Staging liver fibrosis with various diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging models

BACKGROUND Diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)has been developed to stage liver fibrosis.However,its diagnostic performance is inconsistent among studies.Therefore,it is worth studying the diagnostic value of various diffusion models for liver fibrosis in one cohort.AIM To evaluate the clinical potential of six diffusion-weighted models in liver fibrosis staging and compare their diagnostic performances.METHODS This prospective study enrolled 59 patients suspected of liver disease and scheduled for liver biopsy and 17 healthy participants.All participants underwent multi-b value DWI.The main DWI-derived parameters included Mono-apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)from mono-exponential DWI,intravoxel incoherent motion model-derived true diffusion coefficient(IVIM-D),diffusion kurtosis imaging-derived apparent diffusivity(DKI-MD),stretched exponential model-derived distributed diffusion coefficient(SEM-DDC),fractional order calculus(FROC)model-derived diffusion coefficient(FROC-D)and FROC model-derived microstructural quantity(FROC-μ),and continuous-time random-walk(CTRW)model-derived anomalous diffusion coefficient(CTRW-D)and CTRW model-derived temporal diffusion heterogeneity index(CTRW-α).The correlations between DWI-derived parameters and fibrosis stages and the parameters’diagnostic efficacy in detecting significant fibrosis(SF)were assessed and compared.RESULTS CTRW-D(r=-0.356),CTRW-α(r=-0.297),DKI-MD(r=-0.297),FROC-D(r=-0.350),FROC-μ(r=-0.321),IVIM-D(r=-0.251),Mono-ADC(r=-0.362),and SEM-DDC(r=-0.263)were significantly correlated with fibrosis stages.The areas under the ROC curves(AUCs)of the combined index of the six models for distinguishing SF(0.697-0.747)were higher than each of the parameters alone(0.524-0.719).The DWI models’ability to detect SF was similar.The combined index of CTRW model parameters had the highest AUC(0.747).CONCLUSION The DWI models were similarly valuable in distinguishing SF in patients with liver disease.The combined index of CTRW parameters had the highest AUC.

The occurrence characteristics of oil in shales matrix from organic geochemical screening data and pore structure properties:An experimental study Author links open overlay panel

The occurrence characteristics of shale oil are of great significance to the movability of shale oil.In this study,the occurrence characteristics of oil in the shale matrix at Funing Formation shale in Subei Basin were quantitatively evaluated by organic geochemistry and microscopic pore structure characterization experiments.The Multiple Isothermal Stages Pyrolysis(MIS)experiment results show that the content of total oil,adsorbed oil,and free oil in the shales are 3.15-11.25 mg/g,1.41-4.95 mg/g,and 1.74-6.51 mg/g,respectively.among which the silicon-rich shale has the best oil-bearing.The relative content of free oil shows an increasing trend in pores with pore diameters greater than 3 nm.When the relative content of free oil reaches 100%,the pore size of silicon-rich shale is about 200 nm,while that of calcium-rich shale,clay-rich shale,and siliceous mixed shale is about 10 nm.The occurrence law of adsorbed oil is opposite to that of free oil,which indicates that shale oil will occur in the pores and fractures in a free state in a more extensive pore size range(>200 nm).This study also enables us to further understand the occurrence characteristics of shale oil under the interaction of occurrence state and occurrence space.

Stress Echocardiography for Chronic Coronary Syndrome:Clinical Practice Guidelines(2023)

In the context of the People's Republic of China,coronary artery disease(CAD)presents a sig-nificant clinical challenge,with over 11.3 mil-lion patients diagnosed.Traditionally,the diagnos-is of CAD has predominantly relied on invasive coronary angiography.[1]However,recent advances in clinical research have revealed a notable trend:a substantial 82% of patients subjected to such invas-ive diagnostics do not necessitate interventional therapy.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of colon cancer treatments from MOSIAC and No.16968 trials

