Identification of Breast Cancer Prognosis Markers via Integrative Analysis

In breast cancer research, it is of great interest to identify genomic markers associated with prognosis. Multiple gene profiling studies have been conducted for such a purpose. Genomic markers identified from the analysis of single datasets often do not have satisfactory reproducibility. Among the multiple possible reasons, the most important one is the small sample sizes of individual studies. A cost-effective solution is to pool data from multiple comparable studies and conduct integrative analysis. In this study, we collect four breast cancer prognosis studies with gene expression measurements. We describe the relationship between prognosis and gene expressions using the accelerated failure time (AFT) models. We adopt a 2-norm group bridge penalization approach for marker identification. This integrative analysis approach can effectively identify markers with consistent effects across multiple datasets and naturally accommodate the heterogeneity among studies. Statistical and simulation studies demonstrate satisfactory performance of this approach. Breast cancer prognosis markers identified using this approach have sound biological implications and satisfactory prediction performance.     

Performance evaluation of enhancement of the layered self-scheduling approach for heterogeneous multicore cluster systems

Previously we have proposed a Layered Self-Scheduling (LSS) approach that is a hybrid MPI and OpenMP based loop self-scheduling approach for dealing with the heterogeneity problem on a cluster system consisting of multi-core compute nodes, where the allocation functions of several well-known schemes have been modified for better performance. Though LSS provides better performance than the conventional self-scheduling schemes, we found the performance can be improved further after our comprehensive experiments and analyses. The newly proposed task scheduling strategy, called Enhanced Layered Self-Scheduling (ELSS), aims at how to utilize the compute powers of multiple processor cores more efficiently in the master compute node and how to schedule tasks to have more stable performance improvements. We have evaluated the new task scheduling strategy by three benchmark applications: Matrix Multiplication, Monte Carlo Integration, and Mandelbrot Set Computation. It is recommended that the global scheduler adopts Guided Self-Scheduling (GSS) for all, and the local scheduler adopts the static scheme for applications with regular workload distribution but any scheme for applications with irregular workload distribution. Experimental results show the best speedups obtained by ELSS for the three benchmark programs are 1.373, 13.34 and 2.4, respectively, compared with that scheduled by LSS.     

Probing and diagnosis of slider–disk interactions in nanometer clearance regime using artificial neural network

This paper addresses the issue of system identification for an active-head slider used to form a stable and reliable head–disk interface with a spacing of sub 3?nm. A new identification method is proposed to fit the highly non-stationary and highly nonlinear slider dynamics. The estimated model can be used for design of a model based nonlinear controller to control the flying height within the desired range. The effectiveness of the proposed system identification method is verified with simulation examples.     

Task-driven e-manufacturing resource configurable model

Manufacturing resource configuration (MRC) plays a very important role in an e-Manufacturing system. Higher requirements for optimal configuration under online resource visibility and traceability have led to two main challenges. One is that more features of manufacturing tasks affecting the optimization results should be taken into consideration when establishing the MRC mathematical model for a manufacturing cell. The other is that manufacturing information should be given equal attention as MRC to realize real-time visibility and traceability of the resulting manufacturing cells. This paper presents a comprehensive mathematical model which considers more practical features of manufacturing tasks (e.g. batch volume and alternative processing routes) for manufacturing cell formation. This model adopts a fuzzy clustering method to group the manufacturing tasks and machines. Moreover, it is enabled by a smart equipment model to realize the configurable model of real-time manufacturing information and corresponding visualization and tracing methods. A case study is given to demonstrate the proposed models and methods.     

Laguerre超群上的Hardy-Littlewood-Sobolev不等式

利用Laguerre超群K上的广义次拉普拉斯算子L定义K上的Riesz位势,并证明它是Lp(1p+∞)有界和弱(1,1)有界的,即证明K上的Hardy-Littlewood-Sobolev不等式.它为进一步分析K上的偏微分方程问题提供了一个有利的工具.     

Evaluation of a knee-kicker bumper design for reducing knee morbidity among carpet layers

Carpet layers have a high prevalence of occupational knee morbidity. One of the main causes is that they need to frequently 'kick' the bumper on the rear end of the knee kicker with one knee when laying a carpet. Considering the bumper's marked effects on kicking force transmission and safety, this study aims to improve the design of the knee-kicker bumper by reducing the risk factors. An improved pendulum-type impact-testing platform was designed as an evaluative apparatus, with the impulse and the coefficient of restitution serving as evaluative criteria. The newly developed bumper has improved firmness from drilled blind holes and an increase in effective forward force of 15%-138%, which implies lower operational demands and a lighter knee burden (i.e., less kicking energy results in the same work efficiency), and a softer contact surface that enhances operating comfort. The newly designed kicker was positively reviewed by subjects.     

Eigenvalue Modeling and Cross-Correlation Analysisfor 6.0-6.4 GHz MIMO Channel

In Multiple-Input Multiple-Output （MIMO） system, the number of positive channel matrix eigenvalues ~s directly related to system performance. In order to characterize and model channel matrix eigenvalues, channel measurements at 6. 0 -6. 4GHz by using 4 ~ 4 MIMO structure were conducted in a typical classroom environment. Based on measured data, the eigenvalues were modeled as Log-Normal distributed random variables and parameterized. Furthermore, Cross-Correlation （CC） coefficients of eigenvalues were estimated. The measurement results show that, under both Light-Of-Sight （LOS） and Non- Light-Of-Sight （NLOS） scenarios, eigenvalues are highly de-correlatod so that CC can be ignored for eigenvalue model.     

The oxidation state of sulfur detected in Na2O-CaO-SiO2 float glass by X-ray absorption near edge structure spectra

The oxidation state of sulfur is detected in Na2O-CaO-SiO2 float glass by synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra at the sulfur K edge. The measured spectra show the only presence of S6+ in the Na2O-CaO-SiO2 float glass and the oxidation state of sulfur do not change with the increase of glass depth. It is also found that, after the melt has gone through the molten tin bath, the S6+ is the dominant species, but S2- is also present on both surfaces. It is not certain whether cation bonds to S2- or not, because there are many cations dissolved in the melted tin which makes the spectrum complicated.