This paper concerns the Log-rank test for comparing survival curves of neonatal mortality characteristic groups in River Nile State, Sudan. In this paper, log-rank test is used to compare two or more survival curves f...This paper concerns the Log-rank test for comparing survival curves of neonatal mortality characteristic groups in River Nile State, Sudan. In this paper, log-rank test is used to compare two or more survival curves for the characteristics of newborn associated with newborn death after using Kaplan-Meier methods to estimate and graph survival curves for the variable of interest as (sex of newborn, weight of newborn, gestational age, mode of delivery and resident type), at the hospital of River Nile state—Sudan, with a sample size 700 of newborn in which the admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of those hospitals during the period 2018-2020. In term of risk of death for newborn we found that 25% of sample study for newborns who were born in River Nile State-Sudan died. In addition, we conclude that after the log-rank statistics and Kaplan-Meier methods were applied, gender does not affect the newborn’s risk of survival, while the risk of survival increases when the birth weight is greater than 4.35 kg and the gestational age is greater than 42 weeks. There is no difference in the probability of survival for newborns whether the delivery is normal or cesarean. However, newborns are significantly more likely to survive in urban areas than in rural areas.展开更多
Time-to-event has become one of the primary endpoints of many clinical trials. Comparing treatments and therapies using time-to-event (or “survival”) data requires some care, since survival differences may occur eit...Time-to-event has become one of the primary endpoints of many clinical trials. Comparing treatments and therapies using time-to-event (or “survival”) data requires some care, since survival differences may occur either early or late in the follow-up period, depending on various factors such as the initial potency or the duration of efficacy of the drugs. In this work, we investigate the effect of the CIMAvax?EGF vaccine therapy on the survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer, using stratified and unstratified weighted log-rank tests. Weighted log-rank tests are designed to identify early and late survival differences between treatments. Using these tests, we conclude that the vaccine is more efficient than the standard therapy among patients less than 60 years of age.展开更多
It is challenging to diagnose isolated hyperbilirubinemia with rare and complex etiologies under the constraints of traditional testing conditions.Herein,we present a rare case of coexisting Gilbert syndrome(GS)and er...It is challenging to diagnose isolated hyperbilirubinemia with rare and complex etiologies under the constraints of traditional testing conditions.Herein,we present a rare case of coexisting Gilbert syndrome(GS)and erythropoietic protoporphyria(EPP),which has not been previously documented.CASE SUMMARY We present a rare case of coexisting GS and EPP in a 23-year-old Chinese male with a long history of jaundice and recently found splenomegaly.Serial nonspecific hemolysis screening tests yielded inconsistent results,and investigations for common hemolytic etiologies were negative.However,Levitt’s carbon monoxide breath test,which measures erythrocyte lifespan(the gold-standard marker of hemolysis),demonstrated significant hemolysis,revealing a markedly shortened erythrocyte lifespan of 11 days(normal average 120 days).Genetic testing subsequently confirmed EPP with a homozygous ferrochelatase gene mutation and GS with a heterozygous uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl trans-ferase 1A1 gene mutation.CONCLUSION The rapid,non-invasive Levitt’s carbon monoxide breath test resolved the diagnostic challenge posed by a rare and complex cause of hyperbilirubinemia.展开更多
It is a common issue to compare treatment-specific survival and the weighted log-rank test is the most popular method for group comparison. However, in observational studies, treatments and censoring times are usually...It is a common issue to compare treatment-specific survival and the weighted log-rank test is the most popular method for group comparison. However, in observational studies, treatments and censoring times are usually not independent, which invalidates the weighted log-rank tests. In this paper, we propose adjusted weighted log-rank tests in the presence of non-random treatment assignment and dependent censoring. A double-inverse weighted technique is developed to adjust the weighted log-rank tests. Specifically, inverse probabilities of treatment and censoring weighting are involved to balance the baseline treatment assignment and to overcome dependent censoring, respectively. We derive the asymptotic distribution of the proposed adjusted tests under the null hypothesis, and propose a method to obtain the critical values. Simulation studies show that the adjusted log-rank tests have correct sizes whereas the traditional weighted log-rank tests may fail in the presence of non-random treatment assignment and dependent censoring. An application to oropharyngeal carcinoma data from the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group is provided for illustration.展开更多
