Hematization of Quartz Grains: Study of the Surface of Quartz Grains (M.E.B) and Semi-Quantitative Mineralization

Interest in the Côte d’Ivoire sedimentary basin has led to numerous investigations. All these investigations are aimed at understanding the functioning of the basin and a paleogeographic approach including sediment transport dynamics. However, the use of exoscopy and semi-quantitative mineralogy has been little developed. This study was carried out to compensate for this lack of interest in these methods. Its aim is to understand the transformation of quartz into hematite using exoscopy and semi-quantitative mineralogy in the Adiaké locality, in the eastern onshore basin of Côte d’Ivoire. Two methods were applied to 250 μm-diameter quartz grains from the 40 m coasts. Exoscopy provides information on microscopic texture, surface and corrosion, as well as determining the transport mechanism and deposition phases of quartz grains. Semi-quantitative mineralogy provides an estimate of the weight percentages of major element oxides and the ultrastructure of quartz grains. Exoscopy showed that these grains had been subjected to torrential fluvial transport. They were marked by mechanical and chemical traces during this transport and evolved in different environments. Semi-quantitative mineralogy shows the existence of negative and positive correlations between oxides. Negative correlations indicate a substitution, in order of importance, of silicon by iron, phosphorus and aluminum in these quartz. Positive correlations show that there is no substitution between the oxides concerned in these quartz grains. Divo’s quartz grains have recorded several mechanical and chemical microstructures of their sedimentary episodes, with the appearance of iron nodules in the ports left by silica.

A semi-quantitative coal burst risk classification system

Safety is the highest priority in the mining industry as underground mining in particular poses high safety risks to its workers. In underground coal mines, coal bursts are one of the most catastrophic hazards, which involves sudden and violent dynamic coal mass failure with rapid ejection of the broken material into the mine workings. Despite decades of research, the contributing mechanisms of coal bursts are still not completely understood. Hence, it remains challenging to forecast coal bursts and quantify their likelihood of occurrence. However, a range of geological and geotechnical factors are associated with coal bursts and can increase the coal burst proneness. This paper introduces a semi-quantitative coal burst risk classification system, namely, BurstRisk. Based on back-analysis of case histories from Australia, China and the United States, BurstRisk classifies the coal burst risk into three categories:low, medium and high risk. In addition, it allows mining engineers to modify the weighting of the selected factors based on specific conditions. The risk classification charts introduced are for both longwall retreat and development sections of long-wall mining operations. This paper also provides a set of risk management strategies and control measures for effective coal burst mitigation.

A Semi-Quantitative Analysis of Essential Micronutrient in Folium Lycii Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Technique

Abstract In this paper, the capabilities of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy （LIBS） for rapid analysis to multi-component plant are illustrated using a 1064 nm laser focused onto the surface of folium lycii. Based on homogeneous plasma assumption, nine of essential micronutrients in folium lycii are identified. Using Saha equation and Boltzmann plot method electron density and plasma temperature are obtained, and their relative concentration （Ca, Mg, A1, Si, Ti, Na, K, Li, and Sr） are obtained employing a semi-quantitative method.

Can semi-quantitative evaluation of uncertain (type II) time-intensity curves improve diagnosis in breast DCE-MRI?

