Comprehensive evaluation method for user interface design in nuclear power plant based on mental workload

Yu Chen,Shengyuan Yan,Cong Chi Tran 한국원자력학회 2019 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.51 No.2

Mental workload (MWL) is a major consideration for the user interface design in nuclear power plants(NPPs). However, each MWL evaluation method has its advantages and limitations, thus the evaluationand control methods based on multi-index methods are needed. In this study, fuzzy comprehensiveevaluation (FCE) theory was adopted for assessment of interface designs in NPP based on operators'MWL. An evaluation index system and membership functions were established, and the weights weregiven using the combination of the variation coefficient and the entropy method. The results showed thatmulti-index methods such as performance measures (speed of task and error rate), subjective rating(NASA-TLX) and physiological measure (eye response) can be successfully integrated in FCE for userinterface design assessment. The FCE method has a correlation coefficient compared with most of theoriginal evaluation indices. Thus, this method might be applied for developing the tool to quickly andaccurately assess the different display interfaces when considering the aspect of the operators' MWL.

Pirfenidone ameliorated AGE-induced EMT and attenuated peritoneal fibrosis in peritoneal mesothelial cells

Fenglin Xiao,Shengyuan Wang,Zhiyong Zhang,Hai Yu,Mingxu Li 대한독성 유전단백체 학회 2021 Molecular & cellular toxicology Vol.17 No.3

Background Peritoneal dialysis has greatly improved patient survival for patients with chronic kidney disease. However, peritoneal fibrosis is a progressive fibrotic peritoneal disease caused by dialysis, which may lead to ineffective dialysis or dialysis failure. It is well known that the EMT of peritoneal mesenchymal cells has been known to contribute to peritoneal fibrosis. Therefore, at present, inhibiting the formation and development of EMT has become the focus of peritoneal fibrosis. Objectives Pirfenidone has shown clinically relevant benefits in patients with pulmonary fibrosis, however, there is no research on peritoneal fibrosis. Thus, we examined the effect of pirfenidone on AGE-driven EMT in peritoneal mesenchymal cells and assessed its efficacy in inhibiting peritoneal fibrosis. Results AGEs were added with or without pirfenidone to the culture medium of HMrSV5 cells and we detected the changes of EMT and the signaling pathways involved. AGEs greatly reduced the E-cadherin level and augmented the α–SMA and vimentin expression. However, these effects were dramatically suppressed by pirfenidone treatment. Meanwhile, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by AGEs were suppressed by pirfenidone. Furthermore, under the action of AGEs, pirfenidone activated the nuclear transport of Nrf2, and accelerated the production of antioxidant factors. Conclusion Pirfenidone could attenuate AGE-mediated EMT in HPMCs and might be a promising therapeutic drug to antagonize peritoneal fibrosis.

Evaluation of surface texture of dried Hami Jujube using optimized support vector machine based on visual features fusion

Xiuzhi Luo,Benxue Ma,Wenxia Wang,Shengyuan Lei,Yangyang Hu,Guowei Yu,Xiaozhan Li 한국식품과학회 2020 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.29 No.4

The surface texture of dried jujube fruits is a significant quality grading criterion. This paper introduced a novel visual feature fusion based on connected region density, texture features, and color features. The singlescale Two-Dimensional Discrete Wavelet Transform was used to perform single-scale decomposition and reconstruction of dried Hami jujube image before visual features extraction. The connected region density was extracted by the two different algorithms, whereas the texture features were extracted by Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix and the color features were extracted by image processing algorithms. Based on selected features which obtained by correlation analysis of visual features, the accuracy rate of the optimized Support Vector Machine classification model was 96.67%. In comparing with Extreme Learning Machine classification model and other fusion methods, the optimized Support Vector Machine based on selected visual features fusion was better.

Secondary Short-Lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform Headache with Conjunctival Injection and Tearing: A New Case and a Literature Review

Ya Cao,Fei Yang,Zhao Dong,Xusheng Huang,Bingzhen Cao,Shengyuan Yu 대한신경과학회 2018 Journal of Clinical Neurology Vol.14 No.4

Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) is a primary headache syndrome with an unclear pathogenesis. However, there is increasing evidence in the literature for secondary SUNCT being attributable to certain known lesions. We explored the possible neurobiological mechanism underlying SUNCT based on all reported cases of secondary SUNCT for which detailed information is available. Here we report a case of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders that had typical symptoms of SUNCT that might have been attributable to involvement of the spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve. We also review cases of secondary SUNCT reported in the English-language literature and analyze them for demographic characteristics, clinical features, response to treatment, and imaging findings. The literature review shows that secondary SUNCT can derive from a neoplasm, vascular disease, trauma, infection, inflammation, or congenital malformation. The pons with involvement of the trigeminal root entry zone was the most commonly affected region for inducing secondary SUNCT. In conclusion, the neurobiology of secondary SUNCT includes structures such as the nucleus and the trigeminal nerve with its branches, suggesting that some cases of primary SUNCT have underlying mechanisms that are related to existing focal damage that cannot be visualized.

