Discrimination of neutrons and gamma-rays in plastic scintillator based on spiking cortical model

Liu Bing-Qi,Liu Hao-Ran,Chang Lan,Cheng Yu-Xin,Zuo Zhuo,Li Peng 한국원자력학회 2023 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.55 No.9

In this study, a spiking cortical model (SCM) based n-g discrimination method is proposed. The SCMbased algorithm is compared with three other methods, namely: (i) the pulse-coupled neural network (PCNN), (ii) the charge comparison, and (iii) the zero-crossing. The objective evaluation criteria used for the comparison are the FoM-value and the time consumption of discrimination. Experimental results demonstrated that our proposed method outperforms the other methods significantly with the highest FoM-value. Specifically, the proposed method exhibits a 34.81% improvement compared with the PCNN, a 50.29% improvement compared with the charge comparison, and a 110.02% improvement compared with the zero-crossing. Additionally, the proposed method features the second-fastest discrimination time, where it is 75.67% faster than the PCNN, 70.65% faster than the charge comparison and 38.4% slower than the zero-crossing. Our study also discusses the role and change pattern of each parameter of the SCM to guide the selection process. It concludes that the SCM's outstanding ability to recognize the dynamic information in the pulse signal, improved accuracy when compared to the PCNN, and better computational complexity enables the SCM to exhibit excellent n-g discrimination performance while consuming less time.

G-protein Coupled Estrogen Receptor 1 Expression in Primary Breast Cancers and Its Correlation with Clinicopathological Variables

Hao-jun Luo,Ping Luo,Guang-lun Yang,Qiong-le Peng,Man-ran Liu,Gang Tu 한국유방암학회 2011 Journal of breast cancer Vol.14 No.3

Purpose: G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER) probably play important roles in the progression of breast cancer including endocrine therapeutic resistance. We evaluated GPER in primary breast cancers. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect GPER in paraffin-embedded tissues of primary breast cancers from 423 patients and GPER expression was correlated with clinicopathological factors. Results: GPER was expressed in 63.8% of specimens, coexpressed with estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) in 36.6% of tumors and was positive in 62.5% of the ERα-negative tumors. The expression of GPER had no relationship with the status of ERα, progesterone receptor and HER2. Although the expression of GPER was significantly inversely related with nodal status (p=0.045), no correlation between GPER expression and other clinicopathological variables (age, menstruation status, tumor size, stage, histologic grade, Nottingham Prognostic Index or pathological type) was found. Conclusion: GPER and ERα exhibited independent expression pattern of distribution in primary breast cancers. A long-term follow-up and a more definite molecular phenotype for ER are necessary in confirming studies.

Vertical Vibration of Strip Mill with the Piecewise Nonlinear Constraint arising from Hydraulic Cylinder

Fei Liu,Bin Liu,Hao-ran Liu,Yan-ling Gong,Song-jun Wang 한국정밀공학회 2015 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol. No.

Vertical vibration model of strip mill is established by considering piecewise nonlinear constraint arising from hydraulic cylinder. The approximate analytical solution of the model is obtained by incremental harmonic balance (IHB) method. The harmonic frequencies not conducive to stability are produced because the nonlinearity of the piecewise constraint. Bifurcation behavior of the system changes with external excitation amplitude and frequency ratio, intermittent chaos and periodic window are appeared alternately, the chaos region enlarged with the increasing piecewise interval. Compared with the piecewise linear constraint, the region of chaotic motion is widened obviously under the nonlinear constraint. Moreover, the critical condition of bifurcation and chaos behavior can be obtained from maximum Lyapunov exponent (MLE).