AIM: To compare XELOX and FOLFOX4 as colon cancer adjuvant chemotherapy based on MOSAIC and No. 16968 trails from Chinese cost-effectiveness perspective. METHODS: A decision-analytic Markov model was developed to compare the FOLFOX4 and XELOX regimens based MOSAIC and No. 16968 trial. Five states were included in our Markov model: well (state 1), minor toxicity (state 2), major toxicity (state 3), quitting adjuvant chemotherapy (state 4), and death due to adjuvant chemotherapy (state 5). Transitions among the 5 states were assumed to be Markovian. Costs were calculated from the perspective of the Chinese health-care payer. The utility data were taken from published studies. Sensitivity analyses were used to explore the impact of uncertainty factors in this cost-effectiveness analysis. RESULTS: Total direct costs of FOLFOX4 and XELOX per patient were $ 19884.96 +/- 4280.30 and $ 18113.25 +/- 3122.20, respectively. The total fees related to adverse events per patient during the entire treatment were $ 204.75 +/- 16.80 for the XELOX group, and $ 873.72 +/- 27.60 for the FOLFOX4 group, and the costs for travel and absenteeism per patient were $ 18495.00 for the XELOX group and $ 21,352.68 for the FOLFOX4 group. The base-case analysis showed that FOLFOX4 was estimated to produce an additional 0.06 in quality adjusted life years (QALYs) at an additional cost of $ 3950.47 when compared to the XELOX regimen over the model time horizon. The cost per QALY gained was $ 8047.30 in the XELOX group, which was $ 900.98 less than in the FOLFOX4 group ($ 8948.28). The one way sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the utility for the well state and minor toxicity state greatly influenced the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of FOLFOX4. CONCLUSION: In term of cost-comparison, XELOX is expected to dominate FOLFOX4 regimes; Therefore, XELOX provides a more cost-effective adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer patients in China. c 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.

Paired eye-control study of unilateral opaque bubble layer in femtosecond laser assisted laser in situ keratomileusis

AIM: To investigate the predictive factors of the opaque bubble layer(OBL) compared to the fellow eye of same patients in FS200 femtosecond laser assisted laser in situ keratomileusis(FS-LASIK).METHODS: This study consisted of 60 consecutive patients(120 eyes) with unilateral OBL during FS-LASIK. Eyes were divided into OBL(the OBL eyes) and OBL-free groups(the fellow eyes) based on the occurrence of OBL. The preoperative demographic data, refraction, keratometry, corneal astigmatism, pachymetry, intraocular pressure and intraoperative data including the outlet location of gas diffusing canal were collected. Conditional logistic regression analysis was performed to find the associated factors with OBL in the two groups by determining odds ratios(OR) and 95%CI.RESULTS: The preoperative demographic data, mean spherical errors, mean K value, suction time, intraocular pressure and central cornea thickness were not significantly different between the two groups. The outlet location of gas diffusing canal(P<0.01, OR 7.16, 95%CI 2.53-20.32) and the corneal astigmatism(P=0.013, OR 0.13, 95%CI 0.03-0.65) were significantly associated with the incidence of OBL by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Visual acuity, efficacy, and safety were comparable between the two groups two months after surgery except for a slightly lower predictability value for the hard OBL eyes.CONCLUSION: The reduction of the incidence of OBL is obvious when the outlet of gas diffusing canal located at the posterior border of the corneoscleral limbus. This is probably consequent to more effectiveness of gas diffusing canal. Corneal astigmatism is also an independent protective factor for OBL formation.

Optimization of a magneto–optic trap using nanofibers

We experimentally demonstrate a reliable method based on a nanofiber to optimize the number of cold atoms in a magneto–optical trap(MOT) and to monitor the MOT in real time.The atomic fluorescence is collected by a nanofiber with subwavelength diameter of about 400 nm.The MOT parameters are experimentally adjusted in order to match the maximum number of cold atoms provided by the fluorescence collected by the nanofiber.The maximum number of cold atoms is obtained when the intensities of the cooling and re-pumping beams are about 23.5 mW/cm^2 and 7.1 mW/cm^2,respectively;the detuning of the cooling beam is-13.0 MHz, and the axial magnetic gradient is about 9.7 Gauss/cm.We observe a maximum photon counting rate of nearly(4.5 ± 0.1)× 10^5 counts/s.The nanofiber–atom system can provide a powerful and flexible tool for sensitive atom detection and for monitoring atom–matter coupling.It can be widely used from quantum optics to quantum precision measurement.

Research on Application of UAV for Maritime Supervision

Unmanned aerial vehicle has low cost, good flexibility, low risk and high efficiency. When it is applied in maritime supervision, such as maritime patrol, sea cruise, investigation and emergency response, maritime search and rescue, navigation channel measurement, monitoring and inspection of the oil and sewage spills from ships at sea, it can effectively expand the uses of monitoring sea areas, reduce the phenomenon of illegal use of sea, which can improve modernization construction in maritime supervision. According to the UAV （unmanned aerial vehicle） development and application, this paper explores the advantages of the UAV application in maritime adminstration, as well as the characteristics of maritime adminstration, put forward some countermeasures and suggestions of UAV applied in maritime adminstration.

