Non-Contrast Cine Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Derived-Radiomics for the Prediction of Left Ventricular Adverse Remodeling in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

A Xin,Liu Mingliang,Chen Tong,Chen Feng,Qian Geng,Zhang Ying,Chen Yundai 대한영상의학회 2023 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.24 No.9

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of radiomics features based on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) cine images for left ventricular adverse remodeling (LVAR) after acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-center, cohort study involving 244 patients (random-split into 170 and 74 for training and testing, respectively) having an acute STEMI (88.5% males, 57.0 ± 10.3 years of age) who underwent CMR examination at one week and six months after percutaneous coronary intervention. LVAR was defined as a 20% increase in left ventricular end-diastolic volume 6 months after acute STEMI. Radiomics features were extracted from the oneweek CMR cine images using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression (LASSO) analysis. The predictive performance of the selected features was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and the area under the curve (AUC). Results: Nine radiomics features with non-zero coefficients were included in the LASSO regression of the radiomics score (RAD score). Infarct size (odds ratio [OR]: 1.04 (1.00–1.07); P = 0.031) and RAD score (OR: 3.43 (2.34–5.28); P < 0.001) were independent predictors of LVAR. The RAD score predicted LVAR, with an AUC (95% confidence interval [CI]) of 0.82 (0.75–0.89) in the training set and 0.75 (0.62–0.89) in the testing set. Combining the RAD score with infarct size yielded favorable performance in predicting LVAR, with an AUC of 0.84 (0.72–0.95). Moreover, the addition of the RAD score to the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) significantly increased the AUC from 0.68 (0.52–0.84) to 0.82 (0.70–0.93) (P = 0.018), which was also comparable to the prediction provided by the combined microvascular obstruction, infarct size, and LVEF with an AUC of 0.79 (0.65–0.94) (P = 0.727). Conclusion: Radiomics analysis using non-contrast cine CMR can predict LVAR after STEMI independently and incrementally to LVEF and may provide an alternative to traditional CMR parameters.

Preparation of activated carbon spheres and their electrochemical properties as supercapacitor electrode

An Xin,Xing Guannan,Wang Jing,Tian Yanhong,Liu Yunfang,Wan Qiong 한국탄소학회 2021 Carbon Letters Vol.31 No.4

The carbon spheres (CSs) synthesized by an ultrasonic-spray pyrolysis method were activated for supercapacitor electrode. There are plenty of cracks on the surface of the activated carbon spheres (ACSs), which expend with increasing the activation temperature and activator dosage. The specifc capacitance of ACSs increases with the activation temperature and activator dosage and reach to maximal value at certain conditions. Importantly, the ACS sample activated at relatively low activation temperature (600 °C) and 7 of mass ratio of KOH to CSs has the highest specifc capacitance (about 209 F g−1 at 50 mA g−1 of current density) and indicates the excellent cycling stability after 1000 consecutive charge–discharge cycles. Furthermore, the graphene sheets could be found in the samples that were activated at 1000 °C. And the electrode prepared by the sample has the very low series resistance because of the excellent conductivity of the formed graphene sheets.

Evaluation of insecticidal activity of the essential oil of Allium chinense G. Don and its major constituents against Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel

Xin Chao Liu,Xiao Nan Lu,Qi Zhi Liu,Zhi Long Liu 한국응용곤충학회 2014 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.17 No.4

Water-distilled essential oil from the dried bulbs of Allium chinense (Liliaceae) was analyzed by gaschromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Eighteen compounds, accounting for 98.4% of the total oil,were identified and the main components of the essential oil of A. chinense were methyl allyl trisulfide(30.7%), dimethyl trisulfide (24.1%), methyl propyl disulfide (12.8%) and dimethyl disulfide (9.6%) followed bymethyl allyl disulfide (3.4%) and methyl propyl trisulfide (3.6%). The essential oil exhibited contact toxicityagainst the booklice (Liposcelis bostrychophila) with an LC50 value of 441.8 μg/cm2 while the two major constituents,dimethyl trisulfide and methyl propyl disulfide had LC50 values of 153.0 μg/cm2 and 738.0 μg/cm2 againstthe booklice, respectively. The essential oil of A. chinense possessed strong fumigant toxicity against the booklicewith an LC50 value of 186.5 μg/l while methyl allyl trisulfide (LC50=90.4 μg/l) and dimethyl trisulfide (LC50=114.2 μg/l) exhibited stronger fumigant toxicity than methyl propyl disulfide (LC50= 243.4 μg/l) and dimethyldisulfide (LC50= 340.8 μg/l) against the booklice. The results indicated that the essential oil and itsmajor constituentshave potential for development into natural insecticides or fumigants for control of insects in stored grains.