Recurrent event time data are common in biomedical follow-up studies, in which a study subject may experience repeated occurrences of an event of interest. In this paper, we evaluate two popular nonparametric tests fo...Recurrent event time data are common in biomedical follow-up studies, in which a study subject may experience repeated occurrences of an event of interest. In this paper, we evaluate two popular nonparametric tests for recurrent event time data in terms of their relative effciency. One is the log-rank test for classical survival data and the other a more recently developed nonparametric test based on comparing mean recurrent rates. We show analytically that, somewhat surprisingly, the log-rank test that only makes use of time to the first occurrence could be more effcient than the test for mean occurrence rates that makes use of all available recurrence times, provided that subject-to-subject variation of recurrence times is large. Explicit formula are derived for asymptotic relative effciencies under the frailty model. The findings are demonstrated via extensive simulations.展开更多
NOx sensors, as a core component of diesel engine exhaust treatment system, play an important role in exhaust emission control, which can accurately and quickly detect the NOx and O2 concentration. It has become a nec...NOx sensors, as a core component of diesel engine exhaust treatment system, play an important role in exhaust emission control, which can accurately and quickly detect the NOx and O2 concentration. It has become a necessary option for the detection of existing exhaust emission standards. At present, there is limited and scattered information on knowledge and test methods of NOx sensors, the research of NOx sensors has become a challenging research topic at home and abroad. Based on these requirements, the article systematically integrates the knowledge of principle and testing methods. First of all, through introducing functional description of NOx sensors and the basic principle of NOx sensors, the relevant scholars can have an overall understanding of the product and master the operation mode of products. Secondly, the current status of performance test bench and methods of NOx sensors were described, which can contribute to having a clear understanding of the development process. After that, a new structure of NOx sensors test bench was purposed, which contains six major units including standard gas source, gas mixing unit, analyzer measurement unit, sensor measurement unit, data processing and display unit, exhaust gas treatment unit. And the test bench was validated. The experimental results show that the test bench has the advantages of high-repeatability, high reliability and low cost. And it can realize automatic detection of multiple target values, which is worthy further promotion. Thereby, the article can contribute to the development of its technology indirectly.展开更多
In randomized clinical trials with right-censored time-to-event outcomes,the popular log-rank test without adjusting for baseline covariates is asymptotically valid for treatment effect under simple randomization of t...In randomized clinical trials with right-censored time-to-event outcomes,the popular log-rank test without adjusting for baseline covariates is asymptotically valid for treatment effect under simple randomization of treatments but is too conservative under covariate-adaptive random-ization.The stratified log-rank test,which adjusts baseline covariates in the test procedure by stratification,is asymptotically valid regardless of what treatment randomization is applied.In the literature,however,under simple randomization there is no affirmative conclusion about whether the stratified log-rank test is asymptotically more powerful than the unstratified log-rank test.In this article we show when the stratified and unstratified log-rank tests aim for the same null hypothesis and that,under simple randomization,the stratified log-rank test is asymp-totically more powerful than the unstratified log-rank test in the region of alternative hypothesis that is specified by a Cox proportional hazards model.We also provide some discussion about why we do not have an affirmative conclusion in general.展开更多
The rapid progress in the construction of heavy-haul and high-speed railways has led to a surge in rail defects and unforeseen failures.Addressing this issue necessitates the implementation of more sophisticated rail ...The rapid progress in the construction of heavy-haul and high-speed railways has led to a surge in rail defects and unforeseen failures.Addressing this issue necessitates the implementation of more sophisticated rail inspection methods,specifically involving real-time,precise detection,and assessment of rail defects.Current applications fail to address the evolving requirements,prompting the need for advancements.This paper provides a summary of various types of rail defects and outlines both traditional and innovative non-destructive inspection techniques,examining their fundamental features,benefits,drawbacks,and practical suitability for railway track inspection.It also explores potential enhancements to equipment and software.The comprehensive review draws upon pertinent international research and review papers.Furthermore,the paper introduces a fusion of inspection methods aimed at enhancing the overall reliability of defect detection.展开更多
The purpose of this study is to analyze the application of ultrasonic non-destructive testing technology in bridge engineering.During the research phase,based on literature collection and reading,as well as the analys...The purpose of this study is to analyze the application of ultrasonic non-destructive testing technology in bridge engineering.During the research phase,based on literature collection and reading,as well as the analysis of bridge inspection materials,the principle of ultrasonic non-destructive testing technology and its adaptability to bridge engineering are elaborated.Subsequently,starting from the preparation work before inspection until damage assessment,the entire process of ultrasonic non-destructive testing is studied,and finally,a technical system of ultrasonic non-destructive testing for bridge engineering that runs through the entire process is formed.It is hoped that this article can provide technical reference value for relevant units in China,and promote the high-quality development of China’s bridge engineering from a macro perspective.展开更多
