Diffusion kurtosis imaging of microstructural changes in brain tissue affected by acute ischemic stroke in different locations

The location of an acute ischemic stroke is associated with its prognosis. The widely used Gaussian model-based parameter, apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC), cannot reveal microstructural changes in different locations or the degree of infarction. This prospective observational study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of Xiamen Second Hospital, China(approval No. 2014002).Diffusion kurtosis imaging(DKI) was used to detect 199 lesions in 156 patients with acute ischemic stroke(61 males and 95 females), mean age 63.15 ± 12.34 years. A total of 199 lesions were located in the periventricular white matter(n = 52), corpus callosum(n = 14), cerebellum(n = 29), basal ganglia and thalamus(n = 21), brainstem(n = 21) and gray-white matter junctions(n = 62). Percentage changes of apparent diffusion coefficient(ΔADC) and DKI-derived indices(fractional anisotropy [ΔFA], mean diffusivity [ΔMD], axial diffusivity [ΔD_a], radial diffusivity ΔDr, mean kurtosis [ΔMK], axial kurtosis [ΔK_a], and radial kurtosis [ΔK_r]) of each lesion were computed relative to the normal contralateral region. The results showed that(1) there was no significant difference in ΔADC, ΔMD, ΔD_a or ΔD_r among almost all locations.(2) There was significant difference in ΔMK among almost all locations(except basal ganglia and thalamus vs. brain stem; basal ganglia and thalamus vs. gray-white matter junctions; and brainstem vs. gray-white matter junctions.(3) The degree of change in diffusional kurtosis in descending order was as follows: corpus callosum > periventricular white matter > brainstem > gray-white matter junctions > basal ganglia and thalamus > cerebellum. In conclusion, DKI could reveal the differences in microstructure changes among various locations affected by acute ischemic stroke, and performed better than diffusivity among all groups.

Effects of weld penetration on tensile properties of 2219 aluminum alloy TIG-welded joints

Numerical simulation and experimental methods were used to investigate the effects of weld penetration on tensile properties of 2219 aluminum alloy tungsten inert gas(TIG)welded joints.The results show that when other geometric parameters are consistent,within a certain range,the deeper the weld penetration of the capping weld is,the lower the tensile strength of the j oint is.The deeper weld penetration of the capping weld can cause the more concentrated stress at the weld toe and the joint is more likely to crack accordingly.Based on necessary assumptions,a model for analyzing the mathematical relation between the weld penetration of the capping weld and the tensile strength of the joint was proposed to validate the experimental results. The decrease of weld penetration of capping weld can be controlled by decreasing welding current,helium content or increasing welding voltage.

Experiment on diffuse reflection laser ranging to space debris and data analysis

Space debris poses a serious threat to human space activities and needs to be measured and cataloged. As a new technology for space target surveillance, the measurement accuracy of diffuse reflection laser ranging （DRLR） is much higher than that of microwave radar and optoelectronic measurement. Based on the laser ranging data of space debris from the DRLR system at Shanghai Astronomical Observatory acquired in March-April, 2013, the characteristics and precision of the laser ranging data are analyzed and their applications in orbit determination of space debris are discussed, which is implemented for the first time in China. The experiment indicates that the precision of laser ranging data can reach 39 cm-228 cm. When the data are sufficient enough （four arcs measured over three days）, the orbital accuracy of space debris can be up to 50 m.

Microstructural evolution and its effect on mechanical properties in different regions of 2219-C10S aluminum alloy TIG-welded joint

Microstructural evolution and its effect on mechanical properties in different regions of 2219-C10S aluminum alloy tungsten inert gas(TIG)welded joint were analyzed in detail.In weld zone(WZ),α+θeutectic structure formed at grain boundaries with no precipitates inside the grains.In partially melted zone(PMZ),symbiotic eutectic or divorced eutectic formed at grain boundaries and needle-likeθ′phases appeared in the secondary heated zone.In over aged zone(OAZ),the coarsening and dissolution ofθ′phases occurred and mostθ′phases transformed intoθphases.In general heat affected zone(HAZ),θ′phases coarsened.Factors such as the strengthening phases,the grain size,the Cu content in matrix and the dislocation density can affect the mechanical properties in different regions of the joint.Moreover,a model describing the relationship between mechanical properties of the material and the volume fraction of precipitates,the average diameter of precipitates and the concentration of soluble elements was proposed.

Economic study on the diagnosis of NT-proBNP and C-reactive protein in children with Kawasaki disease

Objective: To analyze the diagnosis of NT-proBNP and C-reactive protein in children with Kawasaki disease, and to study its economics and significance. Methods: Twenty patients with acute Kawasaki disease and 20 patients with Kawasaki disease recovery from June 2017 to June 2018 were enrolled in our hospital. Twenty patients with respiratory infection were included in the control group. The levels of proBNP and C-reactive protein were divided into children without Kawasaki disease and coronary artery disease group, and the levels of NT-proBNP and C-reactive protein were compared. Results: The levels of NT-proBNP and C-reactive protein in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease and the recovery group of Kawasaki disease were significantly higher than those in the control group, and the acute phase group was significantly higher than the recovery group. The difference between the groups was statistically significant. In the detection of lesions in children with acute Kawasaki disease, the levels of WBC, PLT, and CRP in children with lesions were higher than those without lesions. The difference between the detection indexes and the lesions was P<0.05, but NT There was no significant difference in the level of -proBNP. There was no significant difference in NT-proBNP levels between the non-coronary lesion group and the coronary artery disease group in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease. The level of C-reactive protein in the group was significantly higher than that in the group without coronary artery disease, and the two groups were statistically significant. Conclusion: The detection of NT-proBNP and C-reactive protein in children with Kawasaki disease can accurately determine the extent of disease, and can be used as a laboratory index and treatment guidance. The combined detection accuracy of these two is more accurate, and it has important clinical significance for the diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki disease value.

Effects of Post-weld Heat Treatment on Microstructure, Mechanical Properties and the Role of Weld Reinforcement in 2219 Aluminum Alloy TIG-Welded Joints

In as-welded state,each region of 2219 aluminum alloy TIG-welded joint shows diff erent microstructure and microhardness due to the diff erent welding heat cycles and the resulting evolution of second phases.After the post-weld heat treatment,both the amount and the size of the eutectic structure orθphases decreased.Correspondingly,both the Cu content inα-Al matrix and the microhardness increased to a similar level in each region of the joint,and the tensile strength of the entire joint was greatly improved.Post-weld heat treatment played the role of solid solution strengthening and aging strengthening.After the post-weld heat treatment,the weld performance became similar to other regions,but weld reinforcements lost their reinforcing eff ect on the weld and their existence was more of an adverse eff ect.The joint without weld reinforcements after the post-weld heat treatment had the optimal tensile properties,and the specimens randomly crack in the weld zone.