Thyroid-Associated Orbitopathy: Evaluating Microstructural Changes of Extraocular Muscles and Optic Nerves Using Readout-Segmented Echo-Planar Imaging-Based Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Huan-Huan Chen,Hao Hu,Wen Chen,Dai Cui,Xiao-Quan Xu,Fei-Yun Wu,Tao Yang 대한영상의학회 2020 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.21 No.3

Objective: We aimed to investigate the ability of readout-segmented echo-planar imaging (rs-EPI)-based diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in assessing the microstructural change of extraocular muscles (EOMs) and optic nerves in patients with thyroidassociated orbitopathy (TAO) as well as in evaluating disease activity. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 35 TAO patients and 22 healthy controls (HCs) who underwent pre-treatment rs-EPIbased DTI. Mean, axial, and radial diffusivity (MD, AD, and RD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) of the medial and lateral EOMs and optic nerve for each orbit were calculated and compared between TAO and HC groups and between active and inactive TAO groups. Factors such as age, sex, disease duration, mediation, and smoking history between groups were also compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of significant variables for disease activity. Results: Disease duration was significantly shorter in active TAOs than in inactive ones (p < 0.001). TAO patients showed significantly lower FA and higher MD, AD, and RD than HCs for both medial and lateral EOMs (p < 0.001), but not the AD value of lateral EOMs (p = 0.619). Active patients had significantly higher FA, MD, and AD than inactive patients for medial EOMs (p < 0.005), whereas only FA differed significantly in the lateral EOMs (p = 0.018). The MD, AD, and RD of optic nerves were significantly lower in TAO patients than HCs (p < 0.05), except for FA (p = 0.129). Multivariate analysis showed that the MD of medial EOMs and disease duration were significant predictors for disease activity. The combination of these two parameters showed optimal diagnostic efficiency for disease activity (area under the curve, 0.855; sensitivity, 68.4%; specificity, 96.9%). Conclusion: rs-EPI-based DTI is promising in assessing microstructural changes of EOMs and optic nerves and can help to indicate the disease activity of TAO, especially through the MD of medial EOMs.

A review of the genus Bothynogria Borchmann, 1915 with descriptions of one new species and two new record species from China (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Lagriinae: Lagriini: Lagriina)

Wu Tao,Zhou Yong,Chen Bin 한국응용곤충학회 2021 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.24 No.3

The genus Bothynogria Borchmann, 1915 is reviewed, with a key to all known seven species provided in the present paper. A new species Bothynogria nigripennis sp. n., and two new record species for China, Bothynogria bicolor (Kollar et Redtenbacher, 1848) and Bothynogria meghalayana Merkl, 1990, are identified and redescribed. The habitus, male antennae and aedeagus are photographed and presented for all known species except for Bothynogria bhutanica. Ecological information and intraspecific variations are also provided for Bothynogria calcarata.

Rapid and effective removal of sodium lignosulfonate from aqueous solutions by in-situ formed magnesium hydroxide

Tao Wu,Yujiang Li,Lanlan Ye,Feng Li 한국화학공학회 2016 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.33 No.12

We investigated the efficiency of in-situ formed magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) for the removal of sodium lignosulfonate (SLSN) from aqueous solution. Adsorption experiments considered the effects of various conditions such as pH, MgCl2 concentration, contact time, and temperature on SLSN removal efficiency. It was found that approximately 93%-99% SLSN was removed by in-situ formed Mg(OH)2. The adsorption was rapid, and the contact time required to reach complete adsorption equilibrium was less than 2min. Moreover, that the Mg(OH)2 lost about 0.5-3.0% adsorption capacity for SLSN when NO3 −, HCO3 −, H2PO4 − and SO4 2− anions were simultaneously present with SLSN. The experimental data suggested that there was little competitive adsorption of SLSN with other coexisting anions on Mg(OH)2. The co-precipitation/adsorption process was exothermic and physical, involving weak interactions such as electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, adhesive forces, and van der Waals forces between SLSN molecules and the binding sites on Mg(OH)2.

Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients with Primary Aldosteronism: A Prospective Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Wu Tao,Ren Yan,Wang Wei,Cheng Wei,Zhou Fangli,He Shuai,Liu Xiumin,Li Lei,Tang Lu,Deng Qiao,Zhou Xiaoyue,Chen Yucheng,Sun Jiayu 대한영상의학회 2021 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.22 No.10

Objective: This study used cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to compare the characteristics of left ventricular remodeling in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) with those of patients with essential hypertension (EH) and healthy controls (HCs). Materials and Methods: This prospective study enrolled 35 patients with PA, in addition to 35 age- and sex-matched patients with EH, and 35 age- and sex-matched HCs, all of whom underwent comprehensive clinical and cardiac MRI examinations. The analysis of variance was used to detect the differences in the characteristics of left ventricular remodeling among the three groups. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were used to determine the relationships between left ventricular remodeling and the physiological variables. Results: The left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (EDVi) (mean ± standard deviation [SD]: 85.1 ± 13.0 mL/m2 for PA, 75.9 ± 14.3 mL/m2 for EH, and 77.3 ± 12.8 mL/m2 for HC; p = 0.010), left ventricular end-systolic volume index (ESVi) (mean ± SD: 35.2 ± 9.8 mL/m2 for PA, 30.7 ± 8.1 mL/m2 for EH, and 29.5 ± 7.0 mL/m2 for HC; p = 0.013), left ventricular mass index (mean ± SD: 65.8 ± 16.5 g/m2 for PA, 56.9 ± 12.1 g/m2 for EH, and 44.1 ± 8.9 g/m2 for HC; p < 0.001), and native T1 (mean ± SD: 1224 ± 39 ms for PA, 1201 ± 47 ms for EH, and 1200 ± 44 ms for HC; p = 0.041) values were higher in the PA group compared to the EH and HC groups. Multivariable linear regression demonstrated that log (plasma aldosteroneto- renin ratio) was independently correlated with EDVi and ESVi. Plasma aldosterone was independently correlated with native T1. Conclusion: Patients with PA showed a greater degree of ventricular hypertrophy and enlargement, as well as myocardial fibrosis, compared to those with EH. Cardiac MRI T1 mapping can detect left ventricular myocardial fibrosis in patients with PA.

Analysis on the Characteristics and Prognosis of Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Tumors

Wu, Bai-Shou,Hu, Yi,Sun, Jing,Wang, Jin-Liang,Wang, Peng,Dong, Wei-Wei,Tao, Hai-Tao,Gao, Wen-Juan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.5

Objective: To retrospectively review the clinical characteristics and analyze the prognostic factors of Chinese patients with pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors. Materials and Methods: The clinical data of 176 patients with pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors in Chinese PLA General Hospital from Mar., 2000 to Oct., 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The parameters were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis, including the gender, age, smoking history, family history, TNM staging, localization (central or peripheral), tumor size, nodal status, histological subtype and treatment (operation or non-operation). Results: There were 23 patients with typical carcinoids (TC) (13.1%), 41 with atypical carcinoids (AC) (23.3%), 10 with large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) (5.7%) and 102 with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) (57.9%). The median follow-up time was 64.5 months for AC, 38 months for LCNEC and 27 months for SCLC. The typical carcinoid censored data was 18 (more than 50% of the patients), so the median follow-up time was not obtained, and actuarial 5-year survivals for TC, AC, LCNEC and SCLC were 75.1%, 51.7%, 26.7% and 38.8%, respectively. COX univariate analysis revealed that the age (P=0.001), histological subtype (P=0.005), nodal status (P=0.000), treatment (P=0.000) and TNM staging (P=0.000) were the prognostic factors of the patients with pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors, whereas its multivariate analysis showed that only the age(P=0.001), TNM staging (P=0.002) and treatment (P=0.000) were independent prognostic factors. Conclusions: Radical surgery remains the treatment of choice, and is the only curative option. The age, TNM staging and treatment are confirmed to be the independent prognostic factors in multivariable models for pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors.