Objective/Background: Qualitative assessment of uncertain (type II) time-intensity curves (TICs) in breast DCE-MRI is problematic and operator dependent. The aim of this work is to evaluate if a semi-quantitative assessment of uncertain TICs could improve overall diagnostic performance. Methods: In this study 49 lesions from 44 patients were retrospectively analysed. Per each lesion one region-of-interest (ROI)- averaged TIC was qualitatively evaluated by two radiologists in consensus: all the ROIs resulted in type II (uncertain) TIC. The same TICs were semi-quantitatively re-classified on the basis of the difference between the signal intensities of the last-time-point and of the peak: this difference was classified according to two different cut-off ranges (±5% and ±3%). All patients were cytological or histological biopsy proven. Fisher test and McNemar test were performed to evaluate if results were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Results: Using ±5% cut-off 16 TICs were reclassified as type III and 12 as type I while 21 were reclassified again as type II. Using ±3% 22 TICs were reclassified as type III and 16 as type I while 11 were reclassified again as type II. The semi-quantitative classification was compared to the histological-cytological results: the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values obtained with ±3% were 77%, 91%, 91% and 78% respectively while using ±5% were 58%, 96%, 94% and 68% respectively. Using the ±5% cut-off 26/28 (93%) TICs were correctly reclassified while using the ±3% cut-off 34/38 (90%) TICs were correctly reclassified (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Semi-quantitative methods in kinetic curve assessment on DCE-MRI could improve classification of qualitatively uncertain TICs, leading to a more accurate classification of suspicious breast lesions.

Semi-quantitative analysis on the content of berberine hydrochloride in compound berberine tablets with the fluorescence spectral imaging method

The content of berberine hydrochloride(BH)in compound berberine tablets(CBTs)is subject to strict requirements.Its content is usually measured based on chemical analysis.In this paper,the fluorescence spectral imaging method was used to study the relative content of BH from a physics perspective.By comparing the relative fluorescence intensity of self-made CBTs with di®erent mass percentages of BH,a linear positive relationship was observed between the BH content and the relative fluorescence intensity,and accordingly the quality of CBTs of different brands was evaluated.The results indicate that the fluorescence spectral imaging method can be a simple,fast and nondestructive semi-quantitative analysis method to determine the content of BH in CBTs,and this method has great potential in the quality control of CBTs.

Fault diagnosis of AMT gear shifting process based on semi-quantitative SDG model

In order to diagnose gear shifting process in automated manual transmission（AMT）,a semi-quantitative signed directed graph（SDG）model is applied.Mathematical models are built by analysis of the power train dynamic and the gear shifting control process.The SDG model is built based on related priori knowledge.By calculating the fuzzy membership degree of each compatible passway and its possible fault source,we get the possibilities of failure for each possible fault source.We begin with the nodes with the maximum possibility of failure in order to find the failed part.The diagnosis example shows that it is feasible to use the semi-quantitative SDG model for fault diagnosis of the gear shifting process in AMT.

Standardized Semi-Quantitative Evaluation of [123I]FP-CIT SPECT in a Multicenter Study

To the best of our knowledge no multicenter studies have been published using standardized semi-quantitative evaluation of [123I]FP-CIT scan (DAT-SPECT). The aims of this study were: 1) to cross-compare semi-quantitative software-assisted evaluations of DAT-SPECTs performed in three centers with different equipments;2) to assess the accuracy of semi-quantitative evaluations of DAT-SPECT and 3) to identify the threshold with the best accuracy, sensitivity and specificity in a patient population with suspected parkinsonian syndrome. Materials and Methods: Two hundred twenty patients (mean age at the time of SPECT acquisition, 67.4 ± 9.5 yy) acquired in three centers (Ospedale San Luigi Gonzaga;Ospedale San Giovanni Battista Molinette;Ospedale Mauriziano Umberto I) were included. All of them underwent DAT-SPECT from January 2006 to July 2010. All exams were analyzed with the freely available software BASGAN and semi-quantitative data were used to predict disease. In particular, analyses were based on the values from the most deteriorated putamen and caudate, normalized for age and corrected for equipment. ROC analysis was performed and area under the curve (AUC) was estimated. Results: Analysis showed high AUCs (0.898, 0.864, 0.900 and 0.891 for each center and for the multicenter setting, respectively) confirming the very good accuracies reached. The best cut-off were 0.72 and 0.82 for putamen and caudate respectively. These thresholds allowed sensitivities and specificities in each center and in the multicenter setting of 76% and 96%, 91% and 82%, 93% and 90%, 86% and 89% respectively. No significant differences were observed between sensibility and specificity in each center. Conclusion: A unique threshold useful for all centers with high and similar sensitivities and specificities is possible after correction for age and equipments. The high accuracy reached in this multicenter trial by the semi-quantitative analysis seems similar to accuracies from qualitative analysis in other multicenter studies.

