Unfolding analysis of LaBr3:Ce gamma spectrum with a detector response matrix constructing algorithm based on energy resolution calibration

With respect to the gamma spectrum, the energy resolution improves with increase in energy. The counts of full energy peak change with energy, and this approximately complies with the Gaussian distribution. This study mainly examines a method to deconvolve the LaBr_3:Ce gamma spectrum with a detector response matrix constructing algorithm based on energy resolution calibration.In the algorithm, the full width at half maximum(FWHM)of full energy peak was calculated by the cubic spline interpolation algorithm and calibrated by a square root of a quadratic function that changes with the energy. Additionally, the detector response matrix was constructed to deconvolve the gamma spectrum. Furthermore, an improved SNIP algorithm was proposed to eliminate the background. In the experiment, several independent peaks of ^(152)Eu,^(137)Cs, and ^(60)Co sources were detected by a LaBr_3:Ce scintillator that were selected to calibrate the energy resolution. The Boosted Gold algorithm was applied to deconvolve the gamma spectrum. The results showed that the peak position difference between the experiment and the deconvolution was within ± 2 channels and the relative error of peak area was approximately within 0.96–6.74%. Finally, a ^(133) Ba spectrum was deconvolved to verify the efficiency and accuracy of the algorithm in unfolding the overlapped peaks.

239Pu alpha spectrum analysis based on PIPS detector response function and variations with vacuum and distance

Effect factors of the absorption of the source,air,entrance window,and dead layer of a detector must be considered in the measurement of monoenergetic alpha particles,along with statistical noise and other factors that collectively cause the alpha spectrum to exhibit a well-known low-energy tail.Therefore,the estabUshment of an alpha spectrum detector response function from the perspective of a signaling system must consider the various factors mentioned above.The detector response function is the convolution of an alphaparticle pulse function,two exponential functions,and a Gaussian function,followed by calculation of the parameters of the detector response function using the weighted leastsquares fitting method as proposed in this paper.In our experiment,^(239)Pu alpha spectra were measured by a highresolution,passivated implanted planar silicon(PIPS)detector at 10 levels of vacuum and 10 source-detector distances.The spectrum-fitting results were excellent as evaluated by reduced Chi-square(x^2) and correlation coefficients.Finally,the variation of parameters with vacuum level and source-detector distance was studied.Results demonstrate that σ,τ_1,and τ_2 exhibit no obvious trend of variation with vacuum in the range 2000-20,000 mTorr,and at a confidence level of 95%,the values of τ_1 and τ_2 decline in a similar fashion with source-detector distance by the power exponential function,while the value of a declines linearly.

Unfolding neutron spectra from water-pumping-injection multilayered concentric sphere neutron spectrometer using self-adaptive differential evolution algorithm

A self-adaptive differential evolution neutron spectrum unfolding algorithm(SDENUA)is established in this study to unfold the neutron spectra obtained from a water-pumping-injection multilayered concentric sphere neutron spectrometer(WMNS).Specifically,the neutron fluence bounds are estimated to accelerate the algorithm convergence,and the minimum error between the optimal solution and input neutron counts with relative uncertainties is limited to 10^(-6)to avoid unnecessary calculations.Furthermore,the crossover probability and scaling factor are self-adaptively controlled.FLUKA Monte Carlo is used to simulate the readings of the WMNS under(1)a spectrum of Cf-252 and(2)its spectrum after being moderated,(3)a spectrum used for boron neutron capture therapy,and(4)a reactor spectrum.Subsequently,the measured neutron counts are unfolded using the SDENUA.The uncertainties of the measured neutron count and the response matrix are considered in the SDENUA,which does not require complex parameter tuning or an a priori default spectrum.The results indicate that the solutions of the SDENUA agree better with the IAEA spectra than those of MAXED and GRAVEL in UMG 3.1,and the errors of the final results calculated using the SDENUA are less than 12%.The established SDENUA can be used to unfold spectra from the WMNS.

