有趣的diminutives

英语中有几个很有趣的后缀,它们的共同点是放在某些词之后,表示某人或某物所具有的“微小”(smallness)的特征,而且常含有可爱、值得同情的感情色彩。它们被称为 diminutives(指小词)。现列举如下:

Artificial intelligence for characterization of diminutive colorectal polyps:A feasibility study comparing two computer-aided diagnosis systems

BACKGROUND Artificial intelligence(AI)has potential in the optical diagnosis of colorectal polyps.AIM To evaluate the feasibility of the real-time use of the computer-aided diagnosis system(CADx)AI for ColoRectal Polyps(AI4CRP)for the optical diagnosis of diminutive colorectal polyps and to compare the performance with CAD EYE^(TM)(Fujifilm,Tokyo,Japan).CADx influence on the optical diagnosis of an expert endoscopist was also investigated.METHODS AI4CRP was developed in-house and CAD EYE was proprietary software provided by Fujifilm.Both CADxsystems exploit convolutional neural networks.Colorectal polyps were characterized as benign or premalignant and histopathology was used as gold standard.AI4CRP provided an objective assessment of its characterization by presenting a calibrated confidence characterization value(range 0.0-1.0).A predefined cut-off value of 0.6 was set with values<0.6 indicating benign and values≥0.6 indicating premalignant colorectal polyps.Low confidence characterizations were defined as values 40%around the cut-off value of 0.6(<0.36 and>0.76).Self-critical AI4CRP’s diagnostic performances excluded low confidence characterizations.RESULTS AI4CRP use was feasible and performed on 30 patients with 51 colorectal polyps.Self-critical AI4CRP,excluding 14 low confidence characterizations[27.5%(14/51)],had a diagnostic accuracy of 89.2%,sensitivity of 89.7%,and specificity of 87.5%,which was higher compared to AI4CRP.CAD EYE had a 83.7%diagnostic accuracy,74.2%sensitivity,and 100.0%specificity.Diagnostic performances of the endoscopist alone(before AI)increased nonsignificantly after reviewing the CADx characterizations of both AI4CRP and CAD EYE(AI-assisted endoscopist).Diagnostic performances of the AI-assisted endoscopist were higher compared to both CADx-systems,except for specificity for which CAD EYE performed best.CONCLUSION Real-time use of AI4CRP was feasible.Objective confidence values provided by a CADx is novel and self-critical AI4CRP showed higher diagnostic performances compared to AI4CRP.

Prospective real-time evaluation of diagnostic performance using endocytoscopy in differentiating neoplasia from nonneoplasia for colorectal diminutive polyps(≤ 5 mm)

AIM To clarify the diagnostic performance of endocytoscopy for differentiation between neoplastic and nonneoplastic colorectal diminutive polyps.METHODS Patients who underwent endocytoscopy between October and December 2016 at Sano Hospital were prospectively recruited. When diminutive polyps(≤5 mm) were detected, the lesions were evaluated by endocytoscopy after being stained with 0.05% crystal violet and 1% methylene blue. The diminutivepolyps were classified into five categories(EC 1 a, 1 b, 2, 3 a, and 3 b). Endoscopists were asked to take a biopsy from any lesion diagnosed as EC1 b(indicator of hyperplastic polyp) or EC2(indicator of adenoma). We have assessed the diagnostic performance of endocytoscopy for EC2 and EC1 b lesions by comparison with the histopathology of the biopsy specimen. RESULTS A total of 39 patients with 63 diminutive polyps were analyzed. All polyps were evaluated by endocytoscopy. The mean polyp size was 3.3 ± 0.9 mm. Among the 63 diminutive polyps, 60 were flat and 3 were pedunculated. The mean time required for EC observation, including the time for staining with crystal violet and methylene blue, was 3.0 ± 1.9 min. Histopathologic evaluation showed that 13 polyps were hyperplastic and 50 were adenomas. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of EC2 for adenoma compared with EC1 b for hyperplastic polyp were 98.0%, 92.3%, 96.8%, 98.0% and 92.3%, respectively. There were only two cases of disagreement between the endoscopic diagnosis made by endocytoscopy and the corresponding histopathological diagnosis.CONCLUSION Endocytoscopy showed a high diagnostic performance for differentiating between neoplastic and non-neoplastic colorectal diminutive polyps, and therefore has the potential to be used for "real-time histopathology".

Should hot biopsy forceps be abandoned for polypectomy of diminutive colorectal polyps?

