context of a panel assembly process

Interplay between the Indonesian Throughflow and the Luzon Strait Throughflow

Author Posting. © Science in China Press and Springer, 2006. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Science in China Press and Springer for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Chinese Science Bulletin 51, Supple. 2 (2006): 50-58.Analysis based on the “Island Rule” and ocean assimilation dataset shows that the interannual variability of the Indonesian Throughflow and the Luzon Strait (South China Sea) Throughflow is out of phase. Wind anomaly in the equatorial Pacific plays an important role in setting up this phase relation. During El Niño events, the westerly wind bursts intensify the Northern Equator Current and induce a northward shift of its bifurcation point. As a result, the partition of volume transport between the Kuroshio and the Mindanao Current is changed, with the Kuroshio transport decreased and the Mindanao Current increased. The undershooting/overshooting phenomena occur at the Luzon Strait and the Sulawesi-Mindanao passage, caused by variability of these two currents. Water transport from the Pacific to the South China Sea increases with the Kuroshio transport decreased, and transport from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean decreases with the Mindanao Current transport increased. Therefore, the interannual variability of the Indonesian Throughflow and the Luzon Strait Throughflow is out of phase.This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No: 40136010, 40520140074)

Comparison of MRI Features of Epithelioid Hepatic Angiomyolipoma and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Imaging Data From Two Centers

Introduction: Epithelioid hepatic angiomyolipoma (Epi-HAML) can easily be misdiagnosed as a malignant tumor such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) because of the low-fat content on imaging. We analyzed and compared the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of Epi-HAML and HCC, which would aid in disease diagnosis.Methods: We included 30 pathologically confirmed patients with Epi-HAML and 80 with HCC, who underwent both MRI unenhanced scan and three-phase contrast-enhanced MRI scan. The clinical and MRI features of the two groups were summarized and analyzed.Results: Epi-HAML showed significant differences compared to HCC group in terms of clinical features such as sex preference, age, concomitant diseases (hepatitis B and cirrhosis), and elevated plasma alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (P < 0.001). In addition, there were statistically significant differences between both tumor types with regard to conventional MRI findings such as a solitary tumor (100 vs. 83.8%, P = 0.018), well-defined (93.3 vs. 71.3%, P = 0.027), mild hyperintensity (40.0 vs. 3.7%, P < 0.001) on DWI with high b-value, fat within the tumor (43.3 vs. 8.8%, P < 0.001), and rare necrosis (3.3 vs. 26.3%, P = 0.016). Besides, Epi-HAML displayed significant differences compared to HCC in terms of contrast-enhanced MRI characteristics such as draining hepatic vein (30.0 vs. 3.8%, P < 0.001), portal vein tumor thrombus (0 vs. 13.8%, P = 0.033), hypointensity at delayed phase (70.0 vs. 95%, P = 0.001), intra-tumor vessel at delayed phase (36.7 vs. 10.0%, P = 0.003), pseudocapsule (20.0 vs. 78.8%, P < 0.001), and prolonged enhancement (56.7 vs. 1.2%, P < 0.001).Conclusion: Epi-HAML frequently occurs in middle-aged women and usually lacks characteristic clinical symptoms. Typically, Epi-HAML presents as an isolated and well-defined tumor with rich vasculature. Specific MRI features such as intra-tumor fat, intra-tumor vessel, draining hepatic vein, prolonged enhancement, and lack of capsule may contribute to a more confident diagnosis of Epi-HAML

Progress of regional oceanography study associated with western boundary current in the South China Sea