Cavity enhanced measurement of trap frequency in an optical dipole trap

We demonstrate a direct, fluorescence-free measurement of the oscillation frequency of cold atoms in an optical dipole trap based on a high-finesse optical cavity strongly coupled to atoms. The parametric heating spectra of the trapped atoms are obtained by recording the transmitted photons from the cavity with the trap depth is modulated by different frequency.Moreover, in our method the oscillation can be observed directly in the time scale. Being compared to the conventional fluorescence-dependent method, our approach avoids uncertainties associated with the illuminating light and auxiliary imaging optics. This method has the potential application of determining the motion of atoms with stored quantum bits or degenerate gases without destroying them.

Occurrence state and oil content evaluation of Permian Fengcheng Formation in the Hashan area as constrained by NMR and multistage Rock-Eval

The Hashan area,neighboring the Mahu Sag that is rich in the shale oil resources,showed commercial oil flow in the corresponding lacustrine shales of the Lower Permian Fengcheng Formation(P)with reserve scale approximately 789 million tons,presenting great potential for oil exploration.Despite their geographical proximity,the hydrocarbon occurrence and oil-bearing capacity of shale in the Hashan area and Mahu Sag greatly differ owing to the complex tectonic evolution.Therefore,understanding the occurrence state and oil content of the Pif in the Hashan area is crucial for ongoing shale oil exploration activities and the development of the northwestern margin of the Junggar Basin.In this study,an in-tegrated investigation,including petrological observations,scanning electron microscopy(SEM)obser-vation,analysis of nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)Ti-T2 spectra,and conventional and multistage Rock-Eval pyrolysis methods were conducted to evaluate the occurrence state and oil content of the Pif shale in the Hashan area.The results indicate that plagioclase(average 30.7%)and quartz(24.1%)dominate the mineral compositions of the Pf shale samples.A method involving quartz-plagioclase-carbonate minerals is proposed to conduct lithofacies classification.In the Hashan area,the organic matter abundance in the Pf shale is scaled in fair to good range,the thermal maturity ranges from immature to early mature stage,and the primary organic matter types are Types I and Ilj.Intergranular and dissolution pores are the two most common pore types.The free oil is mostly found in the pores and microfractures of the mineral matrix,whereas the adsorbed oil is mostly adsorbed on the surfaces of kerogen and clay minerals.The high organic matter abundance,quartz content,and porosity account for substantial increase in the oil content,the area rich in shale oil resources coincides with that rich in free oil.The most favorable lithofacies in the Hashan area is the calcareous mudstone/shale,which hosts the highest free oil content(average 2.49 mg),total oil content(15.02 mg/g),organic matter abundance CTOC:1.88% and S_(1)+S_(2)=20.54mg/g and orositv(5.97%)

Quantitative characterization of shale pore connectivity and controlling factors using spontaneous imbibition combined with nuclear magnetic resonance T_(2)and T_(1)-T_(2)

Shale oil can be extracted from shale by using interconnected pore networks.The migration of hydrocarbon molecules within the shale is controlled by pore connectivity.However,assessing the pore connectivity of shale oil reservoirs is uncommon.To characterize pore connectivity and clarify its controlling factors,this study used spontaneous imbibition(SI)combined with nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)T_(2)and T_(1)-T_(2)technologies on shale oil reservoirs selected from the Shahejie Formation in the Dongying Sag,Bohai Bay Basin.According to the findings,the SI processes of shales include fast-rising,slow-rising,and stable stages.The fast-rising stage denotes pore connectivity.The shales studied have poor connectivity,with lower imbibition slopes and connected porosity ratios,but large effective tortuosity.During the SI process,micropores have the highest imbibition saturation,followed by mesopores and macropores.Furthermore,n-dodecane ingested into micropores appears primarily as adsorbed,whereas n-dodecane appears primarily as free states in mesopores and macropores during the SI process.The pore connectivity of the shales under study is primarily controlled by inorganic minerals.Quartz and feldspar develop large and regular pores,resulting in better pore connectivity,whereas clay minerals and calcite with plenty of complex intragranular pores do not.Organic matter negatively influences pore connectivity because the dissolution of calcite by organic acid produced during hydrocarbon generation leads to a more complex and heterogeneous pore structure.This study sheds light on the pore connectivity and controlling factors of the shale oil reservoir and aids in the understanding of shale oil mobility.