Standardized approach to polypectomy of diminutive colorectal polyps(DCPs) is lacking since cold biopsy forceps have been associated with high levels of recurrence, hot biopsy forceps are considered inadequate and risky and cold snaring is currently under investigation for its efficacy and safety. This has led to confusion and a gap in clinical practice. This article discusses the usefulness and contemporary practical applicability of hot biopsy forceps and provides wellintentioned criticism of the new European guidelines for the treatment of DCPs. Diminutive colorectal polyps are a source of frustration for the endoscopist since their small size is accompanied by a considerable risk of premalignant neoplasia and a small but nonnegligible risk of advanced neoplasia and even cancer. Since the proportion of diminutive colorectal polyps is substantial and exceeds that of larger polyps, their effective removal poses a considerable workload and a therapeutic challenge. During the last decade, the introduction of cold snaring to routine endoscopy practice has attempted to overcome the use of prior techniques, such as hot biopsy forceps. It is important to recognize that with the exception of endoscopic methods that are obviously unsafe and inadequate to serve their purpose, all other interventional endoscopic methods are operator-dependent in the sense that specific expertise and training are obligatory for the success of any therapeutic intervention. Since relevant publications on hot biopsy forceps are still in favor of its careful use, as it has not yet demonstrated inferiority compared with newer techniques, it would be prudent for any medical practitioner to evaluate the available tools and judge any new proposed technique based on the evidence before it is adopted.

Effect of the Number and Orientation of Fractures on the P-Wave Velocity Diminution: Application on the Building Stones of the Rabat Area (Morocco)

This study is focused on two types of Moroccan rocks, among the most widely used as building stones: the calcarenite of Salé (CS) and the marble of oued Akrech (MA). The two rocks, lithologically different, show a clear contrast of their P-wave velocities (Vp): 3.90 vs 5.10 km/s at dry state and 4.29 vs 5.64 km/s at saturation. The “Artificial fractures” created in the two rock types reveal that their Vp undergo diminutions which the rates vary depending of the number and the plane orientation of the fractures. In the CS, Vp shows an increasing of cumulative diminution (Dc) according to the number of fractures, but with a variable rate of unitary diminution (Du) from one fracture to the other. This defines a linear regression with a low coefficient of determination (Dc = 10.18NbFr + 10.96;r2 = 0.87). The mode of the Vp evolution would be related to the roughness of fractures surface, which itself depends upon the petrographic nature of the calcarenite (friable structure, high porosity and heterogenous composition). The MA manifested an increasing Dc with a fairly constant rate of Du from a fracture to another, giving a regression line with a high coefficient of determination (Dc = 12.17NbFr – 10.69;r2 = 0.99). This steady diminution of Vp would be related to the granoblastic texture and the monomineral composition of the marble, which engender smoother fracture surfaces. The rates of Vp diminution also depend on the orientation plane of the fractures relative to the direction of wave propagation. The fractures parallel (θ = 0°) amplify slightly the Vp, playing a significant role of “waveguide”. The fractures oriented at 45° lead to a diminution lower than those of fractures oriented at 25° and 90°. The same trend of diminution, but at variable rates, appears on the samples of the two types of stones at dry and saturated state. This can be explained by the compressive nature of P-waves, which obey the physic laws of the transmission of the constraints in the solid mediums.

Kinetic Flux Vector Splitting Method for the Shallow Water Wave Equations

Based on the analogy to gas dynamics, the kinetic flux vector splitting (KFVS) method is used to stimulate the shallow water wave equations. The flux vectors of the equations are split on the basis of the local equilibrium Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution. One dimensional examples including a dam breaking wave and flows over a ridge are calculated. The solutions exhibit second-order accuracy with no spurious oscillation.

Novel Epoxy Resin/Si O_2 Nanocomposites Preparation Method Based on Di minutive Bubbles Explosion

To obtain suspended dispersion of nano-particles in liquid without any dispersant, a novel epoxy resin/SiO2 nanocomposites preparation method based on diminutive bubbles explosion is presented. And, corresponding nanocomposites preparation system was designed. The preparation system applies compressed gas as transmission medium to carry nanomaterials into epoxy resin solution. The compressed gas with nanomaterials turns into diminutive bubbles distributing in epoxy resin/SiO2. The great pressure difference between inner and outer-bubbles led to bubbles inflation and explosion. During the bubble inflation, bubble oscillation may generate The stretching rate may reach 10^6 s^-1, which favors more homogeneous dispersion of nano- particles. During the bubbles explosion the released energy and the explosion shock waves disperse the nanoparticles into epoxy resin solution. By using the preparation system, epoxy resin/SiO2 nanoeomposites were prepared. The SiO2 dispersed into epoxy as the configuration of 15 nm - 30 nm particles.

