A method of X-ray source spectrum estimation from transmission measurements based on compressed sensing

Liu Bin,Yang Hongrun,Lv Huanwen,Li Lan,Gao Xilong,Zhu Jianping,Jing Futing 한국원자력학회 2020 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.52 No.7

A new method of X-ray source spectrum estimation based on compressed sensing is proposed in this paper. The algorithm K-SVD is applied for sparse representation. Nonnegative constraints are added by modifying the L1 reconstruction algorithm proposed by Rosset and Zhu. The estimation method is demonstrated on simulated spectra typical of mammography and CT. X-ray spectra are simulated with the Monte Carlo code Geant4. The proposed method is successfully applied to highly ill conditioned and under determined estimation problems with a good performance of suppressing noises. Results with acceptable accuracies (MSE < 5%) can be obtained with 10% Gaussian white noises added to the simulated experimental data. The biggest difference between the proposed method and the existing methods is that multiple prior knowledge of X-ray spectra can be included in one dictionary, which is meaningful for obtaining the true X-ray spectrum from the measurements.

Influence of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties on Formability in High Strain Rate Rolled AZ31 Magnesium Alloy Sheets

Fubao Liu,Xiao Liu,Biwu Zhu,Hui Yang,Gang Xiao,Mingyue Hu 대한금속·재료학회 2022 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.28 No.6

High strain-rate rolling (≥ 10 s−1) has been successfully employed to produce AZ31 magnesium alloy sheets to a high reductionof 82% with a fine grain structure in a single pass. The rolled sheets inevitably undertake various forming processessuch as press and deep forming in the fabrication stage. To investigate the formability, the Erichsen tests were carried out onhigh strain rate rolled AZ31 magnesium alloy sheets at room temperature. The relationship among mechanical properties,microstructure and formability were investigated. The crack behavior during Erichsen tests was also studied. It was foundthat the formability was related to the lowest in-plane tensile strengthen and dislocation density of initial microstructure. The competitive relationship between micro-crack and twinning/shear bands would also influence the formability of highstrain rate rolled magnesium alloy sheets. Deformed shear band with substaintial twins prohibits the crack extension andenhances strengthen of materials in front of crack tip.

Green algae dominance quickly switches to cyanobacteria dominance after nutrient enrichment in greenhouse with high temperature

Xiaodong Wang,Xingguo Liu1,Boqiang Qin,Zhaojun Gu,Hao Xu,Hao Zhu,Guofeng Cheng,Huang Liu 한국생태학회 2015 Journal of Ecology and Environment Vol.38 No.3

In order to understand the mechanisms of conversion between different algal dominance, an experiment was performed in a greenhouse from 22 June to 10 July 2011. The experiment included a treatment group subjected to three instances of nutrient enrichment and a control with no nutrient enrichment. The initial water was dominated by Ankistrodesmus of Chlorophyta. The average water temperature at 08:30 h and 14:00 h during the experiment was 31.6°C and 34.6°C, respec¬tively. The results showed that the total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), dissolved total nitrogen (DTN), dissolved total phosphorus (DTP), and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentrations in the treatment were significantly higher than in the control (P < 0.05). However, the TN/TP and DTN/DTP in the control was higher than in the treatment (P < 0.05). The dominant algae in the control did not change during the experiment, while the dominant algae in the treat¬ment switched to Planktothrix of Cyanophyta on day 9. The chlorophyll a (Chl-a), wet weight of all algae, wet weight of Cyanophyta, and percentage of Cyanophyta in the control were all significantly lower than in the treatment (P < 0.05). Amounts of zooplankton, especially rotifers, were present at the end of the experimental period. The density of rotifers between the control and treatment was not significantly different (P > 0.05), while the copepod density in the treatment was higher than in the control (P < 0.05). We conclude that green algae dominance quickly switches to cyanobacteria dominance after nutrient enrichment in a greenhouse with elevated temperature

Feasibility of a Clinical-Radiomics Model to Predict the Outcomes of Acute Ischemic Stroke

