To explore the value of a radiomics model based on enhanced computed tomography (CT) in differentiating anterior mediastinal lymphoma (AML) and thymoma without myasthenia gravis (MG) and ...calcification.
The present study analysed patients who were diagnosed histologically with AML and thymoma in three independent institutions. All pre-treatment patients underwent enhanced CT. In the training group of patients from institutions 1 (the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University) and 3 (the Yunnan Cancer Hospital), two radiologists independently analysed the enhanced CT images and performed manual segmentation of each tumour. Radiomics features were screened using interobserver interclass coefficient (ICC) analysis, feature correlation analysis, and L1 regularisation. The discriminative efficacy of the logistic regression model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Validation group of patients from institution 2 (the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine) was used to validate the proposed models.
A total of 114 patients were enrolled in this study and 1,743 radiomics features were extracted from the enhanced CT images. After feature screening, the remaining 37 robust radiomics features were used to construct the model. In the training group, the AUC of the model was 0.987 (95% confidence interval CI: 0.976–0.999), the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 0.912, 0.946, and 0.924, respectively. In the validation group, the AUC of the model was 0.798 (95% CI: 0.683–0.913), the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 0.760, 0.700, and 0.743, respectively.
The radiomics model created provided effective information to assist in the selection of clinical strategies, thus reducing unnecessary procedures in patients with AML and guiding direct surgery in patients with thymoma to avoid biopsy.
•Multicenter acquisition of lymphoma and thymoma cases.•Explore the effective radiomics features for distinguishing lymphoma from thymoma.•Myasthenia gravis and calcification were firstly proposed as exclusion criteria.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Field investigations of earthquake-stricken areas have shown that eccentric structures usually suffer more severe seismic damage than symmetric structures due to translational-torsional coupling. ...While most studies have focused on the torsional response of single-layer or unidirectional eccentric structures, this paper presents a whole-process parametric analysis of the translational-torsional coupling effect of the multilayer bidirectional eccentric frame structure. Next, a nonlinear static analysis is performed via a self-compiled MATLAB program, revealing a general law for the variation in the natural frequency of the multilayer eccentric frame structure in different layers during its evolution from the elastic to the elastoplastic stage. This process is subdivided into three distinct analytic stages. The parametric analysis is also performed for the translational-torsional displacement ratio varying with the noncoupled torsional-translational frequency ratio (Ω) and the bidirectional eccentricity (
b
x
,
b
y
) throughout the three stages. The analysis shows that the translational-torsional coupling effect of the bidirectional eccentric structure was most intense at Ω = 1.1. This is a very adverse situation that may occur in the torsion-resistant design of the structure and deserves extra attention. The translational-torsional coupling effect is aggravated along the load (
x
) direction as it increases and is unaffected by
b
x
, Ω, or the elastoplastic development process. The degree of influence of
b
x
on the translational-torsional coupling effect depends on which particular layer of the structure is under consideration and the elastoplastic development process. As elastoplastic development proceeds, the translational motion of the structure along the load direction finally predominates. Meanwhile, the translational-torsional coupling effect along the load direction decreases dramatically.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Parotid gland BCA is a rare benign tumor. Only a few studies describing the imaging features of BCA have been published. This study investigated CT and sonography characteristics of BCA of the ...parotid gland.
Demographics of patients with BCA were evaluated, and lesion characteristics of CT (n = 22) and sonography (n = 20) were reviewed. These cases were grouped into 3 types: type 1 tumors, located at the superficial region of superficial lobe of the parotid gland; type 2 tumors, located at the deeper region of superficial lobe; and type 3 tumors, located in the deep lobe. Imaging findings were correlated with pathology.
Sixteen patients (73%) were female and 6 (27%) were male. The mean age was 51.5 years (SD 10.2; range 32-73). The size of the tumors was less than 30 mm. The sizes of type 1, type 2, and type 3 tumors were 11.4 ± 3.29 mm, 19.3 ± 5.44 mm, and 26 ± 3.6 mm, respectively. The CT attenuation increase was 64.5 ± 19 HU on contrast CT. The type 1 tumors were solid (11/11), showed homogeneous or slightly heterogeneous enhancement on CT, and were homogeneously or slightly heterogeneously hypoechoic on sonography. Cystic changes tended to occur in type 2 (7/8) or type 3 (2/3) tumors, which showed obvious heterogeneous attenuation on CT and anechoic on sonography.
The BCA tends to be small and shows early intense enhancement. The solid tumor is common in the superficial region of the parotid gland, and cystic lesions occur mostly in the deeper parts of the superficial lobe or in the deep lobe.
FLASHForward: plasma wakefield accelerator science for high-average-power applications D'Arcy, R; Aschikhin, A; Bohlen, S ...
Philosophical transactions - Royal Society. Mathematical, Physical and engineering sciences/Philosophical transactions - Royal Society. Mathematical, physical and engineering sciences,
08/2019, Volume:
377, Issue:
2151
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
The FLASHForward experimental facility is a high-performance test-bed for precision plasma wakefield research, aiming to accelerate high-quality electron beams to GeV-levels in a few centimetres of ...ionized gas. The plasma is created by ionizing gas in a gas cell either by a high-voltage discharge or a high-intensity laser pulse. The electrons to be accelerated will either be injected internally from the plasma background or externally from the FLASH superconducting RF front end. In both cases, the wakefield will be driven by electron beams provided by the FLASH gun and linac modules operating with a 10 Hz macro-pulse structure, generating 1.25 GeV, 1 nC electron bunches at up to 3 MHz micro-pulse repetition rates. At full capacity, this FLASH bunch-train structure corresponds to 30 kW of average power, orders of magnitude higher than drivers available to other state-of-the-art LWFA and PWFA experiments. This high-power functionality means FLASHForward is the only plasma wakefield facility in the world with the immediate capability to develop, explore and benchmark high-average-power plasma wakefield research essential for next-generation facilities. The operational parameters and technical highlights of the experiment are discussed, as well as the scientific goals and high-average-power outlook. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Directions in particle beam-driven plasma wakefield acceleration'.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, NMLJ, NUK, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Objective
To investigate the clinical outcome and endocrinological characteristics of progestin‐primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) using 4 versus 10 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) per day in ...infertile women with normal ovary reserve.
