Discontinuous Research Articles

Similar localization of conformational IgE epitopes on the house dust mite allergens Der p 5 and Der p 21 despite limited IgE cross-reactivity.

BackgroundDue to high IgE recognition frequency and high allergenic activity, Der p 5 and Der p 21 are clinically important house dust mite (HDM) allergens. The objective of this study was to characterize the immunodominant IgE epitopes of Der p 5 and Der p 21 responsible for their high allergenic activity.MethodsA panel of 12 overlapping peptides spanning the Der p 5 and Der p 21 sequence were synthesized to search for sequential IgE epitopes by direct testing for allergic patients' IgE reactivity. Peptide‐specific antibodies raised in rabbits were used in inhibition studies for localizing conformational IgE epitopes which were visualized on the surfaces of the allergen structures by molecular modelling. IgE cross‐reactivity between the allergens was investigated by IgE inhibition studies.ResultsImmunodominant IgE epitopes defined by allergic patients' IgE on Der p 5 and Der p 21 were primarily of the conformational, discontinuous type including N‐ and C‐terminal portions of the protein. They could be located on each allergen on one area with similar localization, but despite similar structure of the allergens, no relevant IgE cross‐reactivity could be detected.ConclusionOur study shows that Der p 5 and Der p 21 contain a major conformational IgE epitope‐containing area located on similar portions of their structure, but they lack relevant IgE cross‐reactivity. These data are important for the development of modern allergy vaccines based on defined molecules for allergen‐specific immunotherapy of HDM allergy.

A combined field/remote sensing approach for characterizing landslide risk in coastal areas

Understanding the key factors controlling slope failure mechanisms in coastal areas is the first and most important step for analyzing, reconstructing and predicting the scale, location and extent of future instability in rocky coastlines. Different failure mechanisms may be possible depending on the influence of the engineering properties of the rock mass (including the fracture network), the persistence and type of discontinuity and the relative aspect or orientation of the coastline. Using a section of the North Coast of Cornwall, UK, as an example we present a multi-disciplinary approach for characterizing landslide risk associated with coastal instabilities in a blocky rock mass.Remotely captured terrestrial and aerial LiDAR and photogrammetric data were interrogated using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to provide a framework for subsequent analysis, interpretation and validation. The remote sensing mapping data was used to define the rock mass discontinuity network of the area and to differentiate between major and minor geological structures controlling the evolution of the North Coast of Cornwall.Kinematic instability maps generated from aerial LiDAR data using GIS techniques and results from structural and engineering geological surveys are presented. With this method, it was possible to highlight the types of kinematic failure mechanism that may generate coastal landslides and highlight areas that are more susceptible to instability or increased risk of future instability. Multi-temporal aerial LiDAR data and orthophotos were also studied using GIS techniques to locate recent landslide failures, validate the results obtained from the kinematic instability maps through site observations and provide improved understanding of the factors controlling the coastal geomorphology. The approach adopted is not only useful for academic research, but also for local authorities and consultancy's when assessing the likely risks of coastal instability.

Hill slope instability of Nainital City, Kumaun Lesser Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India

Nainital City of Kumaun Lesser Himalaya is prone to mass wasting processes during monsoon season, which mischievously triggers the hill slope instability in this region. Slate, dolomitic limestone, silty sandstone and rhythmite of the Krol Formation are the main rock types. The present study focuses on the investigation of slope stability in the region in terms of potential seismicity and landslide. Geological and geotechnical mapping indicates that the major portion of the area is characterized by slope wash materials and buildings. The combination of 3–4 joint sets with one random joint is the main structure at outcrops. The major geological structures of this area are Nainital lake fault passing from the center of the lake, Main Boundary Thrust at SW, and Khuriya Fault passing from the SE direction of Nainital City. This work finds that different types of discontinuities (e.g. joints and faults), overburden due to unplanned civil structures, and neotectonic activity in the vicinity of this area affect the stability of the city. The slate forms the base of the city, dipping slightly towards the lake side along the NW direction, thus accelerating the instability of this area. Rock mass rating (RMR), slope mass rating, factor of safety (FOS) and graphical analysis of the discontinuity for slope kinematics indicate that the study area is a landslide-prone zone. This study can facilitate reducing the risk of human life, and contribute to the ongoing construction works in the area.