The mechanical behavior of cohesive soil is sensitized to drying-wetting cycles under confinements.However,the hydromechanical coupling effect has not been considered in current constitutive models.A macro-micro analy...The mechanical behavior of cohesive soil is sensitized to drying-wetting cycles under confinements.However,the hydromechanical coupling effect has not been considered in current constitutive models.A macro-micro analysis scheme is proposed in this paper to investigate the soil deformation behavior under the coupling of stress and drying-wetting cycles.A new device is developed based on CT(computerized tomography)workstation to apply certain normal and shear stresses on a soil specimen during drying-wetting cycles.A series of tests are conducted on a type of loess with various coupling of stress paths and drying-wetting cycles.At macroscopic level,stress sensor and laser sensor are used to acquire stress and strain,respectively.The shear and volumetric strain increase during the first few drying-wetting cycles and then become stable.The increase of the shear stress level or confining pressure would cause higher increase rate and the value of shear strain in the process of drying-wetting cycles.At microscopic level,the grayscale value(GSV)of CT scanning image is characterized as the proportion of soil particles to voids.A fabric state parameter is proposed to characterize soil microstructures under the influence of stress and drying-wetting cycle.Test results indicate that the macroand micro-responses show high consistence and relevance.The stress and drying-wetting cycles would both induce collapse of the soil microstructure,which dominants degradation of the soil mechanical properties.The evolution of the macro-mechanical property of soil exhibits a positive linear relationship with the micro-evolution of the fabric state parameter.展开更多
With the depletion of fossil fuels and increasing environmental concerns,the development of renewable energy,such as wave energy,has become a critical component of global energy strategies.However,challenges persist i...With the depletion of fossil fuels and increasing environmental concerns,the development of renewable energy,such as wave energy,has become a critical component of global energy strategies.However,challenges persist in the field testing methodologies for wave energy converters(WECs).In this paper,a numerical wave field of the Dawanshan Island Sea Area in Zhuhai City is constructed based on the MIKE21 SW wave model and by using an NCEP wind field driving model.In conjunction with the IEC-62600-100 standard,by taking site testing of the“Wanshan”wave energy converter on which a sea trial has been conducted in Dawanshan Island of Zhuhai city as an example,research on-site testing method for a wave energy converter has been carried out.The wave measurement position for the“Wanshan”converter was determined by combining statistically analyzed field data with a validated numerical wave model.By comparing a valid wave height at the position where a wave rider is located with a valid wave height at the position where the“Wanshan”wave energy converter is situated,the correlation coefficient between simulation and observed data reached 0.90,with a root-mean-square error of 0.19.The representativeness of wave measurement data during site testing is verified and can be used as a basis for calculating the input energy of the“Wanshan”wave energy converter.展开更多
Subgrade engineering is a fundamental aspect of infrastructure construction in China.As the primary structural element responsible for bearing and distributing traffic loads,the subgrade must not only withstand the su...Subgrade engineering is a fundamental aspect of infrastructure construction in China.As the primary structural element responsible for bearing and distributing traffic loads,the subgrade must not only withstand the substantial pressures exerted by vehicles,trains,and other forms of transportation,but also efficiently transfer these loads to the underlying foundation,ensuring the stability and longevity of the roadway.In recent years,advancements in subgrade engineering technology have propelled the industry towards smarter,greener,and more sustainable practices,particularly in the areas of intelligent monitoring,disaster management,and innovative construction methods.This paper reviews the application and methodologies of intelligent testing equipment,including cone penetration testing(CPT)devices,soil resistivity testers,and intelligent rebound testers,in subgrade engineering.It examines the operating principles,advantages,limitations,and application ranges of these tools in subgrade testing.Additionally,the paper evaluates the practical use of advanced equipment from both domestic and international perspectives,addressing the challenges encountered by various instruments in realworld applications.These devices enable precise,comprehensive testing and evaluation of subgrade conditions at different stages,providing real-time data analysis and intelligent early warnings.This supports effective subgrade health management and maintenance.As intelligent technologies continue to evolve and integrate,these tools will increasingly enhance the accuracy,efficiency,and sustainability of subgrade monitoring.展开更多