Gallic acid attenuates calcium calmodulin‐dependent kinase II‐induced apoptosis in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Jin, Li,Piao, Zhe Hao,Liu, Chun Ping,Sun, Simei,Liu, Bin,Kim, Gwi Ran,Choi, Sin Young,Ryu, Yuhee,Kee, Hae Jin,Jeong, Myung Ho John Wiley and Sons Inc. 2018 JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE Vol.22 No.3

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>Hypertension causes cardiac hypertrophy and leads to heart failure. Apoptotic cells are common in hypertensive hearts. Ca<SUP>2+</SUP>/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is associated with apoptosis. We recently demonstrated that gallic acid reduces nitric oxide synthase inhibition‐induced hypertension. Gallic acid is a trihydroxybenzoic acid and has been shown to have beneficial effects, such as anti‐cancer, anti‐calcification and anti‐oxidant activity. The purpose of this study was to determine whether gallic acid regulates cardiac hypertrophy and apoptosis in essential hypertension. Gallic acid significantly lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and H&E staining revealed that gallic acid reduced cardiac enlargement in SHRs. Gallic acid treatment decreased cardiac hypertrophy marker genes, including atrial natriuretic peptide (<I>ANP</I>) and brain natriuretic peptide (<I>BNP</I>), in SHRs. The four isoforms, α, β, δ and γ, of <I>CaMKII</I> were increased in SHRs and were significantly reduced by gallic acid administration. Gallic acid reduced cleaved caspase‐3 protein as well as <I>bax</I>,<I> p53</I> and <I>p300 </I>mRNA levels in SHRs. <I>CaMKII</I> δ overexpression induced <I>bax</I> and <I>p53</I> expression, which was attenuated by gallic acid treatment in H9c2 cells. Gallic acid treatment reduced DNA fragmentation and the TUNEL positive cells induced by angiotensin II. Taken together, gallic acid could be a novel therapeutic for the treatment of hypertension through suppression of CaMKII δ‐induced apoptosis.</P>

Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation Guided by Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound in Treatment of Metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Liver Transplantation

Dai, Xin,Zhao, Hong-Qiang,Liu, Run-Hao,Xu, Chang-Tao,Zheng, Fang,Yu, Li-Bao,Li, Wei-Min Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.8

This study evaluated the advantages and applications of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)-supported percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation, based on clinical details. CEUS-supported percutaneous RFA was adopted to treat 12 patients with hepatic metastatic carcinomas after liver transplantation. The diameters of the metastatic carcinomas varied from 1 cm to 5 cm, and the foci were discovered after 3 months to 12 months. Each focus was diagnosed and localised by CEUS for RFA once or twice. Curative effects were evaluated by CEUS or contrast-enhanced CT after the treatment. The re-examination results at 2 weeks post-treatment showed that the foci of 11 patients were ablated completely, whereas one patient with the largest focus required retreatment by RFA because of a partial residue. No local recurrence was found one month later in the re-examination. CEUS-supported percutaneous RFA in the treatment of hepatic metastatic carcinoma after liver transplantation has the advantages of accurate localisation, good efficacy, easy operation, and minimal invasion without any complications. Therefore, it can be recommended as the preferred therapy for hepatic metastatic carcinoma after liver transplantation.

Association Between TP53 Arg72Pro Polymorphism and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk: A Meta-analysis

Xu, Chang-Tao,Zheng, Fang,Dai, Xin,Du, Ji-Dong,Liu, Hao-Run,Zhao, Li,Li, Wei-Min Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.9

Background: Previous studies on the association between the TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk obtained controversial findings. This study aimed to quantify the strength of the association by meta-analysis. Methods: We searched PubMed and Wangfang databases for published studies on the association between the TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and HCC risk, using the pooled odds ratio (OR) with its 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for assessment. Results: 10 studies with a total of 2,026 cases and 2,733 controls were finally included into this meta-analysis. Overall, the TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism was not associated with HCC risk (all P values greaterth HCC risk in Caucasians in three genetic models (For Pro versus Arg, OR = 1.20, 95%CI 1.03-1.41; For ProPro versus ArgArg, OR = 1.74, 95%CI 1.23-2.47; For ProPro versus ArgPro/ArgArg, OR = 1.85, 95%CI 1.33-2.57). However, there was no significant association between the TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and HCC risk in East Asians (all P values greater than 0.10). No evidence of publication bias was observed. Conclusion: Meta-analyses of available data suggest an obvious association between the TP53 Arg72Pro and HCC risk in Caucasians. However, the TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism may have a race-specific effect on HCC risk and further studies are needed to elucidate this possible effect.

