Substructure based approach to finite element model updating

A substructure-based finite element model updating technique is proposed in this paper. A few eigenmodes of the independent substructures and their associated derivative matrices are assembled into a reduced eigenequation to recover the eigensolutions and eigensensitivities of the global structure. Consequently, only the concerned substructures and the reduced eigenequation are re-analyzed in the optimization process, thus reducing the computational load of the traditional model updating methods which perform on the global structure. Applications of the proposed substructure-based model updating to a frame structure and a practical bridge demonstrate that the present method is computationally effective and efficient.     

Effect of pressure on the structure and electrical conductivity of cardanol–furfural–polyaniline blends

Pressure‐sensitive polymers that simultaneously present reasonable electrical conducting properties, useful thermosetting behavior, and softness are hard to develop. To combine these properties into a single material, a cardanol‐based phenolic resin was prepared and blended in situ with polyaniline (PAni). The final polymer blend was composed of a soft solid material that could not be dissolved in ordinary solvents. Samples were characterized through X‐ray scattering, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and electrical conductivity and pressure sensitivity measurements. FTIR results indicate that the insertion of PAni into the blends did not change the chemical nature of the resin. According to wide‐angle X‐ray scattering results, PAni was dispersed homogeneously in the final polymer samples; this improved the sensitivity of the electrical conductivity to pressure variations, as confirmed through electromechanical tests. Pressure sensitivity and electromechanical analyses indicated that the produced blends could be used as pressure‐sensing materials. Among the tested materials, the blends containing 5 wt % PAni·H₂SO₄ presented the largest compression sensitivity values. Finally, it was shown for the first time through XRD analyses under pressure that PAni chains were considerably disturbed by compressive stresses. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Roles of Nitric Oxide and Asymmetric Dimethylarginine in Pregnancy and Fetal Programming

Nitric oxide (NO) regulates placental blood flow and actively participates in trophoblast invasion and placental development. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) can inhibit NO synthase, which generates NO. ADMA has been associated with uterine artery flow disturbances such as preeclampsia. Substantial experimental evidence has reliably supported the hypothesis that an adverse in utero environment plays a role in postnatal physiological and pathophysiological programming. Growing evidence suggests that the placental nitrergic system is involved in epigenetic fetal programming. In this review, we discuss the roles of NO and ADMA in normal and compromised pregnancies as well as the link between placental insufficiency and epigenetic fetal programming.     

Noninvasive Intracranial Compliance From MRI-Based Measurements of Transcranial Blood and CSF Flows: Indirect Versus Direct Approach

Intracranial compliance (ICC) determines the ability of the intracranial compartment to accommodate an increase in volume without a large increase in intracranial pressure (ICP). The clinical utilization of ICC is limited by the invasiveness of current measurement. Several investigators attempted to estimate ICC noninvasively, from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements of cerebral blood and cerebral spinal fluid flows, either using indirect measures of ICC or directly by measuring the ratio of the changes in intracranial volume and pressure during the cardiac cycle. The indirect measures include the phase lag between the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and its driving force, either arterial inflow or net transcranial blood flow. This study compares the sensitivity of phase-based and amplitude-based measures of ICC to changes in ICC. In vivo volumetric blood and CSF flows measured by MRI phase contrast from healthy volunteers and from patients with elevated ICP were used for the comparison. An RLC circuit model of the craniospinal system was utilized to simulate the effect of a change in ICC on the CSF flow waveform. The simulations demonstrated that amplitude-based measures of ICC are considerably more sensitive than phase-based measures, and among the amplitude-based measures, the ICC index provides the most reliable estimate of ICC.     

基于素描的遗传算法

传统遗传算法容易陷入局部最优解，本文借鉴美术中“素描”的思想，对传统的遗传算法进行了改进，提出了基于素描的新型遗传算法．该算法模拟人的素描行为，构造参数控制下的选择算子，再通过参数的调节来选择个体，并依据最优个体对选择算子进行修正，以达到动态调整群体进化过程中的种群多样性和收敛速度之间的矛盾，从而有效地避免了传统遗传算法中早熟现象，显著地提高了GA对全局最优解的搜索能力和收敛速度．这将使GA在众多实际的优化问题上将具有更广泛的应用前景．仿真结果表明，该算法正确有效，且性能优于现有的其它方法．     

Response covariance-based sensor placement for structural damage detection

One important function of a structural health monitoring system is to detect structural damage in a structure. However, this is a very challenging task since the measurement is often incomplete in a civil structure due to a limited number of sensors. This paper presents a response covariance-based sensor placement method for structural damage detection with two objective functions for optimisation. The relationship between the covariance of acceleration responses and the covariance of unit impulse responses of a structure subjected to multiple white noise excitations is first derived. The response covariance-based damage detection method is then presented. Two objective functions based on the response covariance sensitivity and the response independence are, respectively, formulated and finally integrated into a single objective function for optimal sensor placement. Numerical studies are conducted to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method via a three-dimensional frame structure. Numerical results show that the proposed method with the backward sequential sensor placement algorithm is effective for damage detection.     

四种甘薯蛋白粉品质比较

通过测定“台农”，“京6”，“55—2”和“红冬”四种甘薯品种所提取蛋白粉各组分（粗蛋白、粗纤维、粗脂肪、水分、灰分、总糖、金属元素）的含量、分析氨基酸组成、蛋白构成成分和色泽等项指标的差异，对四种甘薯蛋白粉品质进行了比较研究。结果表明，甘薯“55-2”所提取的蛋白粉纯度最高，其蛋白含量达到86．89％，且蛋白粉色泽好，金属元素含量少。     

Maternal Acetate Supplementation Reverses Blood Pressure Increase in Male Offspring Induced by Exposure to Minocycline during Pregnancy and Lactation

Emerging evidence supports that hypertension can be programmed or reprogrammed by maternal nutrition. Maternal exposures during pregnancy, such as maternal nutrition or antibiotic use, could alter the offspring’s gut microbiota. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are the major gut microbiota-derived metabolites. Acetate, the most dominant SCFA, has shown its antihypertensive effect. Limited information exists regarding whether maternal acetate supplementation can prevent maternal minocycline-induced hypertension in adult offspring. We exposed pregnant Sprague Dawley rats to normal diet (ND), minocycline (MI, 50 mg/kg/day), magnesium acetate (AC, 200 mmol/L in drinking water), and MI + AC from gestation to lactation period. At 12 weeks of age, four groups (n = 8/group) of male progeny were sacrificed. Maternal acetate supplementation protected adult offspring against minocycline-induced hypertension. Minocycline administration reduced plasma acetic acid level, which maternal acetate supplementation prevented. Additionally, acetate supplementation increased the protein level of SCFA receptor G protein-coupled receptor 41 in the offspring kidneys. Further, minocycline administration and acetate supplementation significantly altered gut microbiota composition. Maternal acetate supplementation protected minocycline-induced hypertension accompanying by the increases in genera Roseburia, Bifidobacterium, and Coprococcus. In sum, our results cast new light on targeting gut microbial metabolites as early interventions to prevent the development of hypertension, which could help alleviate the global burden of hypertension.