Zhou Yiran,Wu Di,Yan Su,Xie Yan,Zhang Shun,Lv Wenzhi,Qin Yuanyuan,Liu Yufei,Liu Chengxia,Lu Jun,Li Jia,Zhu Hongquan,Liu Weiyin Vivian,Liu Huan,Zhang Guiling,Zhu Wenzhen 대한영상의학회 2022 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.23 No.8

Objective: To develop a model incorporating radiomic features and clinical factors to accurately predict acute ischemic stroke (AIS) outcomes. Materials and Methods: Data from 522 AIS patients (382 male [73.2%]; mean age ± standard deviation, 58.9 ± 11.5 years) were randomly divided into the training (n = 311) and validation cohorts (n = 211). According to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 6 months after hospital discharge, prognosis was dichotomized into good (mRS ≤ 2) and poor (mRS > 2); 1310 radiomics features were extracted from diffusion-weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient maps. The minimum redundancy maximum relevance algorithm and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression method were implemented to select the features and establish a radiomics model. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the clinical factors and construct a clinical model. Ultimately, a multivariable logistic regression analysis incorporating independent clinical factors and radiomics score was implemented to establish the final combined prediction model using a backward step-down selection procedure, and a clinical-radiomics nomogram was developed. The models were evaluated using calibration, receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and decision curve analyses. Results: Age, sex, stroke history, diabetes, baseline mRS, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, and radiomics score were independent predictors of AIS outcomes. The area under the ROC curve of the clinical-radiomics model was 0.868 (95% confidence interval, 0.825–0.910) in the training cohort and 0.890 (0.844–0.936) in the validation cohort, which was significantly larger than that of the clinical or radiomics models. The clinical radiomics nomogram was well calibrated (p > 0.05). The decision curve analysis indicated its clinical usefulness. Conclusion: The clinical-radiomics model outperformed individual clinical or radiomics models and achieved satisfactory performance in predicting AIS outcome

Expression and Prognostic Implications of FOXO3a and Ki67 in Lung Adenocarcinomas

Liu, Hong-Bin,Gao, Xiang-Xiang,Zhang, Qing,Liu, Jian,Cui, Yuan,Zhu, Yan,Liu, Yi-Fei Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.4

To investigate the significance of FOXO3a and Ki67 in human lung adenocarcinomas. Envision immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting were used to examine the protein expression of FOXO3a in 127 cases of human lung adenocarcinoma specimens. The positive rate in lung adenocarcinoma (55.9%) was lower than that in normal tissues (80%). We found that the expression of FOXO3a was closely related with the degree of differentiation, TNM staging, lymph node metastasis and survival. In addition, significant differences in the different pathological types of lung adenocarcinoma cases (P<0.01). The FOXO3a positive rate of the acini as the main type (APA) (86.7%) and the lepidic as the main type (LPA) (82.4%) was higher than the solid as the main type (SPA) (50.0%), the papilla as the main type (PPA) (42.9%) and the micropapilla as the main type (MPA) (9.4%). Moreover, the expression of FOXO3a was negatively related with Ki67 expression. Our results suggested that the expression of FOXO3a is closely correlated with the aggressiveness of lung adenocarcinoma. It was indicated that disregulation of FOXO3a might play key roles in the occurrence and development of lung a denocarcinoma and joint detection of the two markers might play an important role in diagnosing tumors.

Genetic Status of ESR Locus and Other Unidentified Genes As sociated with Litter Size in Chinese Indigenous Tongcheng Pig Breed after a Long Time Selection

Zhu, M.J.,Yu, M.,Liu, B.,Zhu, Z.Z.,Xiong, T.A.,Fan, B.,Xu, S.P.,Du, Y.Q.,Peng, Z.Z.,Li, K. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2004 Animal Bioscience Vol.17 No.5