BACKGROUND Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth(SIBO)is suspected and excluded frequently in functional gastrointestinal(GI)disorders.Children presenting with various esophago-gastro-duodenal(upper GI)symptoms are ra...BACKGROUND Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth(SIBO)is suspected and excluded frequently in functional gastrointestinal(GI)disorders.Children presenting with various esophago-gastro-duodenal(upper GI)symptoms are rarely subjected to investig-ations for SIBO.AIM To estimate the frequency of SIBO in children having functional upper GI sym-ptoms(as cases)and to compare the result of the SIBO status to that of the con-trols.METHODS Children aged 6 to 18 who presented with upper GI symptoms were selected for the study.All children were subjected to upper GI endoscopy before being advised of any proton pump inhibitors(PPIs).Children with normal endoscopy were assigned as cases,and children having any endoscopic lesion were design-ated as controls.Both groups were subjected to a glucose-hydrogen breath test by Bedfont Gastrolyser.RESULTS A total of 129 consecutive children who were naive to PPIs and had normal ba-seline investigations were included in the study.Among them,67 patients had endoscopic lesions and served as the control group,with six cases being excluded due to the presence of Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsies.Sixty-two children with normal endoscopy results formed the case group.In the case group,35 children(59%)tested positive for hydrogen breath tests,compared to 13 children(21%)in the control group.The calculated odds ratio was 5.38(95%confidence interval:2.41-12.0),which was statistically significant.Further analysis of symptoms revealed that nausea,halitosis,foul-smelling eructation,and epigastric fullness were positive predictors of SIBO.CONCLUSION It is worthwhile to investigate and treat SIBO in all children presenting with upper GI symptoms that are not explained by endoscopy findings.展开更多
Shotcrete is one of the common solutions for shallow sliding.It works by forming a protective layer with high strength and cementing the loose soil particles on the slope surface to prevent shallow sliding.However,the...Shotcrete is one of the common solutions for shallow sliding.It works by forming a protective layer with high strength and cementing the loose soil particles on the slope surface to prevent shallow sliding.However,the solidification time of conventional cement paste is long when shotcrete is used to treat cohesionless soil landslide.The idea of reinforcing slope with polyurethane solidified soil(i.e.,mixture of polyurethane and sand)was proposed.Model tests and finite element analysis were carried out to study the effectiveness of the proposed new method on the emergency treatment of cohesionless soil landslide.Surcharge loading on the crest of the slope was applied step by step until landslide was triggered so as to test and compare the stability and bearing capacity of slope models with different conditions.The simulated slope displacements were relatively close to the measured results,and the simulated slope deformation characteristics were in good agreement with the observed phenomena,which verifies the accuracy of the numerical method.Under the condition of surcharge loading on the crest of the slope,the unreinforced slope slid when the surcharge loading exceeded 30 k Pa,which presented a failure mode of local instability and collapse at the shallow layer of slope top.The reinforced slope remained stable even when the surcharge loading reached 48 k Pa.The displacement of the reinforced slope was reduced by more than 95%.Overall,this study verifies the effectiveness of polyurethane in the emergency treatment of cohesionless soil landslide and should have broad application prospects in the field of geological disasters concerning the safety of people's live.展开更多
Bedding parallel stepped rock slopes exist widely in nature and are used in slope engineering.They are characterized by complex topography and geological structure and are vulnerable to shattering under strong earthqu...Bedding parallel stepped rock slopes exist widely in nature and are used in slope engineering.They are characterized by complex topography and geological structure and are vulnerable to shattering under strong earthquakes.However,no previous studies have assessed the mechanisms underlying seismic failure in rock slopes.In this study,large-scale shaking table tests and numerical simulations were conducted to delineate the seismic failure mechanism in terms of acceleration,displacement,and earth pressure responses combined with shattering failure phenomena.The results reveal that acceleration response mutations usually occur within weak interlayers owing to their inferior performance,and these mutations may transform into potential sliding surfaces,thereby intensifying the nonlinear seismic response characteristics.Cumulative permanent displacements at the internal corners of the berms can induce quasi-rigid displacements at the external corners,leading to greater permanent displacements at the internal corners.Therefore,the internal corners are identified as the most susceptible parts of the slope.In addition,the concept of baseline offset was utilized to explain the mechanism of earth pressure responses,and the result indicates that residual earth pressures at the internal corners play a dominant role in causing deformation or shattering damage.Four evolutionary deformation phases characterize the processes of seismic responses and shattering failure of the bedding parallel stepped rock slope,i.e.the formation of tensile cracks at the internal corners of the berm,expansion of tensile cracks and bedding surface dislocation,development of vertical tensile cracks at the rear edge,and rock mass slipping leading to slope instability.Overall,this study provides a scientific basis for the seismic design of engineering slopes and offers valuable insights for further studies on preventing seismic disasters in bedding parallel stepped rock slopes.展开更多