Semi-Quantitative Estimation of Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺Ratio in YAG:Ce³⁺Phosphor under Different Sintering Atmosphere

In order to confirm the relationship between the luminescence and the ratio of Ce3+/Ce4+ more clearly, a series of YAG:Ce3+ (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet, Y2.94Al5O12:0.06Ce3+) phosphors were pre- pared under different sintering atmosphere. A semi-quantitative analysis based on X-ray photoe-lectron spectroscopy (XPS) was introduced to study the mole ratio of Ce3+/Ce4+ in the as-synthesized YAG:Ce3+ phosphors. The results indicated that the percentage of Ce3+/(Ce3+ + Ce4+) reached 88.46% under the reduction atmosphere. The emission intensity of YAG:Ce3+ phosphors was in-creased significantly with the increasing of Ce3+ concentration.

Research on Fast Semi-Quantitative Risk Assessment Method for High Temperature and High Pressure Gas Wells

Aiming at the problem that the existing risk assessment methods in China cannot simply and accurately assess the safety risk of gas wells, a rapid semi-quantitative risk assessment method for gas wells under high temperature and pressure is studied. Based on the rapid risk assessment method of annulus well with pressure in Chevron Company and the existing risk assessment methods, the well barrier and annulus pressure of high temperature and high pressure gas wells are fully considered. A rapid semi-quantitative risk assessment method for high temperature and high pressure gas wells is established, which takes the annulus pressure value, well service life, annulus pressure recovery after pressure relief, reservoir conditions (formation pressure, production) and well CO2 and H2S content as the key risk indexes. The method is applied in a gas field, and the risk value and risk grade of a practical well are semi-quantitatively evaluated. The overall risk situation of the well is obtained. The research results provide important technical guidance for the safe production of gas well.

Semi-quantitative design of synergetic surficial/interfacial sites for the semi-continuous oxidation of glycerol

Qualitatively identifying the dominant catalytic site for each step of a semi-continuous reaction and semi-quantitatively correlating such different sites to the catalytic performance is of great significance toward the integration of multiple well-optimized sites on a heterogeneous catalyst.Herein,a series of structurally defined TiO_(x)-based catalysts were synthesized to provide a feasible approach to investigate the aforementioned issues using the semi-continuous oxidation of glycerol as a model reaction.Detailed investigations have verified the simultaneous presence of two kinds of Pt active sites:1)Negatively charged Pt bound to the oxygen vacancies of modified TiO_(x)in the form of Pt^(δ−)-O_(v)-Ti^(3+) sites and 2)metallic Pt(Pt_(0)site)located away from the inter-face.Meanwhile,the proportion of surficial and interfacial sites varies over this series of catalysts.Combined in situ FTIR experiments revealed that the reaction network was well-tuned via a site cooperation mechanism:The surficial Pt_(0)sites dissociatively adsorb the OH group of glycerol with a monodentate bonding geometry and the Pt^(δ−)-O_(v)-Ti^(3+) sites dissociate the C=O bond of the aldehyde group in a bidentate form.Furthermore,CO-FTIR spectroscopy confirmed a correlation between the reaction rate/product selectivity and the fraction of surficial/interfacial sites.A rational proportion of surficial and interfacial sites is key to enabling a high yield of glyceric acid.The most active catalyst with 32%surface sites and 68%interfacial sites exhibited 90.0%glycerol conversion and 68.5%GLYA selectivity.These findings provide a deeper understanding of the structure-activity relationships using qualitative identification and semi-quantitative analysis.

