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This paper proposes a novel Non-linear Camera Assisted-Received Signal Strength (nCA-RSS) algorithm. The basic idea of nCA-RSS is to simultaneously utilize camera and Photo-Diode (PD) to capture visual information and signal strength information to achieve both high coverage and accurate positioning. First, based on single-view geometry theorem, nCA-RSS algorithm estimates incidence angle of visible light based on visual information. Then, based on the estimated incidence angle, nCA-RSS algorithm utilizes signal strength to determine the location of the receiver. Due to the use of visual information, nCA-RSS no longer has orientation limitations. Based on Levenberg-Marquardt, nCA-RSS can use three Light Emitting Diode (LED) to achieve precise 3-Dimensional (3D) positioning. Therefore, compared with perspective n point algorithm, nCA-RSS can achieve high coverage. Simulation results show that nCA-RSS can achieve 80th percentile accuracies of less than 2.5 cm for positioning regardless of the orientation of the receiver.

Modified suction caisson is a new type of suction foundation for offshore wind power engineering. Model tests were carried out to investigate the variation of cumulative rotation angle and its influencing factors of the regular suction caisson (RSC) and modified suction caisson (MSC) under horizontal cyclic loading. The cyclic loading mode includes one-way cyclic loading and variable-amplitude cyclic loading. The experimental results showed that the cumulative rotation angle of the RSC and MSC under horizontal cyclic loading mainly occurs within the first 200 loading cycles. The cumulative rotation angle was found to increase with the increase of cyclic loading amplitude and the number of loading cycles. However, the increasing rate of cumulative rotation angle decreases with the increase of loading cycle number. The relationship between the cumulative rotation angle and the number of loading cycles can be well fitted by a power function. By using Leblanc method and Miner’s rule, the cumulative rotation angle of the suction caisson foundation under long-term variable-amplitude cyclic loading was transformed into that under constant amplitude cyclic loading and then can be estimated. It was found that when the loading amplitude increases step by step, the predicted cumulative rotation angle of the RSC and MSC obtained by using the Leblanc method and Miner’s law is slightly higher than the measured model test results, indicating that the sequence and amplitude of cyclic loading have a certain influence on the cumulative rotation angle of the suction caisson foundation. In addition, the influence of cyclic loading on the ultimate bearing capacity of suction caisson foundation was studied and it was found that the ultimate bearing capacities of the RSC and MSC after cyclic loading are higher than those before cyclic loading. The research results can provide a basis for the design of the suction caisson foundation of offshore wind power.

The open pipe pile is widely used because of its high bearing capacity, reliable quality, and convenient construction.The formation of the soil plug makes the total resistance of the open pipe pile different from that of the closed pipe pile. The bearing capacity of the open pipe pile includes three parts: the external friction of the pile, the pile end resistance, and the pile inside the friction. According to the stress characteristics of open pipe piles during installation, a self-developed large-scale laboratory test apparatus was used to test the penetration of open pipe piles under different forms of pile boots, and based on the results, the open pipe pile was compared with closed pipe pile. The results show that the open pipe pile tends to be occluded with the increase of pile depth. The resistance of pile increases linearly with the pile sinking process, while the frictional resistance inside and outside the pile has "lateral degeneration effect. "The influence range of surface displacement decreases with the increase of radial distance. The uplift rate gradually reduced with the increasing depth of pile sinking. The influence range of soil around pile is about 5 to 7 times of pile diameter. The pile shoe affects the height of the soil plug, pile resistance distribution, internal and external frictional resistance, and the effect ofpushing against soil. The pile of 30° inside pile boots has the largest height of soil plug formation, as well as the maximum friction resistance and the maximum proportion of total pile resistance. The amount of surface soil uplift around the pile is the smallest. The outer 30° pile boot is opposite to the inner 30° pile boot, while the right-angle pile boot is centered. The resistance, lateral friction, and soil compaction of closed-end pipe pile are greater than those of the open pipe pile.

The basic definition and the characteristics of three service principals of reverse supply chain service for the iron and steel industry is analyzed according to the reverse supply chain process of the iron and steel industry. Based on this work, a two-hierarchical and three-dimensional reverse supply chain service process model is built for the iron and steel industry. A three-dimensional service space is constructed, including services abstraction, service organization and collaborative operation, and service network control and service value-added. In the space, the first hierarchical service response constituted by the three stages of service programme matching and decision-making, and the second hierarchical service response constituted by the two stages of service function realization are accomplished. The key technology of service process realization including service modularization, service knowledge acquisition and sharing, and service modular intelligent matching is discussed. Finally, the feasibility of the model is proved by a case of scrap steel reverse supply service for one iron and steel enterprise.