Point-of-care testing(POCT)refers to a category of diagnostic tests that are performed at or near to the site of the patients(also called bedside testing)and is capable of obtaining accurate results in a short time by...Point-of-care testing(POCT)refers to a category of diagnostic tests that are performed at or near to the site of the patients(also called bedside testing)and is capable of obtaining accurate results in a short time by using portable diagnostic devices,avoiding sending samples to the medical laboratories.It has been extensively explored for diagnosing and monitoring patients’diseases and health conditions with the assistance of development in biochemistry and microfluidics.Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices(μPADs)have gained dramatic popularity in POCT because of their simplicity,user-friendly,fast and accurate result reading and low cost.SeveralμPADs have been successfully commercialized and received excellent feedback during the past several decades.This review briefly discusses the main types ofμPADs,preparation methods and their detection principles,followed by a few representative examples.The future perspectives of the development inμPADs are also provided.展开更多
文摘This paper concerns the Log-rank test for comparing survival curves of neonatal mortality characteristic groups in River Nile State, Sudan. In this paper, log-rank test is used to compare two or more survival curves for the characteristics of newborn associated with newborn death after using Kaplan-Meier methods to estimate and graph survival curves for the variable of interest as (sex of newborn, weight of newborn, gestational age, mode of delivery and resident type), at the hospital of River Nile state—Sudan, with a sample size 700 of newborn in which the admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of those hospitals during the period 2018-2020. In term of risk of death for newborn we found that 25% of sample study for newborns who were born in River Nile State-Sudan died. In addition, we conclude that after the log-rank statistics and Kaplan-Meier methods were applied, gender does not affect the newborn’s risk of survival, while the risk of survival increases when the birth weight is greater than 4.35 kg and the gestational age is greater than 42 weeks. There is no difference in the probability of survival for newborns whether the delivery is normal or cesarean. However, newborns are significantly more likely to survive in urban areas than in rural areas.
基金supported by a UICC International Cancer Technology Transfer Fellowship.
文摘Time-to-event has become one of the primary endpoints of many clinical trials. Comparing treatments and therapies using time-to-event (or “survival”) data requires some care, since survival differences may occur either early or late in the follow-up period, depending on various factors such as the initial potency or the duration of efficacy of the drugs. In this work, we investigate the effect of the CIMAvax?EGF vaccine therapy on the survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer, using stratified and unstratified weighted log-rank tests. Weighted log-rank tests are designed to identify early and late survival differences between treatments. Using these tests, we conclude that the vaccine is more efficient than the standard therapy among patients less than 60 years of age.
文摘It is challenging to diagnose isolated hyperbilirubinemia with rare and complex etiologies under the constraints of traditional testing conditions.Herein,we present a rare case of coexisting Gilbert syndrome(GS)and erythropoietic protoporphyria(EPP),which has not been previously documented.CASE SUMMARY We present a rare case of coexisting GS and EPP in a 23-year-old Chinese male with a long history of jaundice and recently found splenomegaly.Serial nonspecific hemolysis screening tests yielded inconsistent results,and investigations for common hemolytic etiologies were negative.However,Levitt’s carbon monoxide breath test,which measures erythrocyte lifespan(the gold-standard marker of hemolysis),demonstrated significant hemolysis,revealing a markedly shortened erythrocyte lifespan of 11 days(normal average 120 days).Genetic testing subsequently confirmed EPP with a homozygous ferrochelatase gene mutation and GS with a heterozygous uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl trans-ferase 1A1 gene mutation.CONCLUSION The rapid,non-invasive Levitt’s carbon monoxide breath test resolved the diagnostic challenge posed by a rare and complex cause of hyperbilirubinemia.
基金Supported by Beijing Municipal Education Commission (Grant No. KM202010028017)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11771431 and 11690015)+2 种基金the Key Laboratory of RCSDSCAS (Grant No. 2008DP173182)the Academy for Multidisciplinary Studies of Capital Normal University。
文摘It is a common issue to compare treatment-specific survival and the weighted log-rank test is the most popular method for group comparison. However, in observational studies, treatments and censoring times are usually not independent, which invalidates the weighted log-rank tests. In this paper, we propose adjusted weighted log-rank tests in the presence of non-random treatment assignment and dependent censoring. A double-inverse weighted technique is developed to adjust the weighted log-rank tests. Specifically, inverse probabilities of treatment and censoring weighting are involved to balance the baseline treatment assignment and to overcome dependent censoring, respectively. We derive the asymptotic distribution of the proposed adjusted tests under the null hypothesis, and propose a method to obtain the critical values. Simulation studies show that the adjusted log-rank tests have correct sizes whereas the traditional weighted log-rank tests may fail in the presence of non-random treatment assignment and dependent censoring. An application to oropharyngeal carcinoma data from the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group is provided for illustration.