Fatigue crack growth analysis of cracked specimens by the coupled finite element-element free Galerkin method

ABSTRACTThis paper presents a novel approach based on the coupled finite element (FE) and element free Galerkin (EFG) method to model fatigue crack growth in 2-D specimens containing different types of material discontinuities like holes and bi-material interfaces. In this approach, EFGM is used to discretize the domain near the crack whereas the conventional FEM is employed in the rest of the domain. The shape functions of the transition elements have been obtained by using the ramp function. The level set method has been used to track different discontinuities present in the domain. Finally, several two dimensional numerical problems are presented to demonstrate the applicability and efficiency of the proposed technique in modelling fatigue crack growth in presence of material discontinuities. The effect of various material irregularities on fatigue life, critical crack length and crack growth paths has been investigated in the present study. The results show that the critical crack length and the fatigue life of the cracked component reduce due to the presence of a weak bi-material discontinuity in it. The weaker discontinuities increase the fatigue life of the cracked specimen, whereas the stronger discontinuities slightly increase the fatigue life of the cracked component. The presence of holes in a cracked specimen reduces the fatigue life and the critical crack length at final failure. It was also observed that the holes and the weaker discontinuities exert some sort of attractive effect on the crack during its propagation through the domain.

Estimates of characteristics of localization methods for discontinuities of the first kind of a noisy function

Estimates of characteristics of localization methods for discontinuities of the first kind of a noisy function

Unexpected Discontinuous Supercoiling of Torsionally Buckled DNA: Evidence for a Solenoid?

Unexpected Discontinuous Supercoiling of Torsionally Buckled DNA: Evidence for a Solenoid?

Non Destructive Test Dye Penetrant and Ultrasonic on Welding SMAW Butt Joint with Acceptance Criteria ASME Standard

The purpose of this research is to know the type of discontinuity of SMAW welding result and to determine acceptance criteria based on American Society of Mechanical Engineer (ASME) standard. Material used is mild steel 98,71% Fe and 0,212% C with hardness 230 VHN with specimen diameter 20 cm and thickness 1.2 cm which is welded use SMAW butt joint with electrode for rooting LB 52U diameter 2.6 mm, current 70 Ampere and voltage 380 volt, filler used LB 5218 electrode diameter 3.2 mm with current 80 Ampere and 380 volt. The method used to analyze the welded with non destructive test dye penetrant (PT) method to see indication on the surface of the object and Ultrasonic (UT) to see indication on the sub and inner the surface of the object, the result is discontinuity recorded and analyzed and then the discontinuity is determine acceptance criteria based on the American Society of Mechanical Engineer (ASME) standards. The result show the discontinuity of porosity on the surface of the welded and inclusion on sub material used ultrasonic test, all indication on dye penetrant or ultrasonic test if there were rejected of result of welded that there must be gouging on part which rejected and then re-welding.

Inhibiting effects of Src kinase inhibitor on TGF-β1 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition of human RPE cells