WILL STRONG RETAILERS ACQUIRE BETTER PROCUMENT PERFORMANCE?: ANALYSIS BASED ON THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF THE QUALITY OF RETAILER-SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP

Wenchao Liu,Rupan Sun,Xin Xin,Lihui Sun 글로벌지식마케팅경영학회 2016 Global Marketing Conference Vol.2016 No.7

Due to the continuous development of international retailers in the Chinese market, and the merger and reorganization among Chinese retailers in recent years, the degree of concentration of the Chinese retail industry has been increasing, and the scale of retailers has been expanding. It is suggested by the report China Powers of Retailing 2014 that an increasing number of large-scale retail groups have been formed in the Chinese retail industry. In large and medium-sized cities in China, such large-scale supermarkets as Wal-Mart, Carrefour and RT-Mart have controlled most market shares of food and daily necessities. And large-scale household appliance chains, such as Gome and Suning, have controlled most market shares of home appliance. Due to the advantage of scale and brand of large-scale retailers, these retailers have gradually occupied a leading role in the supply chain, and formed buyer monopoly power and countervailing power. Intuitively speaking, retailers can acquire obvious advantages in procurement activities, no matter it is the buyer monopoly power or countervailing power that is being utilized. And the advantages are beneficial to the improvement of retailers’ procurement performance. However, it is pointed out by a number of scholars’ research that buyer power’s influence on retail enterprises’ performance is quite complicated. Whether buyer power can improve economic efficiency depends on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship. The quality of the relationships between retailers and suppliers exerts direct influence on the stability, durability and equity of the trade. In the long term, the reinforcement of buyer power will probably exert adverse influence on the suppliers and retailers. By imposing influence on suppliers with buyer power, retailers will cause twisted competition and prifit shrinkage to suppliers in the upstream market. As a result, the quantity of suppliers will be decreased, which will be disadvantageous to the selection of retailers and affect retailers’ utilization of their negotiating advantage. In the meanwhile, by imposing special prices and discounts, collecting extra charges and signing exclusive agreement with suppliers, retailers will lead to suppliers’ impaired benefit. It will further affect the quality of the retailer-supplierrelationship and ultimately exert adverse influence on both parties’ long-term earnings. In the existing research, few scholars have thoroughly discussed the influence of retailers’ buyer power on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and retail enterprises’ procurement performance. In addition, different conclusions exist in the analysis of the relationships among the three factors, or between two of them. In order to empirically test the influence of retailers’ buyer power on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and retail enterprises’ procurement performance, we established the theoretical model of this study in figure 1. The research will help us to cognize the influence of retailers’ buyer power more reasonably, and guide retailers better utilize buyer power, an attempt is made to explore the following questions in this research: 1. Does direct positive influence exist between large-scale retailers’ buyer power and retailers’ procurement performance? 2. Are there any differences in the influence of different types of retailers’ buyer power on retailers’ procurement performance? 3. What influence will large-scale retailers’ buyer power exert on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship? 4. When the quality of retailer-supplier relationship is brought in as a mediating variable, what influence will large-scale retailers’ buyer power exert on retailers’ procurement performance? From the perspective of the relationships among channel members, large-scale retailers in the Chinese market, such as Wal-Mart, Carrefour, RT-Mart, OUYA Supermarket and Vanguard, as well as suppliers of their products are taken as the object of the research. Methods like interview, pre-survey and official survery with questionnaire are adopted to verify different hypotheses in the research. During the indepth interview, twelve respondents are invited respectively to the interview. Seven of them are in charge of large-scale retailers’ procurement, and five of them are salespersons of manufacturers, who supply products to retailers. It can be seen from the result of the interview that the twelve respondents hold different opinions towards the relationships among large-scale retailers’ buyer power, the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and retailers’ procurement performance. In terms of the influence of large-scale retailers’ buyer power on retailers’ procurement performance, some believe that there’s positive influence, some believe there’s negative influence, and some believe the influence should be respectively analyzed according to the degree of buyer power. In terms of the influence of large-scale retailers’ buyer power on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship, some believe large-scale retailers’ buyer power exerts positive influence on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship, some believe it exerts negative influence, and some believe the influence depends on specific circumstances. During the pre-survey with questionnaire, scales of retailers’ buyer power, the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and retailers’ procurement performance are developed on the basis of theoretical overview and interview research. Specifically speaking, the scale of retailers’ buyer power is constituted of two level-1 dimensions (buyer’s monopoly power and countervailing power) and seven level-2 dimensions; the scalerelationship and ultimately exert adverse influence on both parties’ long-term earnings. In the existing research, few scholars have thoroughly discussed the influence of retailers’ buyer power on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and retail enterprises’ procurement performance. In addition, different conclusions exist in the analysis of the relationships among the three factors, or between two of them. In order to empirically test the influence of retailers’ buyer power on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and retail enterprises’ procurement performance, we established the theoretical model of this study in figure 1. The research will help us to cognize the influence of retailers’ buyer power more reasonably, and guide retailers better utilize buyer power, an attempt is made to explore the following questions in this research: 1. Does direct positive influence exist between large-scale retailers’ buyer power and retailers’ procurement performance? 