Colloidal Gold Immunochromatographic Assay for Rapid On-Site Detection of Tetracycline in Seawater

Recently increasing concerns from the scientists and public have been paid for seawater pollution due to tetracycline(TC)overuse in maricultural area.However,there are few methods or instruments that can be used for specific and rapid detection of this antibiotic in seawater.In this study,the colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay(CG-ICA)was used to achieve this goal.A commercialized monoclonal antibody against TC(anti-TC mAb)was selected because of its higher sensitivity(half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 2.38μgL^(-1)).The prepared CG particles(average diameter of 20 nm)were used to label anti-TC mAb at pH 8.0.The conjugate pad was formed by spraying the CG-labeled anti-TC mAb on a glass fibre membrane followed by proper dryness.The test pad was made by immobilizing artificial antigen and anti-mouse mAb in the test line and the control line,respectively,in a nitrocellulose membrane.The test strip,assembled with sample pad,conjugate pad,test pad and absorbent pad,could be used to detect TC during seawater sample flowing through these components in turn.The results could be observed by the naked eye in 10min.The visible limit of detection(vLOD)was 20μgL^(-1) for TC in seawater.The CG-ICA test results were in good agreement with those of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS).The assay also showed that,oxytetracycline(OTC)and chlortetracycline(CTC),as the structural analogues of TC,did not interfere with TC determination.Furthermore,the TC concentration given by test strip could not be affected by the fluctuation of temperature(10℃–30℃),pH(7–9)and salinity(0–40)of seawater.Therefore,CG-ICA is a suitable tool for rapid,on-site,and semi-quantitative detection of TC in seawater.

A Proposed Method for Evaluating Management Feasibility When Determining Weed Control Priorities after Major Fires and Floods

Major fires and floods have enormous impacts on natural ecosystems and are predicted to increase in frequency with global warming.Land managers need to make decisions on the prioritisation of weeds for control in post-disturbance landscapes,but little is available in the way of guidance to support timely decision making.Semi-quantitative models(e.g.,scoring systems)have been employed routinely in weed risk assessment,which considers the potential impacts posed by weeds,as well as the likelihood of these impacts being realised.Some progress has been made in the development of similar models addressing the topic of weed risk management.Under conditions prevailing after major disturbances,changes(both positive and negative)can be expected in the multiple factors that determine weed management feasibility,relative to pre-disturbance conditions.A semi-quantitative model is proposed that is based on the key factors that contribute to weed management feasibility in post-disturbance environments,along with annotated modules that could be used by land managers in both post-fire and post-flood situations.The fundamental challenge for weed management in these scenarios lies in the identification of differences between weeds and native species in relation to(1)patterns of seedling emergence;and(2)detectability relative to the growth stage.These two factors will determine the timing of control actions that are designed to address the trade-off between weed control and off-target damage during the period when both types of plants are recovering from a major disturbance event.The model is intuitively sound,but field testing is required to determine both its practical value and any necessary improvement.

Galectin-3在结直肠癌中的表达及其对肠癌细胞株增殖和凋亡的影响

目的:探讨半乳糖凝集素-3(Galectin-3)在结直肠癌中的表达及其对肠癌细胞株SW480增殖和凋亡的影响。方法:采用Semi-quantitative RT-PCR和组织芯片免疫组化染色技术检测结直肠癌组织、淋巴结转移癌组织和邻近正常肠粘膜组织中Galectin-3 mRNA和蛋白的表达情况。构建Lv-Galectin-3-EGFP表达载体和psi Lv-U6-Galectin-3 RNA干扰载体,分别转染SW480细胞,分别利用CCK-8试剂盒和Hoechst染色法观察Galectin-3的表达状态对肠癌细胞株增殖和凋亡的影响。结果:Galectin-3在结直肠癌组织和淋巴结转移癌组织中的表达水平显著高于邻近正常肠粘膜组织(P<0.01)。Galectin-3与结直肠癌患者的临床分期、肿瘤分化程度及淋巴结转移等参数相关。体外细胞实验显示,上调Galectin-3表达可以促进肠癌细胞株的增殖,抑制其凋亡。结论:Galectin-3的表达上调参与结直肠癌的进展。

Estimation of intra-operator variability in perfusion parameter measurements using DCE-US

