Normalized glandular dose coefficients for digital breast tomosynthesis using detailed Chinese breast models

The rise in breast cancer diagnoses among Chinese women has necessitated the use of X-ray breast screening,which carries a radiation risk.This study aimed to provide a dosimetry protocol for the Chinese female population to replace the traditional standard that utilizes simplified breast models,for the accurate estimation of the mean glandular dose of a patient undergoing digital breast tomosynthesis(DBT).The first set of detailed Chinese female breast models and representative breast parameters was constructed.Considering backscatter radiation and computational efficiency,we improved the combination of these models and the Chinese reference adult female whole-body voxel phantom.Image acquisition for four commercial DBT systems that are widely employed in China was simulated using the Monte Carlo method to obtain the normalized glandular dose coefficients of DBT(D_(gN)^(DBT))and the glandular depth dose(D_(g)^(dep)(z))for different breast characteristics and X-ray spectra.We calculated a series of D_(gN)^(DBT) values for breasts with different percentage mass glandularities(5%,25%,50%,75%,and 100%)and compressed breast thicknesses(2,3,4,5,6,and 7 cm)at various tube potentials(25,28,30,32,35,and 49 kV)and target/filter combinations(W/Rh,W/Al,Mo/Mo,Rh/Rh,and Rh/Ag).The parameter dependence of the breast characteristics and beam conditions on D_(gN)^(DBT) in detailed breast models was investigated.The D_(gN)^(DBT) results were 14.6-51.0%lower than those of the traditional dosimetry standard in China.The difference in D_(gN)^(DBT) was mainly due to a decrease in the depth of the main energy deposition area caused by the glandular distribution along the depth direction.The results obtained in this study may be used to improve breast dosimetry in China and provide more detailed information on risk assessment during DBT.

A Survey Study on TPACK Framework for Normal Students of English Major in Ethnic Colleges and Universities:Empirical Analysis Based on Structural Equation Modeling

With the continuous advancement of education informatization,Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge(TPACK),as a new theoretical framework,provides a novel method for measuring teachers’informatization teaching ability.This study takes normal students of English majors from three ethnic universities as the research object,collects relevant data through questionnaires,and uses structural equation modeling to conduct data analysis and empirical research to investigate the differences in the TPACK levels of these students at different grades and the structural relationships among the elements in the TPACK structure.The technological pedagogical knowledge element of the TPACK structure was not obtained by exploratory factors analysis but through path analysis and structural equation modeling,the results show that the one-dimensional core knowledge of technological knowledge(TK),content knowledge(CK),and pedagogical knowledge(PK)have a positive effect on the two-dimensional interaction knowledge of technological content knowledge(TCK)and pedagogical content knowledge(PCK);furthermore,TCK and PCK have a positive effect on TPACK;and TK,CK,and PK indirectly affect TPACK through TCK and PCK.On this basis,suggestions are provided to ethnic colleges and universities to develop the TPACK knowledge competence of normal students of English majors.

Centrifuge modeling of buried continuous pipelines subjected to normal faulting

Seismic ground faulting is the greatest hazard for continuous buried pipelines.Over the years,researchers have attempted to understand pipeline behavior mostly via numerical modeling such as the finite element method.The lack of well-documented field case histories of pipeline failure from seismic ground faulting and the cost and complicated facilities needed for full-scale experimental simulation mean that a centrifuge-based method to determine the behavior of pipelines subjected to faulting is best to verify numerical approaches.This paper presents results from three centrifuge tests designed to investigate continuous buried steel pipeline behavior subjected to normal faulting.The experimental setup and procedure are described and the recorded axial and bending strains induced in a pipeline are presented and compared to those obtained via analytical methods.The influence of factors such as faulting offset,burial depth and pipe diameter on the axial and bending strains of pipes and on ground soil failure and pipeline deformation patterns are also investigated.Finally,the tensile rupture of a pipeline due to normal faulting is investigated.