基金supported by US National Science Foundation (Grant No. DMS-0504269)
文摘Recurrent event time data are common in biomedical follow-up studies, in which a study subject may experience repeated occurrences of an event of interest. In this paper, we evaluate two popular nonparametric tests for recurrent event time data in terms of their relative effciency. One is the log-rank test for classical survival data and the other a more recently developed nonparametric test based on comparing mean recurrent rates. We show analytically that, somewhat surprisingly, the log-rank test that only makes use of time to the first occurrence could be more effcient than the test for mean occurrence rates that makes use of all available recurrence times, provided that subject-to-subject variation of recurrence times is large. Explicit formula are derived for asymptotic relative effciencies under the frailty model. The findings are demonstrated via extensive simulations.
文摘NOx sensors, as a core component of diesel engine exhaust treatment system, play an important role in exhaust emission control, which can accurately and quickly detect the NOx and O2 concentration. It has become a necessary option for the detection of existing exhaust emission standards. At present, there is limited and scattered information on knowledge and test methods of NOx sensors, the research of NOx sensors has become a challenging research topic at home and abroad. Based on these requirements, the article systematically integrates the knowledge of principle and testing methods. First of all, through introducing functional description of NOx sensors and the basic principle of NOx sensors, the relevant scholars can have an overall understanding of the product and master the operation mode of products. Secondly, the current status of performance test bench and methods of NOx sensors were described, which can contribute to having a clear understanding of the development process. After that, a new structure of NOx sensors test bench was purposed, which contains six major units including standard gas source, gas mixing unit, analyzer measurement unit, sensor measurement unit, data processing and display unit, exhaust gas treatment unit. And the test bench was validated. The experimental results show that the test bench has the advantages of high-repeatability, high reliability and low cost. And it can realize automatic detection of multiple target values, which is worthy further promotion. Thereby, the article can contribute to the development of its technology indirectly.
文摘In randomized clinical trials with right-censored time-to-event outcomes,the popular log-rank test without adjusting for baseline covariates is asymptotically valid for treatment effect under simple randomization of treatments but is too conservative under covariate-adaptive random-ization.The stratified log-rank test,which adjusts baseline covariates in the test procedure by stratification,is asymptotically valid regardless of what treatment randomization is applied.In the literature,however,under simple randomization there is no affirmative conclusion about whether the stratified log-rank test is asymptotically more powerful than the unstratified log-rank test.In this article we show when the stratified and unstratified log-rank tests aim for the same null hypothesis and that,under simple randomization,the stratified log-rank test is asymp-totically more powerful than the unstratified log-rank test in the region of alternative hypothesis that is specified by a Cox proportional hazards model.We also provide some discussion about why we do not have an affirmative conclusion in general.
文摘The rapid progress in the construction of heavy-haul and high-speed railways has led to a surge in rail defects and unforeseen failures.Addressing this issue necessitates the implementation of more sophisticated rail inspection methods,specifically involving real-time,precise detection,and assessment of rail defects.Current applications fail to address the evolving requirements,prompting the need for advancements.This paper provides a summary of various types of rail defects and outlines both traditional and innovative non-destructive inspection techniques,examining their fundamental features,benefits,drawbacks,and practical suitability for railway track inspection.It also explores potential enhancements to equipment and software.The comprehensive review draws upon pertinent international research and review papers.Furthermore,the paper introduces a fusion of inspection methods aimed at enhancing the overall reliability of defect detection.
文摘The purpose of this study is to analyze the application of ultrasonic non-destructive testing technology in bridge engineering.During the research phase,based on literature collection and reading,as well as the analysis of bridge inspection materials,the principle of ultrasonic non-destructive testing technology and its adaptability to bridge engineering are elaborated.Subsequently,starting from the preparation work before inspection until damage assessment,the entire process of ultrasonic non-destructive testing is studied,and finally,a technical system of ultrasonic non-destructive testing for bridge engineering that runs through the entire process is formed.It is hoped that this article can provide technical reference value for relevant units in China,and promote the high-quality development of China’s bridge engineering from a macro perspective.
基金funded by National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2023YFC3007001)Beijing Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.8244053)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2024M754065).