Objective To investigate the inhibiting effect of CGP77675 (CGP), a Src inhibitor, on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells induced by transformation growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Methods Human RPE cell line (ARPE19 cells) was cultured in vitro and divided into control group, TGF-β1 group and TGF-β1+ CGP group.Corresponding agent was added into culture medium based on grouping.The morphology of the cells were examined under the optical microscope 3 days after culture.The expressions of EMT-related genes and proteins in the cells were detected by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot, respectively, including fibronectin 1 (FN1), and plasminogen activation inhibitor 1 (PAI1), and the expressions of zonula occludens protein 1 (ZO1) and cytoskeleton protein filamentous actin (F-actin) were detected by immunofluorescence staining.MTT assay was employed to evaluate the cell proliferation rate.The migration distance of the cells was measured by scratch test. Results The ARPE19 cells in the control group showed an epithelial-like morphology and F-actin and ZO-1 were expressed along cell membrane.In the TGF-β1 group, the cells appeared to be fibrous-like, and the fluorescence staining of F-actin was disordered and ZO-1 was discontinuous on the cell membrane.The cells in the TGF-β1+ CGP group remained to be an epithelial-like in shape with clear and complete expressions of F-actin and ZO-1.The relative expressions of FN1 mRNA and PAI1 mRNA in the cells were 0.211±0.080 and 0.116±0.073, 1.000±0.001 and 1.000±0.001, 0.368±0.097 and 0.362±0.048 in the control group, TGF-β1 group and TGF-β1+ CGP groups, showing significant differences among the groups (F=33.14, 82.92; both at P<0.01), with the highest expressions of FN1 mRNA and PAI1 mRNA in the TGF-β1 group (all at P<0.05). The relative expressions of FN1 and PAI1 proteins were 0.166±0.055 and 0.327±0.066, 1.000±0.001 and 1.000±0.001, 0.143± 0.030 and 0.260±0.077 in the control group, TGF-β1 group and TGF-β1+ CGP group, with significant differences among three groups (F=181.90, 48.85; both at P<0.01), and the expressions FN1 and PAI1 proteins were significantly higher in the TGF-β1 than those in the control group and TGF-β1+ CGP group (all at P<0.05). The cell proliferative rate in the TGF-β1+ CGP group was (79.30±3.44) % and (54.80±7.39) % at the third day and seventh day after culture, which were significantly reduced in comparison with (99.50±1.00)% and (99.10±0.50)% in the control group as well as (95.10±4.20)% and (92.10±4.50)% in the TGF-β1 group (all at P<0.05). The migration distance was disappeared in the TGF-β1 group, and the scratch width was not obviously changed in the TGF-β1+ CGP group. Conclusions Src inhibitor can inhibit EMT process of ARPE19 cells induced by TGF-β1, indicating that Src signaling pathway may play a critical role in EMT of RPE cells. Key words: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Retinal pigment epithelial cells; Src kinase inhibitor; Vitreoretinopathy, proliferative

The Courseware of Discontinuous Nature of Matter in Teaching the States of Matter and Their Changes

The Courseware of Discontinuous Nature of Matter in Teaching the States of Matter and Their Changes

Numerical investigations on stability evaluation of a jointed rock slope during excavation using an optimized DDARF method

A jointed rock slope stability evaluation was simulated by a discontinuous deformation analysis numerical method to investigate the process and safety factors for different crack distributions and different overloading situations. An optimized method using Discontinuous Deformation Analysis for Rock Failure (DDARF) is presented to perform numerical investigations on the jointed rock slope stability evaluation of the Dagangshan hydropower station. During the pre-processing of establishing the numerical model, an integrated software system including AutoCAD, Screen Capture, and Excel is adopted to facilitate the implementation of the numerical model with random joint network. These optimizations during the pre-processing stage of DDARF can remarkably improve the simulation efficiency, making it possible for complex model calculation. In the numerical investigations on the jointed rock slope stability evaluations using the optimized DDARF, three calculation schemes have been taken into account in the numerical model: (I) no joint; (II) two sets of regular parallel joints; and (III) multiple sets of random joints. This model is capable of replicating the entire processes including crack initiation, propagation, formation of shear zones, and local failures, and thus is able to provide constructive suggestions to supporting schemes for the slope. Meanwhile, the overloading numerical simulations under the same three schemes have also been performed. Overloading safety factors of the three schemes are 5.68, 2.42 and 1.39, respectively, which are obtained by analyzing the displacement evolutions of key monitoring points during overloading.