Modeling of normal faulting in the subducting plates of the Tonga,Japan,Izu-Bonin and Mariana Trenches:implications for near-trench plate weakening

The plate flexure and normal faulting characteristics along the Tonga, Japan, Izu-Bonin and Mariana Trenches are investigated by combining observations and modeling of elastoplastic deformation of the subducting plate. The observed average trench relief is found to be the smallest at the Japan Trench(3 km) and the largest at the Mariana Trench(4.9 km), and the average fault throw is the smallest at the Japan Trench(113 m) and the largest at the Tonga Trench(284 m). A subducting plate is modeled to bend and generate normal faults subjected to three types of tectonic loading at the trench axis: vertical loading, bending moment, and horizontal tensional force. It is inverted for the solutions of tectonic loading that best fit the observed plate flexure and normal faulting characteristics of the four trenches. The results reveal that a horizontal tensional force(HTF) for the Japan Trench is 33%, 50% and 60% smaller than those of the Mariana, Tonga and Izu-Bonin Trenches, respectively. The normal faults are modeled to penetrate to a maximum depth of 29, 23, 32 and 32 km below the sea floor for the Tonga,Japan, Izu-Bonin and Mariana Trenches, respectively, which is consistent with the depths of relocated normal faulting earthquakes in the Japan and Izu-Bonin Trenches. Moreover, it is argued that the calculated horizontal tensional force is generally positively correlated with the observed mean fault throw, while the integrated area of the reduction in the effective elastic thickness is correlated with the trench relief. These results imply that the HTF plays a key role in controlling the normal faulting pattern and that plate weakening can lead to significant increase in the trench relief.

Damage constitutive model for strain-softening rock based on normal distribution and its parameter determination

Firstly, using the damage model for rock based on Lemaitre hypothesis about strain equivalence, a new technique for measuring strength of rock micro-cells by adopting the Mohr-Coulomb criterion was developed, and a statistical damage evolution equation was established based on the property that strength of micro-cells is consistent with normal distribution function, through discussing the characteristics of random distributions for strength of micro-cells, then a statistical damage constitutive model that can simulate the full process of rock strain softening under specific confining pressure was set up. Secondly, a new method to determine the model parameters which can be applied to the situations under different confining pressures was proposed, by deeply studying the relations between the model parameters and characteristic parameters of the full stress-strain curve under different confining pressures. Therefore, a unified statistical damage constitutive model for rock softening which can reflect the effect of different confining pressures was set up. This model makes the physical property of model parameters explicit, contains only conventional mechanical parameters, and leads its application more convenient. Finally, the rationality of this model and its parameters-determining method were identified via comparative analyses between theoretical and experimental curves.

EQUIVALENT NORMAL CURVATURE APPROACH MILLING MODEL OF MACHINING FREEFORM SURFACES

A new milling methodology with the equivalent normal curvature milling model machining freeform surfaces is proposed based on the normal curvature theorems on differential geometry. Moreover, a specialized whirlwind milling tool and a 5-axis CNC horizontal milling machine are introduced. This new milling model can efficiently enlarge the material removal volume at the tip of the whirlwind milling tool and improve the producing capacity. The machining strategy of this model is to regulate the orientation of the whirlwind milling tool relatively to the principal directions of the workpiece surface at the point of contact, so as to create a full match with collision avoidance between the workpiece surface and the symmetric rotational surface of the milling tool. The practical results show that this new milling model is an effective method in machining complex three- dimensional surfaces. This model has a good improvement on finishing machining time and scallop height in machining the freeform surfaces over other milling processes. Some actual examples for manufacturing the freeform surfaces with this new model are given.

ASYMPTOTIC NORMALITY OF PARAMETERSESTIMATION IN EV MODEL WITH REPLICATEDOBSERVATIONS

This paper based on the essay [1], studies in case that replicated observations are available in some experimental points., the parameters estimation of one dimensional linear errors-in-variables (EV) models. Asymptotic normality is established.

