Abstract: A new artificial bee colony algorithm called modified artificial bee colony algorithm (MABC) is presented to solve the multi-objective fuzzy flexible job-shop scheduling problem (MFFJSP) in this paper. The objectives of MFFJSP are to minimize the maximum fuzzy completion time (fuzzy makespan), maximize the weighted agreement index and minimize the maximum fuzzy machine workload. The three-point satisfaction-degree model is adopted to calculate the agreement index and this model can indicate the degree of satisfaction between the due date and the processing time. An effective local search operator based on variable neighborhood search (VNS) and crossover operator are embedded in this…algorithm for obtaining good searching performance. In order to make the novel algorithm valid, we texted it, five benchmark instances and a practical case for the sake of effectiveness. Then, the performance of the proposed MABC has been compared with other existing algorithms to prove the superiority of this algorithm. In the end, the Taguchi method is used to investigate the impact of three key parameters from the MABC.
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Abstract: Purpose: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies indicate the structural integrity of the ipsilesional corticospinal tract (CST) and the transcallosal motor tract, which are closely linked to stroke recovery. However, the individual contribution of these 2 fibers on different levels of outcomes remains unclear. Here, we used DTI tractography to investigate whether structural changes of the ipsilesional CST and the transcallosal motor tracts associate with motor and functional recovery after stroke rehabilitation. Methods: Ten participants with post-acute stroke underwent the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and DTI before and after bilateral robotic…training. Results: All participants had marked improvements in motor performance, functional use of the affected arm, and independence in daily activities. Increased fractional anisotropy (FA) in the ipsilesional CST and the transcallosal motor tracts was noted from pre-treatment to the end of treatment. Participants with higher pre-to-post differences in FA values of the transcallosal motor tracts had greater gains in the WMFT and the FIM scores. A greater improvement on the FMA was coupled with increased FA changes along the ipsilesional CST. Conclusions: These findings suggest 2 different structural indicators for post-stroke recovery separately at the impairment-based and function-based levels.
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Keywords: Diffusion tensor imaging, corticospinal tract, transcallosal motor tracts, motor recovery, stroke, rehabilitation
Abstract: The special working condition of shore power cable is more likely to form a crack air gap in insulating medium, which will cause gap discharge. The continuous gap discharge will cause local temperature rising and stress concentrating, which will lead to cable insulation deterioration. The electro-thermal-stress coupling method, in this paper, is used to establish the finite element model of the shore power cable. The electric, temperature and stress field distribution for the shore power cable with a crack air gap in the insulating medium is also studied, and the correctness of temperature and stress field distribution is verified by…experiments. In addition, this paper investigated the variation law of the ampacity for shore power cable under different discharge energy. The results show that the maximum electric field is equal to the electric field intensity (36.1 kV/cm) at the inner edge of the insulating medium when the gap length d = 2 mm and that the temperature and stress of the cable are quadratic with load current, linear with the gap discharge energy. The research results of this paper have an engineering significance for monitoring shore power cables.
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Keywords: Shore power cable, multi-physics field, discharge energy, ampacity
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most malignant genitourinary diseases worldwide. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of noncoding RNAs in the human genome that are involved in RCC initiation and progression. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of PVT1 in ccRCC and evaluate its correlation with clinicopathologic characteristics and patients’ survival. METHODS: Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to examine PVT1 expression in 129 ccRCC tissue samples and matched adjacent normal tissue samples. The relationship of PVT1 expression with clinicopathologic characteristics and clinical outcome was evaluated. RESULTS: We identified the lncRNA PVT1, which was upregulated in clear…cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tissues when compared with corresponding controls. Furthermore, PVT1 expression was positively associated with gender, tumor size, pT stage, TNM stage, and Fuhrman grade. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with high PVT1 expression had shorter disease-free survival (DFS) and overall-survival (OS) than those with low PVT1 expression, and multivariate analysis identified PVT1 as an independent prognostic factor in ccRCC. CONCLUSIONS: PVT1 may be an oncogene as well as may promote metastasis in ccRCC and could serve as a potential biomarker to predict the prognosis of ccRCC patients.
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