Comparison of single-neutral-atom qubit between in bright trap and in dark trap

A single neutral atom is one of the most promising candidates to encode a quantum bit(qubit). In a real experiment, a single neutral atom is always confined in a micro-sized far off-resonant optical trap(FORT). There are generally two types of traps: red-detuned trap and blue-detuned trap. We experimentally compare the qubits encoded in "clock states" of single cesium atoms confined separately in either 1064-nm red-detuned(bright) trap or 780-nm blue-detuned(dark) trap: both traps have almost the same trap depth. A longer lifetime of 117 s and a longer coherence time of about 10 ms are achieved in the dark trap. This provides a direct proof of the superiority of the dark trap over the bright trap. The measures to further improve the coherence are discussed.

Spectral deconvolution analysis on Olivine-Orthopyroxene mixtures with simulated space weathering modifications

Olivine and pyroxene are important mineral end-members for studying the surface material compositions of mafic bodies.The profiles of visible and near-infrared spectra of olivine-orthopyroxene mixtures systematically vary with their composition ratios.In our experiments,we combine the RELAB spectral database with new spectral data obtained from some assembled olivine-orthopyroxene mixtures.We found that the commonly-used band area ratio(BAR,Cloutis et al.)does not work well on our newly obtained spectral data.To investigate this issue,an empirical procedure based on fitted results by a modified Gaussian model is proposed to analyze the spectral curves.Following the new empirical procedure,the endmember abundances can be estimated with a 15%accuracy with some prior mineral absorption features.In addition,the mixture samples configured in our experiments are also irradiated by pulsed lasers to simulate and investigate the space weathering effects.Spectral deconvolution results confirm that low-content olivine on celestial bodies is difficult to measure and estimate.Therefore,the olivine abundance of space weathered materials may be underestimated from remote sensing data.This study may be utilized to quantify the spectral relationship of olivine-orthopyroxene mixtures and further reveal their correlation between the spectra of ordinary chondrites and silicate asteroids.

Detection of Gamma-Rays from the Protostellar Jet in the HH 80–81 System

Considering that the existence of relativistic particles in the protostellar jet has been confirmed by the detection of linearly polarized radio emission from the HH 80–81 jet,we search for gamma-rays from the HH 80–81 system using ten-year Fermi-LAT observations.A significant point-likeγ-ray excess is found in the direction of the HH80–81 system with the Test-Statistic value>100,which is likely produced in the HH 80–81 jet.Theγ-ray spectrum extends only to 1 Ge V with a photon index of 3.5.No significant variability is found in the gamma-ray emission.It is discussed that the properties of HH 80–81 jet suffice for producing the observedγ-rays.

Target versus sub-target dose of renin–angiotensin system inhibitors on survival in elderly patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND The efficiency of the target versus sub-target dose of renin–angiotensin system inhibitors(RASIs)in elderly patients with heart failure(HF)with reduced ejection fraction(HErEF)remains unclear.METHODS PubMed,Embase,and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from database inception through March 2022 for randomized controlled trials(RCTs)and observational studies considering the effect of the target versus sub-target dose of RASIs on survival in elderly patients(≥60 years)with HErEF.The primary outcome was all-cause mortality.The secondary outcomes were cardiac mortality,HF hospitalization,and the composite endpoint of mortality or HF hospitalization.A meta-analysis was conducted to generate combined hazard ratio(HR)and 95%CI.RESULTS Seven studies(two RCTs and five observational studies)enrolling 16,634 patients were included.A pooled analysis suggested that the target versus sub-target dose of RASIs led to lower rates of all-cause mortality(HR=0.92,95%CI:0.87–0.98,I2=21%)and cardiac mortality(HR=0.93,95%CI:0.85–1.00,I2=15%)but not reduced rates of HF hospitalization(HR=0.94,95%CI:0.88–1.01,I2=0)and the composite endpoint(HR=1.03,95%CI:0.91–1.15,I2=51%).However,the target dose of RASIs was associated with a similar primary outcome(HR=0.85,95%CI:0.64–1.14,I2=0)in a subgroup of very elderly patients>75 years of age.CONCLUSIONS Our analysis suggests that the target dose of RASIs has a better survival benefit in elderly patients with HFrEF compared to the sub-target dose of RASIs.However,the sub-target dose of RASIs is associated with a similar mortality rate in very elderly patients>75 years of age.Future high-quality and adequately powered RCTs are warranted.