2. Are there any differences in the influence of different types of retailers’ buyer power on retailers’ procurement performance? 3. What influence will large-scale retailers’ buyer power exert on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship? 4. When the quality of retailer-supplier relationship is brought in as a mediating variable, what influence will large-scale retailers’ buyer power exert on retailers’ procurement performance? From the perspective of the relationships among channel members, large-scale retailers in the Chinese market, such as Wal-Mart, Carrefour, RT-Mart, OUYA Supermarket and Vanguard, as well as suppliers of their products are taken as the object of the research. Methods like interview, pre-survey and official survery with questionnaire are adopted to verify different hypotheses in the research. During the indepth interview, twelve respondents are invited respectively to the interview. Seven of them are in charge of large-scale retailers’ procurement, and five of them are salespersons of manufacturers, who supply products to retailers. It can be seen from the result of the interview that the twelve respondents hold different opinions towards the relationships among large-scale retailers’ buyer power, the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and retailers’ procurement performance. In terms of the influence of large-scale retailers’ buyer power on retailers’ procurement performance, some believe that there’s positive influence, some believe there’s negative influence, and some believe the influence should be respectively analyzed according to the degree of buyer power. In terms of the influence of large-scale retailers’ buyer power on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship, some believe large-scale retailers’ buyer power exerts positive influence on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship, some believe it exerts negative influence, and some believe the influence depends on specific circumstances. During the pre-survey with questionnaire, scales of retailers’ buyer power, the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and retailers’ procurement performance are developed on the basis of theoretical overview and interview research. Specifically speaking, the scale of retailers’ buyer power is constituted of two level-1 dimensions (buyer’s monopoly power and countervailing power) and seven level-2 dimensions; the scaleof the quality of retailer-supplier relationship is constituted of three level-1 dimensions (cooperation, adaption and relationship atmosphere); the scale of retailers’ procurement performance is constituted of three level-1 dimensions (cost performance, time performance and quality performance of procurement). The questionnaire pre-survey is specific to retailers’ procurement staff and suppliers’ sales personnel respectively. A total of valid 179 questionnaires are collected, among which, 86 are from retailers’ procurement staff and 93 are from suppliers’ sales personnel. Based on the survey data, SPSS and AMOS software are utilized in the analysis of items, reliability and validity of the different scales. Finally, the factor structure of the scale regarding retailers’ buyer power is adjusted, and the scale regarding retailers’ buyer monolopy power is re-designed specially. During the official survey with questionnaire, questionnaires are handed out to retailers’ procurement staff and suppliers’ sales personnel respectively. A total of 340 valid questionnaires are collected, among which, 178 are from retailers’ procurement staff and 162 are from suppliers’ sales personnel. The samples, which are quite representative, are evenly distributed. Based on the survey data, SPSS and AMOS software are utilized to further analyze the reliability and validity of the different appraisal scales. Finally, the various hypotheses in the research are tested by causual steps of regression analysis with SPSS. After relatively complicated and elaborate statistical analysis, most of the hypotheses are supported, some are partially supported, and only one is not supported. One of the mediating effect analysis results is show in table 1 and figure 2. Based on direct regression analysis, we can get some important results: First of all, the hypothesis that retailers’ buyer power will overally exert positive influence on retailer enterprises’ procurement performance is supported, but the hypothesis that retailers’ buyer monopoly power and countervailing power will exert positive influence on retailer enterprises’ procurement performance is partially supported. Secondly, the hypothesis that retailers’ buyer power will overally exert negative influence on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship is not supported, and the hypothesis that retailers’ buyer monopoly power will exert negative influence on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and the dimension is partially supported, and the hypothesis that retailers’ buyer countervailing power will exert positive influence on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and the dimension is supported. Thirdly, the hypothesis that the quality of retailer-supplier relationship, as well as the dimensions (cooperation and relationship atmosphere) will overally exert positive influence on retailer enterprises’ procurement performance is supported, and the hypothesis that the dimension---the adaptation of the quality of retailer-supplier relationship will exert positive influence on retail enterprises’ procurement performance is only partially supported. Based on causual steps of regression analysis for the mediating effect, we can also get some important results: First of all, the relationship quality plays a complete intermediary role between the retailer’s buyer power and the procurement performance. Secondly, the relationship quality plays a complete intermediary role between the r retailers’ buyer monopoly power and the procurement performance. Thirdly, the relationship quality plays a complete intermediary role between the r retailers’ buyer countervailing power and the procurement performance.Some inspirations are achieved from the research. First of all, basically speaking, the direct influence of retailers’ buyer power on retail enterprises’ procurement performance is significantly positive. Secondly, the influence of retailers’ buyer power on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship is relatively complicated. Thirdly, basically speaking, the influence of the quality of retailer-supplier relationship on retail enterprises’ procurement performance is significantly positive. Fourthly, after the quality of retailer-supplier relationship is brought in as a mediating variable, the influence of retailers’ buyer power on retail enterprises’ procurement performance depends on the specific condition of the retailer-supplier relationship.