文摘The mechanical behavior of cohesive soil is sensitized to drying-wetting cycles under confinements.However,the hydromechanical coupling effect has not been considered in current constitutive models.A macro-micro analysis scheme is proposed in this paper to investigate the soil deformation behavior under the coupling of stress and drying-wetting cycles.A new device is developed based on CT(computerized tomography)workstation to apply certain normal and shear stresses on a soil specimen during drying-wetting cycles.A series of tests are conducted on a type of loess with various coupling of stress paths and drying-wetting cycles.At macroscopic level,stress sensor and laser sensor are used to acquire stress and strain,respectively.The shear and volumetric strain increase during the first few drying-wetting cycles and then become stable.The increase of the shear stress level or confining pressure would cause higher increase rate and the value of shear strain in the process of drying-wetting cycles.At microscopic level,the grayscale value(GSV)of CT scanning image is characterized as the proportion of soil particles to voids.A fabric state parameter is proposed to characterize soil microstructures under the influence of stress and drying-wetting cycle.Test results indicate that the macroand micro-responses show high consistence and relevance.The stress and drying-wetting cycles would both induce collapse of the soil microstructure,which dominants degradation of the soil mechanical properties.The evolution of the macro-mechanical property of soil exhibits a positive linear relationship with the micro-evolution of the fabric state parameter.
基金supported by the“National Ocean Technology Center Innovation Fund”under Project No.N3220Z002,led by Ning Jia.The official website of the National Ocean Technology Center is accessible at:http://www.notcsoa.org.cn/.
文摘With the depletion of fossil fuels and increasing environmental concerns,the development of renewable energy,such as wave energy,has become a critical component of global energy strategies.However,challenges persist in the field testing methodologies for wave energy converters(WECs).In this paper,a numerical wave field of the Dawanshan Island Sea Area in Zhuhai City is constructed based on the MIKE21 SW wave model and by using an NCEP wind field driving model.In conjunction with the IEC-62600-100 standard,by taking site testing of the“Wanshan”wave energy converter on which a sea trial has been conducted in Dawanshan Island of Zhuhai city as an example,research on-site testing method for a wave energy converter has been carried out.The wave measurement position for the“Wanshan”converter was determined by combining statistically analyzed field data with a validated numerical wave model.By comparing a valid wave height at the position where a wave rider is located with a valid wave height at the position where the“Wanshan”wave energy converter is situated,the correlation coefficient between simulation and observed data reached 0.90,with a root-mean-square error of 0.19.The representativeness of wave measurement data during site testing is verified and can be used as a basis for calculating the input energy of the“Wanshan”wave energy converter.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China for Distinguished Young Scholars(Grant No.42225206)National Natural Science Foundation of China(42207180,42477209,42302320).
文摘Subgrade engineering is a fundamental aspect of infrastructure construction in China.As the primary structural element responsible for bearing and distributing traffic loads,the subgrade must not only withstand the substantial pressures exerted by vehicles,trains,and other forms of transportation,but also efficiently transfer these loads to the underlying foundation,ensuring the stability and longevity of the roadway.In recent years,advancements in subgrade engineering technology have propelled the industry towards smarter,greener,and more sustainable practices,particularly in the areas of intelligent monitoring,disaster management,and innovative construction methods.This paper reviews the application and methodologies of intelligent testing equipment,including cone penetration testing(CPT)devices,soil resistivity testers,and intelligent rebound testers,in subgrade engineering.It examines the operating principles,advantages,limitations,and application ranges of these tools in subgrade testing.Additionally,the paper evaluates the practical use of advanced equipment from both domestic and international perspectives,addressing the challenges encountered by various instruments in realworld applications.These devices enable precise,comprehensive testing and evaluation of subgrade conditions at different stages,providing real-time data analysis and intelligent early warnings.This supports effective subgrade health management and maintenance.As intelligent technologies continue to evolve and integrate,these tools will increasingly enhance the accuracy,efficiency,and sustainability of subgrade monitoring.
文摘BACKGROUND Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth(SIBO)is suspected and excluded frequently in functional gastrointestinal(GI)disorders.Children presenting with various esophago-gastro-duodenal(upper GI)symptoms are rarely subjected to investig-ations for SIBO.AIM To estimate the frequency of SIBO in children having functional upper GI sym-ptoms(as cases)and to compare the result of the SIBO status to that of the con-trols.METHODS Children aged 6 to 18 who presented with upper GI symptoms were selected for the study.All children were subjected to upper GI endoscopy before being advised of any proton pump inhibitors(PPIs).Children with normal endoscopy were assigned as cases,and children having any endoscopic lesion were design-ated as controls.Both groups were subjected to a glucose-hydrogen breath test by Bedfont Gastrolyser.RESULTS A total of 129 consecutive children who were naive to PPIs and had normal ba-seline investigations were included in the study.Among them,67 patients had endoscopic lesions and served as the control group,with six cases being excluded due to the presence of Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsies.Sixty-two children with normal endoscopy results formed the case group.In the case group,35 children(59%)tested positive for hydrogen breath tests,compared to 13 children(21%)in the control group.The calculated odds ratio was 5.38(95%confidence interval:2.41-12.0),which was statistically significant.Further analysis of symptoms revealed that nausea,halitosis,foul-smelling eructation,and epigastric fullness were positive predictors of SIBO.CONCLUSION It is worthwhile to investigate and treat SIBO in all children presenting with upper GI symptoms that are not explained by endoscopy findings.