AIM:To investigate intra-operator variability of semiquantitative perfusion parameters using dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(DCE-US),following bolus injections of SonoVue.METHODS:The in vitro experiments were conducted using three in-house sets up based on pumping a fluid through a phantom placed in a water tank.In the in vivo experiments,B16F10 melanoma cells were xenografted to five nude mice.Both in vitro and in vivo,images were acquired following bolus injections of the ultrasound contrast agent SonoVue(Bracco,Milan,Italy) and using a Toshiba Aplio ultrasound scanner connected to a 2.9-5.8 MHz linear transducer(PZT,PLT 604AT probe)(Toshiba,Japan) allowing harmonic imaging("Vascular Recognition Imaging") involving linear raw data.A mathematical model based on the dye-dilution theory was developed by the Gustave Roussy Institute,Villejuif,France and used to evaluate seven perfusion parameters from time-intensity curves.Intra-operator variability analyses were based on determining perfusion parameter coefficients of variation(CV).RESULTS:In vitro,different volumes of SonoVue were tested with the three phantoms:intra-operator variability was found to range from 2.33% to 23.72%.In vivo,experiments were performed on tumor tissues and perfusion parameters exhibited values ranging from 1.48% to 29.97%.In addition,the area under the curve(AUC) and the area under the wash-out(AUWO) were two of the parameters of great interest since throughout in vitro and in vivo experiments their variability was lower than 15.79%.CONCLUSION:AUC and AUWO appear to be the most reliable parameters for assessing tumor perfusion using DCE-US as they exhibited the lowest CV values.

Prevalence and Risk Assessment of Campylobacter jejuni in Chicken in China

Objective To understand the occurrence and distribution of Campylobacter jejuni in chicken in China, assess its health risk to the Chinese population, and provide recommendations for effective risk control. Methods Data from the National Food Safety Risk Surveillance Network on Campylobacter jejuni between 2007 and 2010 and from published articles were analyzed. Eleven parameters were used based on the whole chicken preparation process and prevalence of Campylobocter jejuni for risk assessment by using the Ross-Sumner Method. Results The detection rates of Campylobacterjejuni in raw chicken were between 0.29% and 2.28% during 2007-2010 in China （more than 20 provinces）. The probability of illness caused by Campylobacter jejuni due to chicken consumption was around six out of one million consumers per day in urban areas and around one out of one million consumers per day in rural areas. Total predicted illnesses per year was about 736 000, accounting for 1.6‰ of the general population in urban areas and about 301 000, accounting for 0.37‰ of the total population in rural areas. The risk rankings of Campylobocterjejuni in chicken were 52 and 49 in urban and rural areas, respectively. Conclusion A high risk score for Campylobacterjejuni in chicken was obtained in China. This result may contribute to development of food safety management strategies. Key efforts should be made to control the risk of Campylobacterjejuni in chicken in China, especially in chick breeding and chicken preparation processes.

Medical imaging for pancreatic diseases:Prediction of severe acute pancreatitis complicated with acute respiratory distress syndrome

In this editorial we comment on the article published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology[2022;28(19):2123-2136].We pay attention to how to construct a simpler and more reliable new clinical predictive model to early identify patients at high risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)associated with severe acute pancreatitis(SAP),and to early predict the severity of organ failure from chest computed tomography(CT)findings in SAP patients.As we all know,SAP has a sudden onset,is a rapidly changing condition,and can be complicated with ARDS and even multiple organ dysfunction syndrome,and its mortality rate has remained high.At present,there are many clinical scoring systems for AP,including the bedside index for severity in AP,acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II,systemic inflammatory response syndrome,Japanese severe score,quick sepsis-related organ failure assessment,etc.However,some of these scoring systems are complex and require multiple and difficult clinical parameters for risk stratification.Although the aforementioned biomarkers are readily available,their ability to predict ARDS varies.Accordingly,it is extremely necessary to establish a simple and valuable novel model to predict the development of ARDS in AP.In addition,the extra-pancreatic manifestations of AP patients often involve the chest,among which pleural effusion and pulmonary consolidation are the more common complications.Therefore,by measuring the semi-quantitative indexes of chest CT in AP patients,such as the amount of pleural effusion and the number of lobes involved as pulmonary consolidation,it has important reference value for the early diagnosis of SAP complicated with ARDS and is expected to provide a basis for the early treatment of ARDS.