Nonlinear Elastic Constitutive Model of Soil-Structure Interfaces Under Relatively High Normal Stress

The shear characteristics of soil-structure interfaces with different roughness are studied systematically by us-ing the DRS-1 high normal stress and residual shear apparatus. The experimental results indicate that,under a relatively high normal stress,normal stress and the coefficient of structural roughness are the most important factors affecting the mechanical interface characteristics. The relationship between shear stress and shear displacement of the soil-structure interface is a hyperbolic curve with high regression accuracy. Based on our experimental results,a nonlinear elastic con-stitutive model of the soil-structure interface under relatively high normal stress is established with a definite physical meaning for its parameters. The model can predict the strain hardening behavior of the soil during the shearing process. The results show an encouraging agreement with experimental data from direct shear tests.

Modeling of softsphere normal collisions with characteristic of coefficient of restitution dependent on impact velocity

This letter presents a theoretical model of the normal （head-on） collisions between two soft spheres for predicting the experimental characteristic of the coefficient of restitution dependent on impact velocity. After the contact force law between the contacted spheres during a collision is phenomenologically formulated in terms of the compression or overlap displacement under considera- tion of an elastic-plastic loading and a plastic unloading subprocesses, the coefficient of restitution is gained by the dynamic equation of the contact process once an initial impact velocity is input. It is found that the theoretical predictions of the coefficient of restitution varying with the impact velocity are well in agreement with the existing experimental characteristics which are fitted by the explicit formula.

Joint modelling of location and scale parameters of the skew-normal distribution

Joint location and scale models of the skew-normal distribution provide useful ex- tension for joint mean and variance models of the normal distribution when the data set under consideration involves asymmetric outcomes. This paper focuses on the maximum likelihood estimation of joint location and scale models of the skew-normal distribution. The proposed procedure can simultaneously estimate parameters in the location model and the scale model. Simulation studies and a real example are used to illustrate the proposed methodologies.

Model of wind-generated ambient noise in stratified shallow water

In order to build a rapid ocean ambient noise model adapted for a stratified shallow water, a hybrid model of normal mode method (for far field) and ray method (for near field) is suggested which combines the advantages of both methods. Since the near field of wind-generated noise is not sensitive to the sound speed pro- file, the sound speed profile is regarded as a constant; which makes the model rapid and accurate. The simulation results are in agreement with those of the wave model.

Log-normal censored regression model detecting prognostic factors in gastric cancer:A study of 3018 cases

AIM:To investigate the efficiency of Cox proportional hazard model in detecting prognostic factors for gastric cancer.METHODS:We used the log-normal regression model to evaluate prognostic factors in gastric cancer and compared it with the Cox model.Three thousand and eighteen gastric cancer patients who received a gastrectomy between 1980 and 2004 were retrospectively evaluated.Clinic-pathological factors were included in a log-normal model as well as Cox model.The akaike information criterion (AIC) was employed to compare the efficiency of both models.Univariate analysis indicated that age at diagnosis,past history,cancer location,distant metastasis status,surgical curative degree,combined other organ resection,Borrmann type,Lauren's classification,pT stage,total dissected nodes and pN stage were prognostic factors in both log-normal and Cox models.RESULTS:In the final multivariate model,age at diagnosis,past history,surgical curative degree,Borrmann type,Lauren's classification,pT stage,and pN stage were significant prognostic factors in both log-normal and Cox models.However,cancer location,distant metastasis status,and histology types were found to be significant prognostic factors in log-normal results alone.According to AIC,the log-normal model performed better than the Cox proportional hazard model (AIC value:2534.72 vs 1693.56).CONCLUSION:It is suggested that the log-normal regression model can be a useful statistical model to evaluate prognostic factors instead of the Cox proportional hazard model.

Abnormal Behavior Detection and Recognition Method Based on Improved ResNet Model

The core technology in an intelligent video surveillance system is that detecting and recognizing abnormal behaviors timely and accurately.The key breakthrough point in recognizing abnormal behaviors is how to obtain the effective features of the picture,so as to solve the problem of recognizing them.In response to this difficulty,this paper introduces an adjustable jump link coefficients model based on the residual network.The effective coefficients for each layer of the network can be set after using this model to further improving the recognition accuracy of abnormal behavior.A convolution kernel of 1×1 size is added to reduce the number of parameters for the purpose of improving the speed of the model in this paper.In order to reduce the noise of the data edge,and at the same time,improve the accuracy of the data and speed up the training,a BN(Batch Normalization)layer is added before the activation function in this network.This paper trains this network model on the public ImageNet dataset,and then uses the transfer learning method to recognize these abnormal behaviors of human in the UTI behavior dataset processed by the YOLO_v3 target detection network.Under the same experimental conditions,compared with the original ResNet-50 model,the improved model in this paper has a 2.8%higher accuracy in recognition of abnormal behaviors on the public UTI dataset.