Modified discontinuous deformation analysis for rock failure: Crack propagation

Deformation of rock masses is not only related to rock itself, but also related to discontinuities, the latter maybe greater. Study on crack propagation at discontinuities is important to reveal the damage law of rock masses. DDARF is a discontinuous deformation analysis method for rock failure and some modified algorithms are proposed in this study. Firstly, coupled modeling methods of AutoCAD-DDARF and ANSYS-DDARF are introduced, which could improve the modeling efficiency of DDARF compared to its original program. Secondly, a convergence criterion for automatically judging the computation equilibrium is established, it could overcome subjective drawbacks of ending one calculation by time steps. Lastly but not the least, relationship between the super relaxation factor and the calculation convergence is analyzed, and reasonable value range of the super relaxation factor is obtained. Based on these above modified programs, influences on crack propagation of joint angle, joint parameters and geo-stresses

La enseñanza de la Historia: innovación y continuidad desde Rafael Altamira

La ensenanza de la Historia en sus metodologias, proyectos y materiales de ensenanza ha ido variando desde Rafael Altamira, en el transito finisecular y primer tercio del siglo XX, a los grupos de innovacion formados por profesores durante el ultimo tercio del mismo. En este trabajo se muestran los cambios y las continuidades en propuestas de ensenanza de la Historia, las coincidencias y las diferencias. La finalidad es exponer una historia de la innovacion sobre la ensenanza de la disciplina porque, aunque la innovacion ha sido discontinua y se ha manifestado con mayor o menor intensidad dependiendo de las circunstancias y los agentes que la han promovido, siempre su retorno mantiene la misma intensidad de lo originario. Asi pues, consideramos necesario hacer este recorrido por la innovacion, analizando propuestas destacadas, para dejar constancia de los intentos de cambio y mejora y tenerlos como referente a la hora de entender y comprender las actuales iniciativas.

Experimental Study on 3D Roughness and Shear Failure Mechanism of Rock Mass Discontinuity

A set of systematic experimental methods, including 3D accuracy scanning and identification of discontinuous surface topography, physical model construction, and laboratory direct shear experiment under different directions and normal stresses, was proposed to research the influence of discontinuity roughness on strength and deformation of discontinuity. During physical model construction of discontinuity, three types of discontinuity and rough natural rock joint surface models were constructed and moulded. Meanwhile, many influence factors of discontinuity surface topography, such as asperity inclination angle (AIA), asperity height (AH), normal stress (NS), and shear direction (SD), were considered during the direct shear experiment. On the basis of the experimental results, it can be found that there were two types of failure modes under different loading conditions, which were named “failure by shearing through the asperities” and “failure by sliding over the asperities”. The obvious stress concentration phenomenon, climbing, and cutting effects appeared in the process of the direct shear experiment. In addition, the accurate identification of surface topography of natural rough rock joint surface was carried out using three-dimensional sensing system (3DSS) and self-programming software before and after the experiment. The subsamples with the same surface topography as the original samples were moulded using a self-developed instrument. Then, the mechanical behavior of the original samples and subsamples for the natural rough rock joint surface under different shear directions and normal stresses was studied. The results show that the shear displacement under different shear directions and normal stresses is very large before it reaches the failure state. And the residual strength of the original samples is higher than that of the subsamples. In addition, failure modes of the subsamples are main failure by shearing through the asperities due to the significant difference between peak shear strength and residual strength. The failure modes for parts of the original samples are failure by sliding over the asperities. The change ratio of area for the discontinuity after the experiment depends on surface topography, strength of heave on the surface of discontinuity, and particle size of minerals on the surface of discontinuity.

