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The creep test of high pressure steam pipe of a thermal power plant was carried out at 566 degree by using SPT technology. The deflection curve with time under different stress levels was obtained. In order to obtain the steady-state creep characteristics of the material,the Chakrabarty model and inverse finite element method on small punch creep test results were analyzed,obtained the material parameters of A and n in Norton equation. At the same time,the material parameters of uniaxial creep test and small punch test analysis of the comparative analysis results show that the small punch creep test results and uniaxial creep test results are consistent with each other,but different methods of analysis results of different accuracy.

Hypertension after treatment with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor inhibitors is associated with superior treatment outcomes for advanced cancer patients. To determine whether increased sorafenib doses cause incremental increases in blood pressure (BP), we measured 12-h ambulatory BP in 41 normotensive advanced solid tumor patients in a randomized dose-escalation study. After 7 days' treatment (400 mg b.i.d.), mean diastolic BP (DBP) increased in both study groups. After dose escalation, group A (400 mg t.i.d.) had marginally significant further increase in 12-h mean DBP (P = 0.053), but group B (600 mg b.i.d.) did not achieve statistically significant increases (P = 0.25). Within groups, individuals varied in BP response to sorafenib dose escalation, but these differences did not correlate with changes in steady-state plasma sorafenib concentrations. These findings in normotensive patients suggest BP is a complex pharmacodynamic biomarker of VEGF inhibition. Patients have intrinsic differences in sensitivity to sorafenib's BP-elevating effects.

The age when the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) transitioned to a bamboo dominant diet has not been well established due to the lack of fossil evidence. In particular, a radial sesamoid bone, which acts as a 'pseudo-thumb', has been used as evidence of giant pandas' adaptive evolution to bamboo specialised consumption, but no relevant fossil evidence has been reported thus far. Shuanghe Cave is the longest cave in Asia, and produced fossils of more than 20 giant pandas, including relatively intact fossil skeletons of two adult giant pandas. The uranium-series dating of the fossilised teeth of the two giant pandas indicates ages earlier than 102 ka and 49 ka. Tooth wear for both individuals is not apparent, indicating that they were young at the time of death. From the skeletal fossils, for the first time, a 'pseudo-thumb' fossil of a giant panda was discovered. Our morphological comparison indicated that as early as 100,000 years ago, giant pandas had evolved an enlarged radial sesamoid bone (pseudo-thumb) that is comparable to that of the modern pandas, suggesting that in the early Late Pleistocene at the latest, giant pandas possessed physical conditions allowing them to dexterously grab bamboo with their manuss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (henceforth, neuropathy) is often dose limiting and is generally managed by empirical dose modifications. We aimed to (1) identify an early time point that is predictive of future neuropathy using a patient‐reported outcome and (2) propose a dose‐adjustment algorithm based on simulated data to manage neuropathy. In previous work, a dose‐neuropathy model was developed using dosing and patient‐reported outcome data from Cancer and Leukemia Group B 40502 (Alliance), a randomized phase III trial of paclitaxel, nanoparticle albumin–bound paclitaxel or ixabepilone as first‐line chemotherapy for locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. In the current work, an early time point that is predictive of the future severity of neuropathy was identified based on predictive accuracy of the model. Using the early data and model parameters, simulations were conducted to propose a dose‐adjustment algorithm for the prospective management of neuropathy in individual patients. The end of the first 3 cycles (12 weeks) was identified as the early time point based on a predictive accuracy of 75% for the neuropathy score after 6 cycles. For paclitaxel, nanoparticle albumin–bound paclitaxel, and ixabepilone, simulations with the proposed dose‐adjustment algorithm resulted in 61%, 48%, and 35% fewer patients, respectively, with neuropathy score ≥8 after 6 cycles compared to no dose adjustment. We conclude that early patient‐reported outcome data on neuropathy can be used to guide dose adjustments in individual patients that reduce the severity of future neuropathy. Prospective validation of this approach should be undertaken in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high degree of freedom (DOF) benefits manipulators by presenting various postures when reaching a target. Using a tendon-driven system with an underactuated structure can provide flexibility and weight reduction to such manipulators. The design and control of such a composite system are challenging owing to its complicated architecture and modeling difficulties. In our previous study, we developed a tendon-driven, high-DOF underactuated manipulator inspired from an ostrich neck referred to as the Robostrich arm. This study particularly focused on the control problems and simulation development of such a tendon-driven high-DOF underactuated manipulator. We proposed a curriculum-based reinforcement-learning approach. Inspired by human learning, progressing from simple to complex tasks, the Robostrich arm can obtain manipulation abilities by step-by-step reinforcement learning ranging from simple position control tasks to practical application tasks. In addition, an approach was developed to simulate tendon-driven manipulation with a complicated structure. The results show that the Robostrich arm can continuously reach various targets and simultaneously maintain its tip at the desired orientation while mounted on a mobile platform in the presence of perturbation. These results show that our system can achieve flexible manipulation ability even if vibrations are presented by locomotion., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Or, Wu, Nakano, Ikeda, Ando, Kuniyoshi and Niiyama.)