Spectral Correction Method of Multi-Channels Near-Infrared Spectrometer and Applications

Near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer based on semiconductor lasers can combine light source and splitter into one, which is an important direction for development of miniature instruments. In order to avoid random interference caused by inconsistency between light sources, the novel evaluation indicators for global stability of multi-channels spectral system were proposed based on the correlation between dynamic deviation spectra of any two channels. The NIR analysis of moisture for corn powder samples based on the partial least squares combined with Savitzky-Golay (SG) smoothing was taken as an example, and a spectral correction method for enhancing prediction performance of multi-channels spectral system was further provided using above evaluation indicators. The experiment results showed that the global stability evaluation indicators significantly increased after SG smoothing correction. Meanwhile, the root-mean-square errors of prediction for corn moisture reduced from 0.373 to 0.283 (%), and the correlation coefficient between predicted and actual values was improved from 0.702 to 0.855. The above results indicated that by improving global stability indicators, the prediction ability of multi-channels spectral system can be improved. The proposed method provided a valuable reference for designing multi-channels diminutive spectrometer with high prediction performance, which had significance for large-scale application of NIR technology.

Post-meiotic apozygotic combinatory process in sugar beet (<i>Beta vulgaris</i>L.)

The effect of colchicine on phenotypic classes ratio of the enzyme locus controlling alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH1) in sugar beet agamospermous progenies was analysed. The obtained data are indicative of the thing that colchicine causes polytenization of homological chromosome regions carrying marker locus Adh1 alleles. Theoretical calculation of the formation of egg cells frequencies and those of further development of cells entering embryogenesis without fertilization, also the diminution calculation of excessive chromosome regions carrying marker locus alleles have been made. The coincidence of theoretical and experimental ratios of phenotypic classes indicates the existence of post-meiotic apozygotic combinatory process in plants.

Influence of external conditions on the combinatorial processes at agamospermy

The estimation of the influence of external conditions on marker enzymes phenotypic classes ratios in agamospermous sugar beet progenies has been carried out. It has been shown that different ways of flowering sugar beet plant branches isolation lead to different ratios of marker enzyme phenotypes in a developing agamospermous seed progeny. The obtained data are an additional confirmation of the hypothesis about the presence of differential chromosomes polyteny and its dependence on external conditions.

Zygotic combinatorial process in plants

Experimental data that prove the existence of the zygotic combinatorial process occurring in an embryogenesis-entering zygote are presented in the paper. The zygotic combinatorial process is found when analyzing F1 hybrid plants obtained from crossing homozygous forms different, minimum, in two marker enzymes, and it is found in that hybrid plant which, with one marker enzyme heterozygous spectrum, has a homozygous spectrum of the other. The zygotic combinatorial process leads to F1 hybrids uniformity aberration. The zygotic combinatory process revealed in the study is supposed to be conditioned by chromosome polyteny in mother plant cells and diminution of chromatin excess from the embryogenesisentering zygote. An obligatory condition for combinatorial process is the presence of free exchange of chromatides among homological chromosomes in an embryogenesis-entering cell, i.e. the presence of crossing-over analogous to the one proceeding at meiosis.

Phenotypic Class Ratios as Marker Signs of Different Types of Agamospermy

This article focuses on the development of the method for the genetic classification of agamospermous reproduction types in plants using sugar beet as an example. The classification feasibility is ensured by the use of isozymes as genetic markers allowing the identification of all three phenotypic classes in the progeny of individual heterozygous diploid plant and is based on different phenotypic class ratios in the progenies obtained by meiotic and mitotic agamospermy. The data indicate that for studied forms of sugar beet meiotic agamospermy is the more typical because 10 of 12 explored progenies were classified as those which arisen under meiotic agamospermy and only 2 as arisen under mitotic agamospermy.

A Year of Diminutive Development

The world economy struggles to regain growth amid uncertainties in 2010 In 2010, hopefully, the world economy will emerge from recession and progress toward an overall recovery. But the process will be anything but easy-and, if nothing else, replete with abundant uncertainties.