Basic mathematical model for the normal black smoker system and the hydrothermal megaplume formation

A tube model to simulate the normal black smoker system has been built, where the Darcy flow equation, the Ergun equation and the turbulent pipe flow equation are used respectively to describe the dynamic process of different key areas in the hydrothermal circulation system. At the same time, a convection - diffuse Equation for the temperature field is used for describe the exchange of thermal energy and the law of temperature variation. Combining the above facts and using efficient mathematical algorithms and programming with the MatLab programming language, the variation curves of temperature, pressure and mass flow rate are determined, while also the dynamic heat equilibrium and pressure equilibrium within the black smoker system are analyzed. On the basis of the model of the normal black smoker system, a megaplume formation model is further built. For instance, the hydrothermal venting plume on the Juan de Fuca Ridge has been simulated and the simulation results are fairly consistent with Baker＇ s imputed data in 1986. On the basis of the above productive simulation, a series of factors for megaplume formation and the effectiveness of the main parameters of the periodicity of the megaplume formation, temperature and the maximum mass flow rate are systematically discussed. Main conclusions are as follows： The normal black smoker system can evolve into a megaplum eruption. In fact, the passageway of the hydrothermal discharge is blocked by the hydrothermal sediments during the black smoker period, which leads to a hydrothermal fluid accumulation, rise of temperature and increase of buoyancy pressure under the seabed. After a period of 2 - 3 a, the megaplume hydrothermal eruption will occur when the increasing buoyancy pressure is high enough to crack the blockage （cap）. Meanwhile, the temperature of the heat source must exceed 500 ℃, while the highest temperature of the eruption fluid may be high up to 413 ℃, which is fairly consistent with the surveying data. If the temperature of the heat source were to be higher than 500 ℃, then the critical period for the megaplume formation could be obviously curtailed to be less than 1 a, while the critical temperature and the maximum mass flow rate are nearly invariable. As the permeability increases, the maximum mass flow rate increases gradually close to a steady value.

Finite Mixture Normal Models, with Application to Dose-Response Studies

In this paper, we consider the risk assessment problem under multi-levels and multiple mixture subpopulations. Our result is the generalization of the results of [1-5].1 Finite Mixture Normal ModelsIn dose-response studies, a class of phenomena that frequently occur are that experimental subjects (e.g., mice) may have different responses like ’none, mild, severe’ after a toxicant experiment, or ’getting worse, no change, getting better’ after a medical treatment, etc. These phenomena have attracted the attention of many researchers in recent years. Finite

An improved model of partition curve based on accumulation normal distribution function

Extensive studies based on partition curve of gravity separation have been investigated. All created models are merely used to simulate density distribution at the same size fraction. However, they cannot be used to predictive distribution of materials depending on compound feature of density and size. According to this situation, an improved model of partition curve based on accumulation normal distribution, which was distinguished from conventional model of accumulation normal distribution for partition curve, was proposed in this paper. It could simulate density distribution at different size fractions by using the density-size compound index and conflating the partition curves at different size fractions as one partition curve. The feasibility of three compound indexes, including mass index, settlement index and transformation index, were investigated. Specific forms of the improved model were also proposed. It is found that transformation index leads to the best fitting results, while the fitting error is only 1.75 according to the fitting partition curve.

A Revision of <i>AIC</i>for Normal Error Models

Conventional Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) for normal error models uses the maximum-likelihood estimator of error variance. Other estimators of error variance, however, can be employed for defining AIC for normal error models. The maximization of the log-likelihood using an adjustable error variance in light of future data yields a revised version of AIC for normal error models. It also gives a new estimator of error variance, which will be called the “third variance”. If the model is described as a constant plus normal error, which is equivalent to fitting a normal distribution to one-dimensional data, the approximated value of the third variance is obtained by replacing (n-1) (n is the number of data) of the unbiased estimator of error variance with (n-4). The existence of the third variance is confirmed by a simple numerical simulation.