Rock stability analysis – A case study

The problems of the stability of the mineral-bearing structure ST2 at 560 m of depth in the east zone of Bou-azzer mine disturbs the advance of the exploitation. The geological and structural study based on field observations and the analysis of core drilling shows the presence of altered and fractured diorite surmounted by cobalt mineralization. Based on the empirical methods of Barton (Q-system) and Bieniawski (RMR) the bed rock is classified as poor quality. The analytical study made it possible to dimension supporting by bow-pieces and bolting. The existence of several types of discontinuities (fault, diaclases and joints) has made the realization of numerical simulation by the finite elements method very difficult. These discontinuities create a network of natural fractures which cut out the blocks in various forms likely to be detached or slip into the excavation, thus encouraging the infiltration of water creating pressure on the massif. The classical studies show their limits in practice for installation of supporting because they must take into account the characteristics of discontinuities. Hence a structural analysis of the massif is essential. The cracking survey of ST2 at 560 m of depth in the east zone of Bou-azzer mine at 560m of depth, and their processing by the DIPS software, showed the existence of three main families of discontinuity NW-SE with a dip of 75SW, NS subverticale and NE-SW with a dip of 57NW, and two families of minor joints NW-SE and NE-SW with successive dips of 40SW and 75SE. The analysis of fracturing surveys allowed us to evaluate the risks of falling blocks and the families of discontinuity responsible for them, and to limit the zones presenting a risk of slip and the families responsible for them. The importance of this study is of knowing how and where to put supporting to be opposed to the risk of fall and tilting of the blocks, caused by the network of discontinuities of the massif.

Rock stability analysis – A case study

The problems of the stability of the mineral-bearing structure ST2 at 560 m of depth in the east zone of Bou-azzer mine disturbs the advance of the exploitation. The geological and structural study based on field observations and the analysis of core drilling shows the presence of altered and fractured diorite surmounted by cobalt mineralization. Based on the empirical methods of Barton (Q-system) and Bieniawski (RMR) the bed rock is classified as poor quality. The analytical study made it possible to dimension supporting by bow-pieces and bolting. The existence of several types of discontinuities (fault, diaclases and joints) has made the realization of numerical simulation by the finite elements method very difficult. These discontinuities create a network of natural fractures which cut out the blocks in various forms likely to be detached or slip into the excavation, thus encouraging the infiltration of water creating pressure on the massif. The classical studies show their limits in practice for installation of supporting because they must take into account the characteristics of discontinuities. Hence a structural analysis of the massif is essential. The cracking survey of ST2 at 560 m of depth in the east zone of Bou-azzer mine at 560m of depth, and their processing by the DIPS software, showed the existence of three main families of discontinuity NW-SE with a dip of 75SW, NS subverticale and NE-SW with a dip of 57NW, and two families of minor joints NW-SE and NE-SW with successive dips of 40SW and 75SE. The analysis of fracturing surveys allowed us to evaluate the risks of falling blocks and the families of discontinuity responsible for them, and to limit the zones presenting a risk of slip and the families responsible for them. The importance of this study is of knowing how and where to put supporting to be opposed to the risk of fall and tilting of the blocks, caused by the network of discontinuities of the massif.

Response to scene transitions in films based on establishing shot type

Response to scene transitions in films based on establishing shot type

Large off-nadir scan angle of airborne LiDAR can severely affect the estimates of forest structure metrics