The Tongcheng pig breed is a famous Chinese indigenous breed. The Ministry of Agriculture of China has filed it as 1 of 19 national key conservation breeds selected from more than 100 Chinese indigenous pig breeds in 2000. In order to improve the reproductive performance, it has been intensively selected to increase the litter size for about 10 years. The population randomly sampled from conservation nucleus of eight families in the Tongcheng pigs was genotyped for identification of their estrogen receptor locus polymorphisms with the PCR-RFLPs method. Only AB heterozygotes and BB homozygotes were detected, and $X^2$ test demonstrated that the locus was in disequilibrium at a significant level (p<0.05). In the present paper, the litter sizes in different parities were regarded as different traits. Holistic status of other unspecific and unidentified genes was estimated by using the statistical methods. Coefficients of kurtosis and skewness showed that the litter size still presented segregating characteristic in the 2nd, 5th, 7th, 8th and 9th parities. Analysis of homogeneity of variance between families confirmed the results for the 5th, 7th and 8th parities. The heritability of litter size for the 1st to 10th parities was estimated with paternal half-sib model and individual estimated breeding values (EBVs) were evaluated by a single trait animal model as well. We found that the averages of EBVs for litter size in each parity did not differ significantly between genotypes, despite the significant difference for original phenotype records in the 3rd, 4th and 5th parities (p<0.05 or p<0.01). The results may be explained by the deduction that the polymorphisms of ESR locus are no longer the important genetic base of litter size variation when the frequency of allele B accumulated in the experience of selection procedure, and further conferring that there exist special genes associated with litter size in the recent Tongcheng pigs population can be made.

Adjuvant Radiotherapy after Breast Conserving Treatment for Breast Cancer:A Dosimetric Comparison between Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy and Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy

Liu, Zhe-Ming,Ge, Xiao-Lin,Chen, Jia-Yan,Wang, Pei-Pei,Zhang, Chi,Yang, Xi,Zhu, Hong-Cheng,Liu, Jia,Qin, Qin,Xu, Li-Ping,Lu, Jing,Zhan, Liang-Liang,Cheng, Hong-Yan,Sun, Xin-Chen Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.8

Background: Radiotherapy is an important treatment of choice for breast cancer patients after breast-conserving surgery, and we compare the feasibility of using dual arc volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT2), single arc volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT1) and Multi-beam Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (M-IMRT) on patients after breast-conserving surgery. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients with breast cancer (half right-sided and half left-sided) treated by conservative lumpectomy and requiring whole breast radiotherapy with tumor bed boost were planned with three different radiotherapy techniques: 1) VMAT1; 2) VMAT2; 3) M-IMRT. The distributions for the planning target volume (PTV) and organs at risk (OARs) were compared. Dosimetries for all the techniques were compared. Results: All three techniques satisfied the dose constraint well. VMAT2 showed no obvious difference in the homogeneity index (HI) and conformity index (CI) of the PTV with respect to M-IMRT and VMAT1. VMAT2 clearly improved the treatment efficiency and can also decrease the mean dose and V5Gy of the contralateral lung. The mean dose and maximum dose of the spinal cord and contralateral breast were lower for VMAT2 than the other two techniques. The very low dose distribution (V1Gy) of the contralateral breast also showed great reduction in VMAT2 compared with the other two techniques. For the ipsilateral lung of right-sided breast cancer, the mean dose was decreased significantly in VMAT2 compared with VMAT1 and M-IMRT. The V20Gy and V30Gy of the ipsilateral lung of the left-sided breast cancer for VMAT2 showed obvious reduction compared with the other two techniques. The heart statistics of VMAT2 also decreased considerably compared to VMAT1 and M-IMRT. Conclusions: Compared to the other two techniques, the dual arc volumetric modulated arc therapy technique reduced radiation dose exposure to the organs at risk and maintained a reasonable target dose distribution.