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.

Effect of fermentation times and extracting solvents on the in vitro immune potentials of the soluble extracts of mucor-fermented Mao-tofu

Xin Liu,Xin-Huai Zhao 한국식품과학회 2017 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.26 No.3

Mucor-fermented Mao-tofu at 3–7 days was extracted using water (pH 4.5 and pH 6.5) and ethanol solutions (40 and 80%, v/v). At protein concentration of 40 lg/mL, all the extracts showed immune activities via activating macrophages, splenocytes, and natural killer cells, which enhances the secretion of interleukin (IL)-2, interferon-c, tumor necrosis factor-a, IL-1b, IL-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and lysozyme, but inhibits the secretion of IL-4. All the extracts exhibited higher activities than that of soybean protein, demonstrating that Mucor-mediated fermentation enhanced the immune potentials of Mao-tofu. Fermentation time of 6 days ensured the extracts the highest activities, whereas lower activities were detected. The highest and lowest activities were detected on using a solution of water (pH 6.5) and 40% ethanol, respectively. The extract obtained using water (pH 6.5) contained more Arg and Cys with immune significance, which partially contributed to its high activities. Both fermentation times and extracting solvents were thus proved to affect the immune activities of soluble Maotofu extracts.

Sputum Metabolomic Profiling Reveals Metabolic Pathways and Signatures Associated With Inflammatory Phenotypes in Patients With Asthma

Liu Ying,Zhang Xin,Zhang Li,Oliver Brian G,Wang Hong Guang,Liu Zhi Peng,Chen Zhi Hong,Wood Lisa,Hsu Alan Chen-Yu,Xie Min,McDonald Vanessa,Wan Hua Jing,Luo Feng Ming,Liu Dan,Li Wei Min,Wang Gang 대한천식알레르기학회 2022 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.14 No.4

Purpose: The molecular links between metabolism and inflammation that drive different inflammatory phenotypes in asthma are poorly understood. We aimed to identify the metabolic signatures and underlying molecular pathways of different inflammatory asthma phenotypes. Methods: In the discovery set (n = 119), untargeted ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) was applied to characterize the induced sputum metabolic profiles of asthmatic patients with different inflammatory phenotypes using orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), and pathway topology enrichment analysis. In the validation set (n = 114), differential metabolites were selected to perform targeted quantification. Correlations between targeted metabolites and clinical indices in asthmatic patients were analyzed. Logistic and negative binomial regression models were established to assess the association between metabolites and severe asthma exacerbations. Results: Seventy-seven differential metabolites were identified in the discovery set. Pathway topology analysis uncovered that histidine metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism as well as phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis were involved in the pathogenesis of different asthma phenotypes. In the validation set, 24 targeted quantification metabolites were significantly expressed between asthma inflammatory phenotypes. Finally, adenosine 5′-monophosphate (adjusted relative risk [adj RR] = 1.000; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.000–1.000; P = 0.050), allantoin (adj RR = 1.000; 95% CI = 1.000–1.000; P = 0.043) and nicotinamide (adj RR = 1.001; 95% CI = 1.000–1.002; P = 0.021) were demonstrated to predict severe asthma exacerbation rates. Conclusions: Different inflammatory asthma phenotypes have specific metabolic profiles in induced sputum. The potential metabolic signatures may identify therapeutic targets in different inflammatory asthma phenotypes.