Guest Editorial

The UK-China Research Network on Intelligent Automation, Computing and Manufacturing has been established since September 2004 by grants from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council （EPSRC） of the UK and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The initiative of the network is motivated by the last visit of the UK Science Minister Lord Sainsbury to China to open the first UK-China Hi-Tech Forum and by the current EPSRC initiative to set up specific network programmes in collaboration with partners in China.

Mechanism research of pirarubicin postoperative immediately bladder irrigation combined compound matrine injection on treating superficial bladder cancer

Objective:Investigate the mechanism of Pirarubicin postoperative immediately bladder irrigation combined compound matrine injection on treating superficial bladder cancer, thus to provide assistance for clinical therapy of superficial bladder cancer.Methods:A total of 90 cases of patients with superficial bladder cancer treated in our hospital were selected, and randomly divided to be control group and combination group, 45 cases for each. For patients in control group, treatment of Pirarubicin postoperative immediately bladder irrigation was provided after transurethral resection of bladder tumors. For patients in combination group, combined treatment of Pirarubicin postoperative immediately bladder irrigation and compound matrine injection were provided after transurethral resection of bladder tumors. T lymphocyte subsets, cytokines, liver and renal functions of patients in each group were detected before and after treatment.Results: No statistical difference showed on T lymphocyte subsets, cytokines, liver and renal functions between two groups of patients with superficial bladder cancer before and after treatment. Compared with prior treatment, CD8+, cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-2), liver function indexes (AST and ALT) and renal function indexes (BUN and Cre) were significantly increased in two groups of patients after treatment, while T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+) and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP) were significantly decreased. Differences showed statistical significance. After combined treatment given, T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+) and cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-2) in combination group were significantly higher than in control group after treatment, cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP), CD8+, liver function indexes (AST and ALT) and renal function indexes (BUN and Cre) were significantly lower than in control group after treatment. Differences between the two groups showed statistical significance.Conclusion:Combination of Pirarubicin postoperative immediately bladder irrigation and compound matrine injection could enhance immune functions, improve inflammatory reactions and decrease chemotherapeutics toxicities for patients with superficial bladder cancer. It is of great significance on clinical therapy for those patients.

科学基金项目立项评估:综合评价信息可靠性的多指标证据推理规则研究

公正合理的科研项目立项评估与选择是国家自然科学基金管理活动的关键环节。综合考虑科研项目的评估指标体系和选择流程,提出了利用历史评估准确性度量专家提供信息可靠性的方法,进而提出了一种系统性的基于证据推理规则的科学基金项目评估决策模型。该模型使用证据推理合成规则对多专家多指标评估信息进行集结。在集结过程中:充分考虑评估指标的权重以及评估等级的多样性;鉴于参与项目评估的专家具有不同的知识背景和经验,提出利用历史评估结果的准确性衡量专家提供的评价信息可靠性的方法;应用信度分布表征项目的整体评价结果,包含了更丰富的信息。国家自然科学基金项目评估的实例分析证明了该评估决策模型的有效性。

New phenolic constituents obtained from Polygonum multiflorum

Objective:To isolate the phenolic compounds obtained from the dried roots ofPolygonum multiflorum and investigate their pharmacological activities.Methods:The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by combining them with a macroporous resin(DM-8),MCI gel,and Sephadex LH-20 and by performing ODS column chromatography.Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR analyses,as well as mass spectrometry.The isolated compounds were evaluated to determine their hepatoprotective andα-glucosidase inhibitory activities in vitro.Results:Two phenolic compounds,namely,polygonimitin E(1)and polygonimitin F(2),were isolated from the dried roots of P.multiflorum.Compound 2(10μmol/L)only showed moderate hepatoprotective activity against N-acetyl-p-aminophenol(APAP)-induced HepG2 cell damage.Unfortunately,these two compounds exhibited noα-glucosidase inhibitory activity.Conclusion:Compounds 1 and 2 were new compounds.Compound 2 could be one of the potential hepatoprotective constituents of P.multiflorum.