Recent progress of physical oceanography in the South China Sea (SCS) associated with the western boundary current (WBC) and eddies is reviewed in this paper. It includes Argo observations of the WBC, eddy detection in the WBC based on satellite images, cross-continental shelf exchange in the WBC, eddy-current interaction, interannual variability of the WBC, air-sea interaction, the SCS throughflow (SCSTF), among others. The WBC in the SCS is strong, and its structure, variability and dynamic processes on seasonal and interannual time scales are yet to be fully understood. In this paper, we summarize progresses on the variability of the WBC, eddy-current interaction, air-sea interaction, and the SCSTF achieved in the past few years. Firstly, using the drifting buoy observations, we point out that the WBC becomes stronger and narrower after it reaches the central Vietnam coast. The pos-sible mechanisms influencing the ocean circulation in the northern SCS are discussed, and the dynamic mechanisms that induce the countercurrent in the region of northern branch of WBC in winter are also studied quantitatively using momentum balance. The geostropic component of the WBC was diagnosed using the ship observation along 18°N, and we found that the WBC changed significantly on interannual time scale. Secondly, using the ship observations, two anti-cyclonic eddies in the winter of 2003/2004 in the northern SCS, and three anti-cyclonic eddies in the summer of 2007 along 18°N were studied. The results show that the two anti-cyclonic eddies can propagate southwestward along the continental shelf at the speed of first Rossby wave (~0.1 m s1) in winter, and the interaction between the three anti-cyclonic eddies in summer and the WBC in the SCS is preliminarily revealed. Eddies on the continental shelf of northern SCS propagated southeastward with a maximum speed of 0.09 m s-1, and those to the east of Vietnam coast had the largest kinetic energy, both of which imply strong interaction between eddy activity and WBC in the SCS. Thirdly, strong intraseasonal variability (ISV) of sea surface temperature (SST) near the WBC regions was found, and the ISV signal of SST in winter weakens the ISV signal of latent heat flux by 20%. Fourthly, the long-term change of SCSTF volume transport and its connection with the ocean circulation in the Pacific were discussed

Interannual variability of the South China Sea throughflow inferred from wind data and an ocean data assimilation product

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2006. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Geophysical Research Letters 33 (2006): L14605, doi:10.1029/2006GL026316.The Luzon Strait transport, as an index for the South China Sea throughflow, has attracted much attention. In this study the interannual variability of the Luzon Strait transport is examined, using the Island Rule and results from an ocean general circulation model. Transport variability obtained from these two approaches are consistent with each other. Assessment of contribution from each integral segment involved in the Island Rule indicates that wind stress in the western and central equatorial Pacific is the key factor regulating the interannual variability of the Luzon Strait transport, whereas the effect of local wind stress in the vicinity of the Luzon Strait is secondary. Analysis also shows that when the westerly (easterly) wind anomalies in the tropical Pacific break out, the Luzon Strait transport increases (decreases), consistent with the variations in the North Equatorial Current during El Niño (La Niña) events.This research was supported by NSF of China (Grants Nos. 40136010 and 40406006). YD and TQ were supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration through grant NAG5-12756, and TQ also supported by Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology through its sponsorship of the International Pacific Research Center

Antitumor Effect of Malaria Parasite Infection in a Murine Lewis Lung Cancer Model through Induction of Innate and Adaptive Immunity

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the most common malignancy in humans and its high fatality means that no effective treatment is available. Developing new therapeutic strategies for lung cancer is urgently needed. Malaria has been reported to stimulate host immune responses, which are believed to be efficacious for combating some clinical cancers. This study is aimed to provide evidence that malaria parasite infection is therapeutic for lung cancer. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Antitumor effect of malaria infection was examined in both subcutaneously and intravenously implanted murine Lewis lung cancer (LLC) model. The results showed that malaria infection inhibited LLC growth and metastasis and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Histological analysis of tumors from mice infected with malaria revealed that angiogenesis was inhibited, which correlated with increased terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated (TUNEL) staining and decreased Ki-67 expression in tumors. Through natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity activity, cytokine assays, enzyme-linked immunospot assay, lymphocyte proliferation, and flow cytometry, we demonstrated that malaria infection provided anti-tumor effects by inducing both a potent anti-tumor innate immune response, including the secretion of IFN-γ and TNF-α and the activation of NK cells as well as adaptive anti-tumor immunity with increasing tumor-specific T-cell proliferation and cytolytic activity of CD8(+) T cells. Notably, tumor-bearing mice infected with the parasite developed long-lasting and effective tumor-specific immunity. Consequently, we found that malaria parasite infection could enhance the immune response of lung cancer DNA vaccine pcDNA3.1-hMUC1 and the combination produced a synergistic antitumor effect. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Malaria infection significantly suppresses LLC growth via induction of innate and adaptive antitumor responses in a mouse model. These data suggest that the malaria parasite may provide a novel strategy or therapeutic vaccine vector for anti-lung cancer immune-based therapy