Gap fraction (Pgap) and vertical gap fraction profile (vertical Pgap profile) are important forest structural metrics. Accurate estimation of Pgap and vertical Pgap profile is therefore critical for many ecological applications, including leaf area index (LAI) mapping, LAI profile estimation and wildlife habitat modelling. Although many studies estimated Pgap and vertical Pgap profile from airborne LiDAR data, the scan angle was often overlooked and a nadir view assumed. However, the scan angle can be off-nadir and highly variable in the same flight strip or across different flight strips. In this research, the impact of off-nadir scan angle on Pgap and vertical Pgap profile was evaluated, for several forest types. Airborne LiDAR data from nadir (0°∼7°), small off-nadir (7°∼23°), and large off-nadir (23°∼38°) directions were used to calculate both Pgap and vertical Pgap profile. Digital hemispherical photographs (DHP) acquired during fieldwork were used as references for validation. Our results show that angular Pgap from airborne LiDAR correlates well with angular Pgap from DHP (R2 = 0.74, 0.87, and 0.67 for nadir, small off-nadir and large off-nadir direction). But underestimation of Pgap from LiDAR amplifies at large off-nadir scan angle. By comparing Pgap and vertical Pgap profiles retrieved from different directions, it is shown that scan angle impact on Pgap and vertical Pgap profile differs amongst different forest types. The difference is likely to be caused by different leaf angle distribution and canopy architecture in these forest types. Statistical results demonstrate that the scan angle impact is more severe for plots with discontinuous or sparse canopies. These include coniferous plots, and deciduous or mixed plots with between-crown gaps. In these discontinuous plots, Pgap and vertical Pgap profiles are maximum when observed from nadir direction, and then rapidly decrease with increasing scan angle. The results of this research have many important practical implications. First, it is suggested that large off-nadir scan angle of airborne LiDAR should be avoided to ensure a more accurate Pgap and LAI estimation. Second, the angular dependence of vertical Pgap profiles observed from airborne LiDAR should be accounted for, in order to improve the retrieval of LAI profiles, and other quantitative canopy structural metrics. This is especially necessary when using multi-temporal datasets in discontinuous forest types. Third, the anisotropy of Pgap and vertical Pgap profile observed by airborne LiDAR, can potentially help to resolve the anisotropic behavior of canopy reflectance, and refine the inversion of biophysical and biochemical properties from passive multispectral or hyperspectral data.

Collision tumor of the sellar region

Objective To summarize clinical and pathological features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, as well as treatment and prognosis through analyzing one case of collision tumor in the sellar region (pituitary adenoma combined with malignant triton tumor). Methods and Results A 59-year-old male was admitted to hospital with decreased vision, vision field defect and dizziness. Head MRI demonstrated space-occupying lesion in the sellar region. Therefore, the patient underwent a transsphenoidal surgery with subtotal tumor resection. Three months later, the patient was admitted to hospital again with vision loss and headache. Head CT demonstrated space-occupying lesions in sellar/suprasellar region, therefore, the patient underwent saddle tumor resection. Histological findings revealed that the tumor was composed of two different types of tumors, one was pituitary adenoma with epithelial cells arranged in nest-like and trabecular pattern, and the other was diffused spindle cell tumor. The two tumors were distributed separately or mixed togenther. The morphology of spindle cell tumor was bland with scarce mitosis in the first surgery, whereas additional features including increased cell density, dark nuclei, frequent mitosis and scattering distributed rhabdomyoblasts were found in the second surgery. Immunohistochemically, the pituitary adenoma (epithelial cell region) cells were positive for cytokeratin 8 (CK8), chromogranin A (CgA), synaptophysin (Syn) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), while the malignant triton tumor cells (spindle cell region) were positive for CD56, CD57, calretinin (CR) and focally positive for S-100 protein (S-100), desmin (Des) and myogenin. Ultrastructural findings revealed abundant rough endoplasmic reticules and secretary granules in the cytoplasm of pituitary adenoma cells, and discontinuous basal lamina located outside the spindle cell membrane. The final pathological diagnosis was sellar collision tumor (non-functional TSH adenoma combined with malignant triton tumor). The patient died 6 months after the second surgery. Conclusions Collision tumor of the sellar region with pituitary adenoma and malignant triton tumor is a rare tumor which can hardly be diagnosed by clinical and neuroimaging examination. The diagnosis relies on morphological characteristics, immunophenotype and ultrastructural features. The prognosis of collision tumor with malignant triton tumor component is poor. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2017.11.009

Accurate calculation of Goos-Hänchen shift at critical angle for complex laser beam profiles using beam propagation method