Identification and Characterization of EDT1 Conferring Drought Tolerance in Rice

Tao Wu,Mingxing Zhang,Hongjia Zhang,Kai Huang,Mojun Chen,Chen Chen,Xue Yang,Zhao Li,Haoyuan Chen,Zhiming Ma,Xunming Zhang,Wenzhu Jiang,Xinglin Du 한국식물학회 2019 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.62 No.1

Basic Leucine Zipper (bZIP) transcription factors(TFs) play important roles in many processes, especially inabiotic stress response in plants. In this study, we characterizeda new gene EHANCED DROUGHT TOLERANCE 1 (EDT1),member of group E of bZIP transcription factor family inrice. The EDT1 protein contains one bZIP domain, oneputative nuclear localization signal (NLS) and six conservedphosphorylation sites. The expression of EDT1 is suppressedby several abiotic stresses, such as cold, droutht, and salt. Corresponding with expression patterns, several stress-associatedcis-acting elements were found in the EDT1 promoter. Theresults of subcellular localization and transactivation abilityanalyses indicated that EDT1 was localized in the nucleusand functioned as a nuclear protein, with its transactivationactivity primarily located in N-terminal. Transgenic riceoverexpressing EDT1 showed drought tolerance that hasbeen significantly improved. Real-time PCR analysis revealedthat some stress-related genes, such as OsbZIP12, SNAC1,OsLEA3, OsbZIP16, OsbZIP10 and OsABI2 were up-regulatedin EDT1 overexpression lines. These results indicate thatEDT1 plays a positive role in drought tolerance and providesvaluable targets for breeding drought-tolerant rice cultivars.

Nonparametric Interest Rate Cap Pricing: Implications for the ‘‘Unspanned Stochastic Volatility‘‘ Puzzle.

Tao L. Wu 한국증권학회 2011 Asia-Pacific Journal of Financial Studies Vol.40 No.4

Asset prices depend on two elements: the dynamics of the state variables and the pricing kernel. Traditional term structure models differ in factor dynamics. However, most of them imply a log-linear pricing kernel. We investigate empirically the role of factor dynamics and pricing kernel in pricing interest rate derivatives using a nonparametric approach. We find that interest rate cap prices are very sensitive to the specification of factor dynamics, especially when they are close to expiration. In addition, nonlinear log-pricing kernels improve the pricing of long-maturity caps, although significant pricing errors remain. Recent published studies document models that fit the London Inter-Bank offer Rate (LIBOR) and swap rates but do not price derivatives well, leading to the so-called ‘‘unspanned stochastic volatility puzzle.’’ Additional volatility factors seem to be needed to explain cap prices. However, the relative mispricing between interest rate caps and underlying LIBOR and swap rates could also potentially be due to mis-specifications of the parametric models used. Our paper provides evidence for unspanned stochastic volatility from a nonparametric perspective.

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer

Tao Wu,Xi-Xia Zhao,Guoqing Wang 대한부인종양학회 2018 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.29 No.4

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Design of a Modular Green Closed Internal Cooling Turning Tool for Applications

Tao Wu,Tianjian Li,Xiaohong Ding,Hong Chen,Lei Wang 한국정밀공학회 2018 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.5 No.2

Green machining has been aggressively pursued in the manufacturing industry in recent years. Dry or clean cutting without the hazards of cooling liquid, and their abilities to monitor thermal impact on turning tools in real time have been very appealed to the manufacturing industries. In this study, a modular green closed internal cooling turning tool is presented, in which coolant channel is designed only between an insert and an adaptor. The insert is grouped with the adaptor and designed as a Plug-and-Play component in cooling circuit. Thermal-fluid-structural coupling analysis is employed to evaluate the effects of the internal cooling system with machining process constraints. The numerical simulation results demonstrate that the newly designed internal cooing turning tool could effectively decrease the tool temperature. Preliminary experiments have further proved the effectiveness of the modular green closed internal cooling turning tool system. The study has potentially great significance in improving tooling performance, as well as achieving environmental friendly, economical and sustainable machining.

A new method of multi-scale fracture identification in tight gas sandstone reservoir

Tao Wu,Yuezhi Wang,Bin Fu,Peng Wu 한국자원공학회 2019 Geosystem engineering Vol.22 No.2

Identification of fractures is an important guide for the selection of well location as well as improvement of single-well recovery. In this paper, large-scale fractures of Su 48 block (target well) located in Sulige gas field were predicted using the coherence, curvature and anti-tracking analysis while small-fractures prediction were performed using R/S fractal statistical method. The observations revealed that, development of large-scale fractures were not that significant, whilst those of a smaller scale were distributed across the near-wellbore formation constituted of mudstone. Moreover, predicted results using the multi-scale fusion fracture developed model showed good agreement of the existence of fractures during horizontal well drilling in real time. Furthermore, the predicted fractures matched well with those observed in the field. Hence, reflecting the significance of tight gas sandstone reservoir fracture identification method.