基金the financial support from the Fujian Science Foundation for Outstanding Youth(2023J06039)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.41977259,U2005205,41972268)the Independent Research Project of Technology Innovation Center for Monitoring and Restoration Engineering of Ecological Fragile Zone in Southeast China(KY-090000-04-2022-019)。
文摘Shotcrete is one of the common solutions for shallow sliding.It works by forming a protective layer with high strength and cementing the loose soil particles on the slope surface to prevent shallow sliding.However,the solidification time of conventional cement paste is long when shotcrete is used to treat cohesionless soil landslide.The idea of reinforcing slope with polyurethane solidified soil(i.e.,mixture of polyurethane and sand)was proposed.Model tests and finite element analysis were carried out to study the effectiveness of the proposed new method on the emergency treatment of cohesionless soil landslide.Surcharge loading on the crest of the slope was applied step by step until landslide was triggered so as to test and compare the stability and bearing capacity of slope models with different conditions.The simulated slope displacements were relatively close to the measured results,and the simulated slope deformation characteristics were in good agreement with the observed phenomena,which verifies the accuracy of the numerical method.Under the condition of surcharge loading on the crest of the slope,the unreinforced slope slid when the surcharge loading exceeded 30 k Pa,which presented a failure mode of local instability and collapse at the shallow layer of slope top.The reinforced slope remained stable even when the surcharge loading reached 48 k Pa.The displacement of the reinforced slope was reduced by more than 95%.Overall,this study verifies the effectiveness of polyurethane in the emergency treatment of cohesionless soil landslide and should have broad application prospects in the field of geological disasters concerning the safety of people's live.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.52108361)the Sichuan Science and Technology Program of China (Grant No.2023YFS0436)the State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection Independent Research Project (Grant No.SKLGP2022Z015).
文摘Bedding parallel stepped rock slopes exist widely in nature and are used in slope engineering.They are characterized by complex topography and geological structure and are vulnerable to shattering under strong earthquakes.However,no previous studies have assessed the mechanisms underlying seismic failure in rock slopes.In this study,large-scale shaking table tests and numerical simulations were conducted to delineate the seismic failure mechanism in terms of acceleration,displacement,and earth pressure responses combined with shattering failure phenomena.The results reveal that acceleration response mutations usually occur within weak interlayers owing to their inferior performance,and these mutations may transform into potential sliding surfaces,thereby intensifying the nonlinear seismic response characteristics.Cumulative permanent displacements at the internal corners of the berms can induce quasi-rigid displacements at the external corners,leading to greater permanent displacements at the internal corners.Therefore,the internal corners are identified as the most susceptible parts of the slope.In addition,the concept of baseline offset was utilized to explain the mechanism of earth pressure responses,and the result indicates that residual earth pressures at the internal corners play a dominant role in causing deformation or shattering damage.Four evolutionary deformation phases characterize the processes of seismic responses and shattering failure of the bedding parallel stepped rock slope,i.e.the formation of tensile cracks at the internal corners of the berm,expansion of tensile cracks and bedding surface dislocation,development of vertical tensile cracks at the rear edge,and rock mass slipping leading to slope instability.Overall,this study provides a scientific basis for the seismic design of engineering slopes and offers valuable insights for further studies on preventing seismic disasters in bedding parallel stepped rock slopes.
文摘Point-of-care testing(POCT)refers to a category of diagnostic tests that are performed at or near to the site of the patients(also called bedside testing)and is capable of obtaining accurate results in a short time by using portable diagnostic devices,avoiding sending samples to the medical laboratories.It has been extensively explored for diagnosing and monitoring patients’diseases and health conditions with the assistance of development in biochemistry and microfluidics.Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices(μPADs)have gained dramatic popularity in POCT because of their simplicity,user-friendly,fast and accurate result reading and low cost.SeveralμPADs have been successfully commercialized and received excellent feedback during the past several decades.This review briefly discusses the main types ofμPADs,preparation methods and their detection principles,followed by a few representative examples.The future perspectives of the development inμPADs are also provided.