The characteristics of an incident Gaussian monochromatic light beam at sharp critical angle are investigated and analyzed. The numerical results are obtained using fast Fourier transform based beam propagation method (FFT-BPM). In this study, we adapt the FFT-BPM propagator to evaluate the reflected and refracted fields at a step discontinuity in the transverse electric (TE) polarizations. The field properties in the denser and rare medium are carefully examined. Further, the Goos-Hänchen (GH) shift is calculated based on the lateral field using the FFT-BPM at sharp critical angle which cannot be obtained by other analytical methods. Moreover, the effects of the wavelength and denser medium refractive index on the GH shift are also investigated. The calculated results are in good agreement with that introduced in the literature. Moreover, the suggested analysis could shed light on more accurate modeling techniques for the GH shift calculation and its impact on the relevant photonic applications. In this regard, the calculated GH shifts at sharp critical angle are used for monitoring glucose concentration variations in biomedical applications with high sensitivity. Additionally, we presented for the first time to the authors’ knowledge- the effect of the incident field pattern such as: Lorentz-Gauss, Super-Gaussian, Super-Lorentzian, and super-Lorentz-Gauss on the GH calculations.

The sedimentary succession of the last ~ 3.50 Myr in the western South Yellow Sea: Paleoenvironmental and tectonic implications

The South Yellow Sea (SYS) Basin, which is part of the West Pacific Continental Margin, began to form in the late Mesozoic to early Cenozoic as a result of regional tectonic activity in Asia. The pre-Middle Pleistocene sedimentary history of the area remains poorly understood or controversial, mainly due to a lack of long borehole cores penetrating pre-Quaternary strata. Borehole core CSDP-1 (300.10m long), the longest sediment core recovered thus far from the SYS, was drilled in 2013 in the western SYS. Recently, a reliable timescale for the core for the last ~3.50Myr was obtained by magnetostratigraphy (Liu et al., 2016a). Here we report the results of integrated analyses of the core, including sedimentary characteristics, downcore changes in environmental proxies (benthic foraminifera and ostracods), and accelerator mass spectrometry 14C and optically stimulated luminescence dates. In addition, we analyze 546km of single-channel seismic profiles and ~50km of a boomer seismic profile around the core site, and correlate the regional stratigraphy. The core sedimentary succession contains 17 depositional units (lithofacies associations) corresponding to three major seismic units, reflecting a variety of depositional environments during the last ~3.50Myr. Our results show that fluvial environments prevailed in the western SYS from ~3.50 to 1.66Ma, followed by alternations of tidal-flat to shallow-subtidal environments with fluvial environments from ~1.66 to 0.83Ma, and alternations of modern-like marine environments and fluvial environments from ~0.83Ma to the present-day in response to glacio-eustatic sea-level cycles. The depositional succession during the last ~3.50Myr was dominantly controlled by tectonism and glacio-eustatic sea-level cycles. The presumed first marine transgression since the Neogene in the western SYS at ~1.66Ma is interpreted to suggest that sea water could partially flood the Zhe-Min Uplift (ZMU) into the SYS due to tectonic subsidence, and further subsidence of the ZMU and the SYS shelf is inferred to have resulted in establishment of normal marine environments in the SYS during the highstands of glacio-eustatic sea-level cycles since ~0.83Ma. The average subsidence rates in the western SYS were ~120–165m/Myr during the last ~1.66Myr. The sedimentary succession comprises fifth- and fourth-order sequences, which are interpreted to have been driven by the 20-kyr or 41-kyr and by the 100-kyr glacio-eustatic sea-level cycles, respectively, since the late Pliocene. The sequences deposited since the Late Pleistocene are relatively complete, recording deposits from MIS 5 to MIS 1. However, the pre-Upper Pleistocene sequences show significant stratigraphic hiatuses, presumably caused by fluvial erosion during the glacial sea-level lowstands and subsequent transgressive erosion. This type of significant discontinuity in the sedimentary record can be considered to be diagnostic of shelf sequences controlled by glacio-eustatic sea-level cycles.