Development of Urban Agriculture in Xixian New Area

Short for Xi’an-Xianyang New Development area, Xixian New Area is a modern garden city and the development urban agriculture is its key and bright point. With the aid of SWOT method, this paper analyzes strength, weakness, opportunity and threat of urban agriculture in Xixian New Area. Combining actual conditions of developing urban agriculture in Xixian New Area, it discusses general and specific development modes of urban agriculture. It is concluded that urban agriculture in Xixian New Area should bring into play its strength and avoid its weakness, select suitable development mode and road. Besides, it should give into play multi-function of urban agriculture, so as to promote coordinated and sustainable development of economy, society, ecology and environment

Application of Dynamic Analysis in Semi-Analytical Finite Element Method

Analyses of dynamic responses are significantly important for the design, maintenance and rehabilitation of asphalt pavement. In order to evaluate the dynamic responses of asphalt pavement under moving loads, a specific computational program, SAFEM, was developed based on a semi-analytical finite element method. This method is three-dimensional and only requires a two-dimensional FE discretization by incorporating Fourier series in the third dimension. In this paper, the algorithm to apply the dynamic analysis to SAFEM was introduced in detail. Asphalt pavement models under moving loads were built in the SAFEM and commercial finite element software ABAQUS to verify the accuracy and efficiency of the SAFEM. The verification shows that the computational accuracy of SAFEM is high enough and its computational time is much shorter than ABAQUS. Moreover, experimental verification was carried out and the prediction derived from SAFEM is consistent with the measurement. Therefore, the SAFEM is feasible to reliably predict the dynamic response of asphalt pavement under moving loads, thus proving beneficial to road administration in assessing the pavement’s state

The Indonesian throughflow, its variability and centennial change

Abstract The Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) is an important component of the upper cell of the global overturning circulation that provides a low-latitude pathway for warm, fresh waters from the Pacific to enter the Indian Ocean. Variability and changes of the ITF have significant impacts on Indo-Pacific oceanography and global climate. In this paper, the observed features of the ITF and its interannual to decadal variability are reviewed, and processes that influence the centennial change of the ITF under the influence of the global warming are discussed. The ITF flows across a region that comprises the intersection of two ocean waveguides—those of the equatorial Pacific and equatorial Indian Ocean. The ITF geostrophic transport is stronger during La Niñas and weaker during El Niños due to the influences through the Pacific waveguide. The Indian Ocean wind variability associated with the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) in many years offsets the Pacific ENSO influences on the ITF geostrophic transport during the developing and mature phases of El Niño and La Niña through the Indian Ocean waveguide, due to the co-varying IOD variability with ENSO. Decadal and multi-decadal changes of the geostrophic ITF transport have been revealed: there was a weakening change from the mid-1970s climate regime shift followed by a strengthening trend of about 1Sv every 10 year during 1984–2013. These decadal changes are mostly due to the ITF responses to decadal variations of the trade winds in the Pacific. Thus, Godfrey’s Island Rule, as well as other ITF proxies, appears to be able to quantify decadal variations of the ITF. Climate models project a weakening trend of the ITF under the global warming. Both climate models and downscaled ocean model show that this ITF weakening is not directly associated with the changes of the trade winds in the Pacific into the future, and the reduction of deep upwelling in the Pacific basin is mainly responsible for the ITF weakening. There is a need to amend the Island Rule to take into account the contributions from the overturning circulation which the current ITF proxies fail to capture. The implication of a weakened ITF on the Indo-Pacific Ocean circulation still needs to be assessed