Tunable Optical Bandpass Filter via a Microtip-Touched Tapered Optical Fiber

We demonstrate a tunable bandpass optical filter based on a tapered optical fiber(TOF)touched by a hemispherical microfiber tip(MFT).Other than the interference and selective material absorption effects,the filter relies on the controllable and wavelength-dependent mode–mode interactions in TOF.Experimentally,a large range of tunability is realized by controlling the position of the MFT in contact with the TOF for various TOF radii,and two distinct bandpass filter mechanisms are demonstrated.The center wavelength of the bandpass filter can be tuned from 890 nm to 1000 nm,while the FWHM bandwidth can be tuned from 110 nm to 240 nm when the MFT touches the TOF in the radius range from 160 nm to 390 nm.The distinction ratio can reach 28±3 dB experimentally.The combined TOF-MFT is an in-line tunable bandpass optical filter that has great application potential in optical networks and spectroscopy,and the principle could also be generalized to other integrated photonic devices.

Managements of vertical gas breakthrough in femtosecond laser assisted LASIK

Dear Editor,Femtosecond laser(FSL)assisted laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK)has been popularized because of its greater accuracy and predictability.But FSL also have some unique complications especially some gas bubble related complications[1].Vertical gas breakthrough(VGB)is a rare and serious complication during flap creation.Some surgeons had reported that VGB was treated with microkeratome[2]or photorefractive keratectomy[3].To our knowledge,FSL-LASIK has not been reported as a remedy fort VGB(from PubMed).We present a VGB case who was successfully salvaged using FSL-LASIK.

Research on Risk Management Strategy of Shipping Enterprise

Risk management is to identify and assess risk in the process of shipping enterprise operation, then to make resolution to solve the risk, it is very important to the survival and development of shipping enterprises. In this paper, it analyzes the characteristics of shipping enterprise risk, and puts forward countermeasures and suggestions to improve the shipping enterprise risk management.

Special Issue on Charged Polymers

We are pleased to announce the special issue on charged polymers published in the Chinese Journal of Polymer Science(CJPS).Charged polymers are ubiquitous in naturally occurring and synthetic macromolecules,and their study has attracted tremendous attention.Great progresses have been made in the study of this fascinating system in recent years.

Microstructures and mechanical properties of SiBCNAl ceramics produced by mechanical alloying and subsequent hot pressing

Amorphous SiBCNAl powders were prepared via a mechanical alloying (MA) technique using crystalline silicon (Si), hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), graphite (C), and aluminum (Al) as starting materials. SiBCNAl powders were consolidated by a hot pressing (HP) technique at 1800 °C under a pressure of 30 MPa in argon and nitrogen. The sintering atmosphere had a great influence on the microstructures and mechanical properties of the ceramics. The two ceramics had different phase compositions and fracture surface morphologies. For the ceramics sintered in argon, flexural strength, fracture toughness, elastic modulus and Vickers hardness were 421.90 MPa, 3.40 MPa·m1/2, 174.10 GPa, and 12.74 GPa, respectively. For the ceramics sintered in nitrogen, the mechanical properties increased, except for the Vickers hardness, and the values of the above properties were 526.80 MPa, 5.25 MPa·m1/2, 222.10 GPa, and 11.63 GPa, respectively.

Effects of the outlet pressure on two-phase slug flow distribution uniformity in a multi-branch microchannel

The two-phase flow maldistribution phenomenon in microchannels with multi-parallel branches is inevitable in almost all common conditions,and not only affects the performance of the facility but also increases the risk of system instability.In order to better understand the distribution mechanism and to explore a potential strategy to improve uniformity,the pressure evolutions under different split modes in a microchannel with multi-parallel branches,were analyzed numerically.The results show that the fluctuations of transient pressure exhibit similar trends at various split modes,but the time-averaged pressure drops in the branches are very different.This may be related to the maldistribution of mass flow.Thus,the outlet pressures of the branches are numerically changed to explore the relationship between differential pressure and flow distribution.From this study,the flow distribution is seen to display a strong sensitivity to the branch differential pressure.By changing the pressure conditions,the gas flow of the middle branch can be effectively prevented from the main channel,and the flow type in this branch turns from gas-liquid to a single liquid phase.When the differential pressure of the first branch channel changes,the maldistribution phenomenon of the model can be mitigated to a certain extent.Based on this,by adjusting the differential pressures of the second branch,the maldistribution phenomenon can be further mitigated,and the normalized standard deviation(NSTD)decreases from 0.52 to approximately 0.26.The results and conclusions are useful in understanding the two-phase flow distribution mechanism and for seeking optimizing strategies.