Freshwater Dothideomycetes

Freshwater Dothideomycetes are a highly diverse group of fungi,which are mostly saprobic in freshwater habitats world-wide.They are important decomposers of submerged woody debris and leaves in water.In this paper,we outline the genera of freshwater Dothideomycetes with notes and keys to species.Based on multigene analyses and morphology,we introduce nine new genera,viz.Aquimassariosphaeria,Aquatospora,Aquihelicascus,Fusiformiseptata,Neohelicascus,Neojahnula,Pseudojahnula,Purpureofaciens,Submersispora;33 new species,viz.Acrocalymma bipolare,Aquimassariosphaeria kun-mingensis,Aquatospora cylindrica,Aquihelicascus songkhlaensis,A.yunnanensis,Ascagilis submersa,A.thailandensis,Bambusicola aquatica,Caryospora submersa,Dictyocheirospora thailandica,Fusiformiseptata crocea,Helicosporium thai-landense,Hongkongmyces aquaticus,Lentistoma aquaticum,Lentithecium kunmingense,Lindgomyces aquaticus,Longipedi-cellata aquatica,Neohelicascus submersus,Neohelicomyces dehongensis,N.thailandicus,Neohelicosporium submersum,Nigrograna aquatica,Occultibambusa kunmingensis,Parabambusicola aquatica,Pseudoasteromassaria aquatica,Pseu-doastrosphaeriella aquatica,Pseudoxylomyces aquaticus,Purpureofaciens aquatica,Roussoella aquatica,Shrungabeeja aquatica,Submersispora variabilis,Tetraploa puzheheiensis,T.yunnanensis;16 new combinations,viz.Aquimassariospha-eria typhicola,Aquihelicascus thalassioideus,Ascagilis guttulaspora,A.queenslandica,A.seychellensis,A.sunyatsenii,Ernakulamia xishuangbannaensis,Neohelicascus aquaticus,N.chiangraiensis,N.egyptiacus,N.elaterascus,N.gallicus,N.unilocularis,N.uniseptatus,Neojahnula australiensis,Pseudojahnula potamophila;17 new geographical and habitat records,viz.Aliquandostipite khaoyaiensis,Aquastroma magniostiolata,Caryospora aquatica,C.quercus,Dendryphiella vinosa,Ernakulamia cochinensis,Fissuroma neoaggregatum,Helicotruncatum palmigenum,Jahnula rostrata,Neorous-soella bambusae,N.leucaenae,Occultibambusa pustula,Paramonodictys solitarius,Pleopunctum pseudoellipsoideum,Pseudocapulatispora longiappendiculata,Seriascoma didymosporum,Shrungabeeja vadirajensis and ten new collections from China and Thailand,viz.Amniculicola guttulata,Aquaphila albicans,Berkleasmium latisporum,Clohesyomyces aquati-cus,Dictyocheirospora rotunda,Flabellascoma fusiforme,Pseudoastrosphaeriella bambusae,Pseudoxylomyces elegans,Tubeufia aquatica and T.cylindrothecia.Dendryphiella phitsanulokensis and Tubeufia roseohelicospora are synonymized with D.vinosa and T.tectonae,respectively.Six orders,43 families and 145 genera which belong to freshwater Dothideo-mycetes are reviewed.Of these,46 genera occur exclusively in freshwater habitats.A world map illustrates the distribution of freshwater Dothideomycetes.