Attenuation-type and failure-type curve models on accumulated pore water pressure in saturated normal consolidated clay

Based on dynamic triaxial test results of saturated soft clay, similarities of variations between accumulated pore water pressure and accumulated deformation were analyzed. The Parr＇s equation on accumulated deformation was modified to create an attenuation-type curve model on accumulated pore water pressure in saturated normal consolidation clay. In this model, dynamic strength was introduced and a new parameter called equivalent dynamic stress level was added. Besides, based on comparative analysis on variations between failure-type and attenuatiun-type curves, a failure-type curve model was created on accumulated pore water pressure in saturated normal consolidation clay. Two models can take cycle number, coupling of static and dynamic deviator stress, and consolidation way into consideration. The models are verified by test results. The correlation coefficients are more than 0.98 for optimization of test results based on the two models, and there is good agreement between the optimized and test curves, which shows that the two models are suitable to predict variations of accumulated pore water pressure under different loading cases and consolidation ways. In order to improve prediction accuracy, it is suggested that loading cases and consolidation ways should be consistent with in-situ conditions when dynamic triaxial tests are used to determine the constants in the models.

An Efficient Three-Dimensional Coupled Normal Mode Model and Its Application to Internal Solitary Wave Problems

We present an efficient three-dimensional coupled-mode model based on the Fourier synthesis technique. In principle, this model is a one-way model, and hence provides satisfactory accuracy for problems where the forward scattering dominates. At the same time, this model provides an efficiency gain of an order of magnitude or more over two-way coupled-mode models. This model can be applied to three-dimensional range-dependent problems with a slowly varying bathymetry or internal waves. A numerical example of the latter is demonstrated in this work. Comparisons of both accuracy and efficiency between the present model and a benchmark model are also provided.

A model test on an open-cut tunnel structure under the effect of a stick-slip normal fault

Purpose–Large displacement misalignment under the action of active faults can cause complex threedimensional deformation in subway tunnels,resulting in severe damage,distortion and misalignment.There is no developed system of fortification and related codes to follow.There are scientific problems and technical challenges in this field that have never been encountered in past research and practices.Design/methodology/approach–This paper adopted a self-designed large-scale active fault dislocation simulation loading system to conduct a similar model test of the tunnel under active fault dislocation based on the open-cut tunnel project of the Urumqi Rail Transit Line 2,which passes through the Jiujiawan normal fault.The test simulated the subway tunnel passing through the normal fault,which is inclined at 608.This research compared and analyzed the differences in mechanical behavior between two types of lining section:the opencut double-line box tunnel and the modified double-line box arch tunnel.The structural response and failure characteristics of the open-cut segmented lining of the tunnel under the stick-slip part of the normal fault were studied.Findings–The results indicated that the double-line box arch tunnel improved the shear and longitudinal bending performance.Longitudinal cracks were mainly distributed in the baseplate,wall foot and arch foot,and the crack position was basically consistent with the longitudinal distribution of surrounding rock pressure.This indicated that the longitudinal cracks were due to the large local load of the cross-section of the structure,leading to an excessive local bending moment of the structure,which resulted in large eccentric failure of the lining and formation of longitudinal cracks.Compared with the ordinary box section tunnel,the improved double-line box arch tunnel significantly reduced the destroyed and damage areas of the hanging wall and footwall.The damage area and crack length were reduced by 39 and 59.3%,respectively.This indicates that the improved double-line box arch tunnel had good anti-sliding performance.Originality/value–This paper adopted a self-designed large-scale active fault dislocation simulation loading system to conduct a similar model test of the tunnel under active fault dislocation.This system increased the similarity ratio of the test model,improved the dislocation loading rate and optimized the simulation scheme of the segmented flexible lining and other key factors affecting the test.It is of great scientific significance and engineering value to investigate the structure of subway tunnels under active fault misalignment,to study its force characteristics and damage modes,and to provide a technical reserve for the design and construction of subway tunnels through active faults.