Crystal structure of citric acid-acetonitrile (1/1), C₈H₁₁NO₇

Liu, Yang,Zheng, Xiao-Yuan,Qin, Liu-Lei,Zhu, Chun-Li,Liu, Zunqi De Gruyter 2019 Zeitschrift für Kristallographie. New crystal Vol.234 No.2

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>C<SUB>8</SUB>H<SUB>11</SUB>NO<SUB>7</SUB>, triclinic,<I>P</I>1̄ (no. 2),<I>a</I>= 5.5944(13) Å,<I>b</I>= 10.402(3) Å,<I>c</I>= 10.666(3) Å,<I>α</I>= 110.297(2)<SUP><I>o</I></SUP>,<I>β</I>= 101.342(3)<SUP><I>o</I></SUP>,<I>γ</I>= 104.701(2)<SUP><I>o</I></SUP>,<I>V</I>= 534.6(2) Å<SUP>3</SUP>,<I>Z</I>= 2,<I>R</I><SUB>gt</SUB>(<I>F</I>) = 0.0318,<I>wR</I><SUB>ref</SUB>(<I>F</I><SUP>2</SUP>) = 0.0833,<I>T</I>= 293(2) K.</P>

A Bidirectional Dual Buck-Boost Voltage Balancer with Direct Coupling Based on a Burst-Mode Control Scheme for Low-Voltage Bipolar-Type DC Microgrids

Liu, Chuang,Zhu, Dawei,Zhang, Jia,Liu, Haiyang,Cai, Guowei The Korean Institute of Power Electronics 2015 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.15 No.6

DC microgrids are considered as prospective systems because of their easy connection of distributed energy resources (DERs) and electric vehicles (EVs), reduction of conversion loss between dc output sources and loads, lack of reactive power issues, etc. These features make them very suitable for future industrial and commercial buildings' power systems. In addition, the bipolar-type dc system structure is more popular, because it provides two voltage levels for different power converters and loads. To keep voltage balanced in such a dc system, a bidirectional dual buck-boost voltage balancer with direct coupling is introduced based on P-cell and N-cell concepts. This results in greatly enhanced system reliability thanks to no shoot-through problems and lower switching losses with the help of power MOSFETs. In order to increase system efficiency and reliability, a novel burst-mode control strategy is proposed for the dual buck-boost voltage balancer. The basic operating principle, the current relations, and a small-signal model of the voltage balancer are analyzed under the burst-mode control scheme in detail. Finally, simulation experiments are performed and a laboratory unit with a 5kW unbalanced ability is constructed to verify the viability of the bidirectional dual buck-boost voltage balancer under the proposed burst-mode control scheme in low-voltage bipolar-type dc microgrids.

Reversion of Multidrug Resistance by SKI-II in SGC7901/DDP Cells and Exploration of Underlying Mechanisms

Zhu, Zu-An,Zhu, Zheng-Qiu,Cai, Hong-Xing,Liu, Ying Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.2

In order to investigate whether SKI-II could reverse drug resistance and its possible mechanisms, we treated SGC7901/DDP cells with SKI-II or SKI-II in combination with DDP. Then cell growth, apoptosis, micromorphological changes, and expression of SphK1, P-gp, NF-${\kappa}B$, Bcl-2 and Bax were assessed by MTT assay, flow cytometry, electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry and Western blot assay respectively. SGC7901/DDP cells were insensitive to cisplatin 2.5mg/L, but when pretreated with SKI-II, their proliferation was inhibited by cisplatin 2.5mg/L significantly, the inhibition rate increasing with time and dose. The apoptosis rate was also significantly elevated. Expression of SphK1 and P-gp was decreased significantly, Pearson correlation analysis showing significant correlation between the two (r=0.595, P<0.01). Expression of NF-${\kappa}B$ and Bcl-2 was decreased significantly,while that of Bax was increased, compared to the control group. There were significant correlations between SphK1 and NF-${\kappa}B$(r=0.723, P<0.01), NF-${\kappa}B$ and Bcl-2(r=0.768, P<0.01). All these data indicated that SKI-II could reverse drug resistance of SGC7901/DDP to cisplatin by down-regulating expression of P-gp and up-regulating apoptosis through down-regulation of SphK1. The increased apoptotic sensitivity of SGC7901/DDP to cisplatin was due to the decreasing proportion of Bcl-2/Bax via down-regulating NF-${\kappa}B$.