Decentralised energy and its performance assessment models

Energy development concerns not only the development of renewable energies but also the shift from centralised to clean,decentralised power generation.The development of decentralised energy(DE)is a core part of the energy and economic strategies being adopted around the world that drives the progress toward a highly sustainable future.This paper reviews the concepts,development status,trends,benefits and challenges of DE systems and analyses the existing models and methods for assessing the performance of these systems.A hierarchical decision model for evaluating the performance of DE systems is also constructed based on the framework of multiple criteria decision analysis,which considers the identification,definition and assessment grade of decision criteria.The evidential reasoning approach is applied to aggregate assessment information in a case study of the implementation of an intelligent decision system.Sensitivity and trade-off analyses are also conducted to show how the proposed model can be used to support decision making in DE systems.

Overall Efficiency and its Decomposition in a Two-Stage Network DEA Model

This paper aims to propose a new approach to decompose an overall data envelopment analysis model into equivalent two-stage models.In this approach,we use a minimax reference point method to set the weights and reliabilities of the two stage models so that the combined efficiency of the two stages is equal to the overall efficiency.The equivalent multi-stage models are useful to support planning for performance improvement.An illustrative example is first explored to compare the results from the new approach with those of four other existing approaches.The main finding from the comparisons is that the new decomposition approach of this paper satisfies the proposed assumptions.A case study is then conducted on a two-stage process of steel manufacturing to illustrate the validity and applicability of the proposed approach.

Using Two-layer Minimax Optimization and DEA to Determine Attribute Weights

This study aims to explore a novel method for determining attribute weights,which is a key issue in constructing and analyzing multiple-attribute decision-making(MADM)problems.To this end,a hybrid approach combining the data envelopment analysis(DEA)model without explicit inputs(DEA-WEI)and a two-layer minimax optimization scheme is developed.It is demonstrated that in this approach,the most favorable set of weights is first considered for each alternative or decision-making unit(DMU)and these weight sets are then aggregated to determine the best compromise weights for attributes,with the interests of all DMUs simultaneously considered in a fair manner.This approach is particularly suitable for situations where the preferences of decision-makers(DMs)are either unclear or difficult to acquire.Two case studies are conducted to illustrate the proposed approach and its use for determining weights for attributes in practice.The first case concerns the assessment of research strengths of 24 selected countries using certain measures,and the second concerns the analysis of the performance of 64 selected Chinese universities,where the preferences of DMs are either unknown or ambiguous,but the weights of the attributes should be assigned in a fair and unbiased manner.

Inventory Policy and Heuristic for Long-Term Multi-product Perishable Inventory Routing Problem with Static Demand

This work considers a long-term Perishable Inventory Routing Problem with multiple products,static demand,and single vehicle,in the setting of Vendor Managed Inventory.By analyzing the optimal solutions of long-term cases that can be solved in Python+Gurobi within 2 h,we capture some patterns of optimal solutions.Utilizing these patterns,experiments show that under certain conditions,the mathematical models of multi-product problems could be simplified to single-product problems,which have the same optimal solutions while taking less time to solve.Managerial insights were generated that for products with static demand in the long term,delivery should be arranged at the store level rather than at the product level.Products in the same store should have the same delivery pattern,no matter how different the unit holding costs are.By further analyzing the optimal solutions of the simplified models,we find that optimal value will stabilize in the long term,and the optimal solution is very close to the solution point where total inventory holding cost and transportation cost are close.Based on these findings,we have developed a heuristic that always provides optimal or close-to-optimal solutions with far less computational time,compared with Python+Gurobi.

Decision Support System for Evaluating Impact of Product Carbon Labeling Scheme

In this paper a decision support system for systematically evaluating the impact of labeling products with their carbon footprints is developed and applied to prioritize products for carbon labeling in a large supermarket chain in the UK.Carbon labels may change consumers’ behavior and encourage suppliers to implement carbon-reduction solutions.Those changes may,however,lead to unintended risks.To handle the challenges of uncertainties in the evaluation,the Evidential Reasoning approach and the Intelligent Decision System software for multi-criteria decision analysis are applied to support the process.The system developed can be applied to assessing the impact of sustainable development policies to maximize their benefits and minimize their risks.