The Vehicle and Driver of China's Cultural Diplomacy: Global Vision Vs. Localised Practice

Liu, Xin World Association for Triple Helix and Future Stra 2018 Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia Vol.17 No.1

China's cultural diplomacy is mostly understood as an endeavour to build and project soft power, which draws on three sources of 'culture, political values and foreign policy' according to Nye. This paper focuses on the debates about the vehicle and agents of China's cultural diplomacy. It starts with a theoretical discussion of the competing views in the Chinese context, and develops an argument that the vehicle of China's cultural diplomacy tries to project soft power on two wheels of culture and political values, to serve the purpose of reshaping China's image away from being the 'cultural other' and 'ideological other' respectively. However, the state-led approach to driving this vehicle is generating some side effects with its sponsorship, censorship and presence in the driver's seat. Then the paper analyses the inherent tensions existing in practice both between the two sources of building soft power and between the two means of doing so, attraction and persuasion, with empirical evidence through a comparative case study of the Confucius Institutes in the US and South Korea. The finding shows that China's attempt at reshaping its image as an Eastern cultural contestant is often disrupted by its authoritarian political values, and the state-led persuasion is often reducing China's cultural attraction. Following this, the paper finishes with some recommendations regarding evolving the cultural diplomacy approach from a vertical one that is government-centred to a horizontal one that is network-based with multiple agents, and localising its practice by engaging the target audiences as stakeholders.

Polymer-Assisted Pressure Sensor with Piezoresistive Suspended Graphene and Its Temperature Characteristics

Xin Lin,Ying Liu,Yong Zhang,Peng Yang,Xianzhe Cheng,Jing Qiu,Guanjun Liu 성균관대학교(자연과학캠퍼스) 성균나노과학기술원 2019 NANO Vol.14 No.10

A polymer-assisted pressure sensor with piezoresistive suspended graphene is proposed and fabricated with high yield. Our sensor exhibits a good pressure response comparable to that of commercial sensors. The sensitivity is estimated to be 2.87 x 10 -5 kPa -1, higher than that of similar Si-based pressure sensors. The influence of the temperature on the sensor performance is systematically analyzed. An inverse temperature response is observed, and a nonnegligible temperature effect on the sensor resistance is demonstrated. Considering the temperature-induced cavity pressure change, a new temperature–resistance model is built to explain the nonlinearity of the sensor response to the temperature variation. Experiments under different test voltages show the influence of the current thermal effect, which is similar to that of temperature and nonnegligible for high-precision pressure sensors. Our new sensor holds great potential for practical application, and the findings on the temperature characteristics open up a route to further improve the sensor performance.

Influence of oxygen equivalent on molten salt oxidation efficiency of mixed resin in Li2CO3-Na2CO3-K2CO3 melt

Xin Liu,Zi-Yu Liu,Yang-Hai Zheng,Yong-De Yan,Wen-Da Xu,Yun Xue,Yue-Lin Wang,Fu-Qiu Ma,Kai Zhu,Yu-Sheng Yang 한국공업화학회 2023 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.120 No.-

The disposal of spent radioactive ion exchange resin generated during the operation of nuclear facilitieshas always been a conundrum. The molten salt oxidation (MSO) for the treatment of mixed resin (MR)shows obvious superiority. In this work, ternary carbonate (Li2CO3-Na2CO3-K2CO3) and MR was usedas the molten salt system and the oxidation target, respectively. The oxidation behavior of MR was analyzedby varying the temperature and oxygen equivalent during the MSO process. By studying the effectof different oxygen equivalents on the oxidation efficiency, the oxygen equivalent of 125% could make theoxidation efficiency of MR reach 99.99% at 800 C. The composition of C, N and S containing exhaust gasproduced through MSO process of MR with temperature were almost consistent with the simulationresults. The exhaust gas was successfully adsorbed by molten carbonate to produce nitrate and sulfurcompounds. The carbonate has good absorption to harmful gases such as SO2, CO, NO, etc. The contentof SO2 from the highest 0.32% to 0, and 71.23% of sulfur in MR was trapped by molten carbonate asthe form of sulfate. This work has important implications for reducing the potential harm of radioactivewaste resin to the environment.