Activation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and Raf/Pyk2 by growth factor‐mediated Eph receptor 2 (EphA2) is required for cholangiocarcinoma growth and metastasis

Cui, Xiang‐,Dan,Lee, Mi‐,Jin,Kim, Jong‐,Hyun,Hao, Pei‐,Pei,Liu, Lan,Yu, Goung‐,Ran,Kim, Dae‐,Ghon Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 2013 Hepatology Vol.57 No.6

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>Eph receptor 2 (EphA2) overexpression is frequently accompanied by the loss of its cognate ligand during tumor progression. However, the molecular mechanism of this ligand‐independent promotion of tumor by EphA2 remains unclear in highly malignant and fatal cholangiocarcinoma (CC). We examined the biological role of EphA2 in tumor growth and metastasis in CC tissues and cells according to the degree of differentiation and we explored the downstream signaling pathways of EphA2. Growth factor‐mediated EphA2 overexpression itself leads to the activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) pathways through ligand‐independent activation of EphA2 (phosphorylation of S897). An <I>in vitro</I> soft agar assay and <I>in vivo</I> orthotopic or subcutaneous tumor model showed that EphA2 enhanced colony formation and accelerated tumor growth, and which seemed to be mainly associated with Akt (T308)/mTORC1 activation. Aberrant expression and activation of EphA2 was also associated with poorer differentiation and higher metastatic ability. Enhanced metastatic ability was also observed in an orthotopic tumor model or lung metastasis model, correlating with Pyk2(Y402)/c‐Src/ERK activation in addition to activation of the canonical Raf/MEK/ERK pathway. The mTORC1 and Raf/Pyk2 pathways also appeared to affect each other. These results suggest that growth factor‐mediated EphA2 might be involved in tumor growth and metastasis through activation of the mTORC1 and Raf/Pyk2 pathways. Therapeutic strategies that target EphA2 and its downstream effectors may be useful to control CC. (H<SMALL>EPATOLOGY</SMALL> 2013;57:2248–2260)</P>

<i>Dendropanax morbifera</i> Prevents Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy by Inhibiting the Sp1/GATA4 Pathway

Sun, Simei,Li, Tianyi,Jin, Li,Piao, Zhe Hao,Liu, Bin,Ryu, Yuhee,Choi, Sin Young,Kim, Gwi Ran,Jeong, Ji Eun,Wi, An Jin,Lee, Song Ju,Kee, Hae Jin,Jeong, Myung Ho World Scientific Publishing Company 2018 The American journal of Chinese medicine Vol.46 No.5

<P>An extract of <I>Dendropanax morbifera</I> branch exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, and anticancer activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the extract in isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Phalloidin staining showed that treatment with the extract dramatically prevents isoproterenol-induced H9c2 cell enlargement and the expression of cardiac hypertrophic marker genes, including atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Further, pretreatment with the extract decreased isoproterenol-induced GATA4 and Sp1 expression in H9c2 cells. Overexpression of Sp1 induced the expression of GATA4. The forced expression of Sp1 or its downstream target GATA4, as well as the co-transfection of Sp1 and GATA4 increased the expression of ANP, which was decreased by treatment with the extract. To further elucidate the regulation of the Sp1/GATA4-mediated expression of ANP, knockdown experiments were performed. Transfection with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) for Sp1 or GATA4 decreased ANP expression. The extract did not further inhibit the expression of ANP reduced by the transfection of GATA4 siRNA. Sp1 knockdown did not affect the expression of ANP that was induced by the overexpression of GATA4; however, GATA4 knockdown abolished the expression of ANP that had been induced by Sp1 overexpression. The extract treatment also attenuated the isoproterenol-induced activation of p38 MAPK, ERK1/2, and JNK1. Hesperidin, catechin, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and salicylic acid are the main phenolic compounds present in the extract as observed by high performance liquid chromatography. Hesperidin and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid attenuated isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy. These findings suggest that the <I>D. morbifera</I> branch extract prevents cardiac hypertrophy by downregulating the activation of Sp1/GATA4 and MAPK signaling pathways.</P>