The chemical structure of vitamin B 12. [Display omitted] Vitamin B 12 (VB 12) is a vital micronutrient to maintain the normal state of the hematopoietic system. It must be obtained from the diet since the human body cannot synthesize it. Moreover, the absorption of VB 12 needs to be mediated by intrinsic factor on the gastrointestinal (GI) track. The abnormalities in the stomach or lack of such intrinsic factors may result in poor oral absorption of VB 12. However, the very advanced formulation strategies were generally very costly and still in the development stage. Thus, the objectives of the present study were to increase the VB 12 intestinal absorption by conventional excipients of Gelucire 44/14 (G44/14) or Labrasol, which could be potentially formulated as a cost effect balanced product. The in vitro Caco-2 cell model was applied for the absorption study. A novel VB 12 solid dispersion was subsequently prepared and further characterized by Differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The membrane permeability of the VB 12 solid dispersion was finally evaluated using ex vivo rat everted gut sac method. The results suggested that G44/14 could significantly enhance the intestinal absorption of VB 12 via P-glycoprotein inhibition in vitro (P < 0.01). The membrane permeability of VB 12 could be significantly (P < 0.01) improved by G44/14-VB 12 solid dispersion at a proportion of carrier: drug ratio of 20:1.The liquidfied solid dispersion was finally directly filled in the hard gelatin capsules. In conclusion, the cheap and simplified process of VB 12 complex prepared by G44/14 could potentially increase VB 12 intestinal absorption, which may be liable to commercial manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background To explore the anti-tumor effects of parthenolide in human pancreatic cancer. Methods BxPC-3 cell, a human pancreatic cancer, was treated with parthenolide at different concentrations. The MTT assay was used to analyze cell viability. Flow cytometry and DNA fragmentation analysis were applied to evaluate apoptosis after parthenolide treatment. The wound closure and cell invasion assay were also employed in the study. Western blotting was used to demonstrate Bad, Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-9 and pro-caspase-3 expression. Results The MTT assay indicated that the pancreatic cancer growth could be dose-dependently inhibited by parthenoolide. This phenomenon was confirmed by flow cytometry and DNA fragmentation analysis. The wound closure assay and cell invasion assay showed that BxPC-3 cell was significantly suppressed by parthenolide at 7.5 μM and 15 μM. Western Blotting demonstrated the Bcl-2 and pro-caspase-3 were down-regulated while the Bax and caspase-9 were up-regulated. No alteration in Bad expression was found after treatment. Conclusions The parthenolide can inhibit the cell growth, migration, and induce the apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer. These findings may provide a novel approach for pancreatic cancer treatment.

Objective: To determine the frequency of anti-HCV antibody positivity in patients with non-liver disease complaints, to explore whether anti-HCV positive patients had been properly advised and visited hepatologists for further assessments, and to investigate their clinical characteristics as well as the HCV treatment status. Methods: A hospital based survey of non-liver disease patients with anti-HCV positive and their attending physicians was conducted to determine: 1. were the patients adequately advised of the implication of anti-HCV positive finding; 2. to what extent the patients were aware of potential chronic liver disease associated with HCV infection and whether they sought for further assessments and care of hepatologists. Results: A total of 295 294 non-liver disease patients were tested for anti-HCV antibody, and 2 778 of them were found to be positive (0.94%). However, only 45.10% (1 253/2 778) of the anti-HCV antibody (+) patients were referred to hepatologists and received HCV RNA test. In addition, 34.10% (312/915) and 1.42% (13/915) of them had already advanced to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), respectively. Further analysis showed that the patients who declined antiviral therapy were older, with lower education and lower income, possessed poorer knowledge on the risk of chronic hepatitis C, and had more severe liver diseases. Surprisingly, 65% of the surveyed physicians did not know the genotype-guided treatment duration suggested by the guidelines. Alarmingly, 22% of the surveyed physicians did not know the standard assays for the diagnosis of HCV infection. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the challenge and hidden enormous burden of chronic HCV infection among patients with non-liver disease complaints in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]