Lacunar infarction with leukoaraiosis may aggravate cognitive dysfunction

This study semi-quantitatively analyzed the effects of leukoaraiosis.Patients with moderate or severe lacunar infarction were found to exhibit low scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale （F=12.02,P=0.000）,and prolonged P300 Cz2.0 latency （F=16.04,P=0.000）.Correlation analysis revealed that the occurrence of leukoaraiosis was negatively correlated with Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores （r=-0.416,P=0.000）,and positively correlated with P300 Cz2.0 latency （r=0.538,P=0.000）.These findings indicate that leukoaraiosis aggravates cognitive impairment in patients with lacunar infarction,such that more severe leukoaraiosis is associated with more severe cognitive decline.

Effects of cold stress on hypothalamic corticotrophin-releasing and thyrotropin-releasing hormone messenger RNA levels in chickens

There is increasing evidence that stress can activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis and hypothalamic-pituitary- thyroid-axis, and further affect the synthesis and secretion of corticotrophin-releasing hormone （CRH） and thyrotropin-releasing hormone （TRH）. To evaluate the effect of cold stress on the hypothalamic CRH and TRH messenger RNA （mRNA） levels in Yisha chickens, male Yisha chickens were subjected to acute （1, 6, 12 h） and chronic （5, 10, 20 d） cold stress （12±1）℃. Hypothalami were collected for assessment of mRNA levels by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Acute stress resulted in a significant decrease of CRH mRNA levels at 6 and 12 h, and a significant increase of TRH mRNA levels at every stress time point. Chronic cold stress resulted in a significant increase of CRH mRNA levels and a significant decrease of TRH mRNA levels compared with the control group at every stress time point. The results suggest that the two genes differently respond to cold stress at the mRNA levels. And the different degrees of cold stress will produce different effects on the identical gene.

Isolation, Identification and Tissue Expression Profile Analysis of One Novel Differentially Expressed Sequence Tag in the Longissimus dorsi Muscle from Meishan, Meishan × Large White Hybrid and Large White Pigs

In order to detect the molecular mechanism of heterosis in pigs, the mRNA differential display technique was performed to investigate the differences of gene expression in the Longissimus dorsi tissue from Meishan, Meishan × Large White hybrid and Large White pigs with nine 3'-end anchored primers in combination with ten 5'-end arbitrary primers and nearly 3000 reproducible bands were examined. One novel expressed sequence tag (EST4, GenBank accession number: AY553914) that was differentially expressed in Meishan, Meishan× Large White hybrid and Large White pigs was isolated from the Longissimus dorsi muscle tissue and identified through semi-quantitative RT-PCR. BLAST analysis revealed that the 350 bp long EST (EST4) was not homologous to any of the known porcine genes. Tissue expression profile analyses showed that the EST4 was expressed in most of tissues.LIU Yong-gang, Ph D candidate

Expression Analysis of Restorer Alleles-Induced Genes in Pepper

Fertility restoration of cytoplasmic male-sterility in pepper （Capsicum annuum L.） is useful for commercial production of hybrid seeds. However, the mechanism of fertility restoration has not been determined. We previously constructed a cDNA library and identified some genes related to fertility restoration in pepper using suppression subtractive hybridization technology. In this study, the expression patterns of 20 genes were investigated using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Three genes expressed only in restorer lines, but not in sterility lines. Four genes expressed only in anther, but not in other organs. Among these 7 genes, the clone TG31 was observed to specifically express in anther of restorer lines. The work described here provides a comprehensive overview on the expression pattern of the genes that are induced by restorer alleles in pepper. It will also contribute to the current understanding of molecular networks for the regulation of fertility restoration.