Magnetic Resonance Image Texture Analysis of the Periaqueductal Gray Matter in Episodic Migraine Patients without T2-Visible Lesions

Zhiye Chen,Xiaoyan Chen,Mengqi Liu,Shuangfeng Liu,Shengyuan Yu,Lin Ma 대한영상의학회 2018 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.19 No.1

Objective: The periaqueductal gray matter (PAG), a small midbrain structure, presents dysfunction in migraine. However, the precise neurological mechanism is still not well understood. Herein, the aim of this study was to investigate the texture characteristics of altered PAG in episodic migraine (EM) patients based on high resolution brain structural magnetic resonance (MR) images. Materials and Methods: The brain structural MR images were obtained from 18 normal controls (NC), 18 EM patients and 16 chronic migraine (CM) patients using a 3T MR system. A PAG template was created using the International Consortium Brain Mapping 152 gray matter model, and the individual PAG segment was developed by applying the deformation field from the structural image segment to the PAG template. A grey level co-occurrence matrix was used to calculate the texture parameters including the angular second moment (ASM), contrast, correlation, inverse difference moment (IDM) and entropy. Results: There was a significant difference for ASM, IDM and entropy in the EM group (998.629 ± 0.162 x 10-3, 999.311 ± 0.073 x 10-3, 916.354 ± 0.947 x 10-5) compared to that found in the NC group (998.760 ± 0.110 x 10-3, 999.358 ± 0.037 x 10-3 and 841.198 ± 0.575 x 10-5) (p < 0.05). The entropy was significantly lower among the patients with CM (864.116 ± 0.571 x 10-5) than that found among patients with EM (p < 0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.776 and 0.750 for ASM and entropy in the distinction of the EM from NC groups, respectively. ASM was negatively related to disease duration (DD) and the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) scores in the EM group, and entropy was positively related to DD and MIDAS in the EM group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The present study identified altered MR image texture characteristics of the PAG in EM. The identified texture characteristics could be considered as imaging biomarkers for EM.

New Insights Into Refractory Chronic Cough and Unexplained Chronic Cough: A 6-Year Ambispective Cohort Study

Zhang Mengru,Morice Alyn H.,Si Fengli,Zhang Li,Chen Qiang,Wang Shengyuan,Zhu Yiqing,Xu Xianghuai,Yu Li,Qiu Zhongmin 대한천식알레르기학회 2023 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.15 No.6

Purpose: Only limited studies have depicted the unique features and management of refractory chronic cough (RCC) and unexplained chronic cough (UCC). These led to the initiation of this study, which reported the demographic characteristics, manifestations, and long-term outcomes on a large series of consecutive RCC/UCC patients, providing a guideline-led real-world clinical experience. Methods: Retrospective baseline information was obtained from Clinical Research Database (January 2016 to May 2021). At least 6 months after the last clinic visit, included subjects were prospectively followed up. Results: Three hundred and sixty-nine RCC and UCC patients (199 females, 53.9%) were analyzed. The median cough duration was 24.0 (12.0–72.0) months. Laryngeal symptoms were reported in 95.9% of the patients. The common triggers for coughing were talking (74.9%), pungent odors (47.3%), eating (45.5%), and cold air (42.8%). RCC was considered in 38.2%, and the remainder of 228 patients had UCC, with an equal sex distribution (P = 0.66). Among the 141 RCCs, 90.8% (128) had refractory reflux cough, which was more responsive to current treatments (P < 0.01). Although most features and test results between RCC and UCC were similar, UCC was more commonly inappropriately treated (P < 0.01). Nineteen (7.7–41.1) months after the final clinic visit, 31.2% still coughed persistently, while 68.8% reported cough improvement or remission. RCC reported more favorable treatment outcomes (including cough improvement, control, and spontaneous remission) than UCC (P < 0.01). Coughs with long duration before the initial cough clinic visit (P < 0.01), frequent urinary incontinence (P < 0.01), and being sensitive to “talking” (P < 0.01) or “cold air” (P < 0.01) were less likely to be solved. Conclusions: The current treatments only improve cough symptoms in two-thirds of patients. Clinical indicators for treatment failure were those coughing for long duration and being sensitive to “talking” or “cold air.”