Design
A randomised parallel controlled trial.
Setting
Tertiary‐care academic medical centre.
Participants
A cohort of 300 infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment.
Methods
Human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG; 225 iu per day) and MPA (group A, 10 mg per day; group B, 4 mg per day) were started simultaneously from cycle day 3 onwards. Ovulation was co‐triggered by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 1000 iu) and gonadotropin‐releasing hormone agonist (GnRH agonist; 0.1 mg) when dominant follicles matured. Viable embryos were cryopreserved for later frozen embryo transfer (FET) in both groups.
Main outcome measures
The primary outcome measure was the number of oocytes retrieved. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of a premature surge in luteinising hormone (LH), the number of viable embryos, and clinical pregnancy outcomes.
Results
The number of oocytes retrieved and viable embryos were similar between two groups (9.8 ± 6.3 versus 9.6 ± 5.9; 4.2 ± 2.6 versus 3.7 ± 3.0; P > 0.05). No significant difference was found in clinical pregnancy rate (58.0 versus 48.7%) and live birth rate per participant (48.7 versus 42.0%; P > 0.05). No premature LH surge and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) occurred in either group.
Conclusions
Progestin‐primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) using 4 or 10 mg of MPA per day was comparable in terms of the number of oocytes retrieved and pregnancy outcome after FET. The administration of 4 mg of MPA per day was sufficient to prevent an untimely LH rise in women undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment.
Tweetable
An RCT confirmed similar pregnancy outcome in P‐primed ovarian stimulation with a daily dose of 4 or 10 mg MPA.
Tweetable
An RCT confirmed similar pregnancy outcome in P‐primed ovarian stimulation with a daily dose of 4 or 10 mg MPA.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
As a DNA repair protein, Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) plays crucial parts in preventing carcinogenesis. Two functional germ line variants (-69G > A and 4150G > T) in the FEN1 gene have been associated ...with DNA damage levels in coke oven workers and lung cancer risk in general populations. However, the role of these genetic variants on gastrointestinal cancer susceptibility is unknown. Therefore, we evaluated the association between these polymorphisms and gastrointestinal cancer risk in two independent case-control cohorts consisted of a total of 1850 gastrointestinal cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer and colorectal cancer) patients and 2222 healthy controls. The impact of these variations on FEN1 expression was also examined using liver, esophagus, stomach and colon normal tissues. It was found that the FEN1 -69GG genotypes were significantly correlated to increased risk for developing gastrointestinal cancer compared with the -69AA genotype in both cohorts Jinan cohort: odds ratios (OR) = 2.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.47-2.80, P = 1.0 × 10−
6; Huaian cohort: OR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.37-2.50, P = 0.5 × 10−6. Similar results were observed for 4150G > T polymorphism. In the combined meta-analyses, OR for -69GG or 4150GG genotype was 2.02 (95% CI = 1.59-2.45) or 1.86 (95% CI = 1.45-2.28) compared with -69AA or 4150TT genotype. In vivo FEN1 messenger RNA expression analyses showed that the -69G or 4150G allele carriers had ∼2-fold decreased FEN1 expression in gastrointestinal tissues compared with -69A or 4150T carriers, indicating that lower FEN1 expression may lead to higher risk for malignant transformation of gastrointestinal cells. Our results highlight FEN1 as an important gene in human gastrointestinal oncogenesis and genetic polymorphisms in FEN1 confer susceptibility to gastrointestinal cancers.
We investigated the spectral sensitivity and response to light intensity of Encarsia formosa (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), which is a key natural enemy of the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes ...vaporariorum, and the tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). To do so, we used 15 monochromatic lights (emitting various specific wavelengths from 340 to 649 nm) and white light. E. formosa adults, which are diurnal insects, showed a positive phototaxis to a broad spectrum of light, with peaks of sensitivity at 414, 340, 450, and 504 nm. These results show that this parasitoid is generally more sensitive to short wavelength lights than long wavelength lights across all spectral ranges tested. Furthermore, E. formosa adults showed an increased phototactic response at low intensities and a decreased response at high intensities, for both ultraviolet light and violet light. Thus, E. formosa showed both colour and intensity preferences. This experiment provides a scientific basis for the development of colour traps for insect pest management and improves understanding of the ecological significance of colour vision by E. formosa.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, GIS, IJS, KISLJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM, UPUK
The effects of dislocations created by deformation on helium retention in pure iron, including the helium atoms diffusion along the dislocation line and desorption from dislocation trapping sites, ...were investigated. The dislocation defect was introduced in specimens by cold-rolling, and then 5 keV helium ions were implanted into the deformed specimens. Slow positron beam technology and thermal desorption spectroscopy were used to investigate the evolution of dislocation defects and the desorption behavior of helium atoms under influence of dislocation. The behaviors of S-E, W-E and S-W plots indicate clearly that lots of helium atoms remain in the deformed specimen and helium atoms combining with dislocation change the distribution of electron density. The helium desorption plot indicates that dislocation accelerates helium desorption at 293 K-600 K and facilitates helium dissociation from HenVm (n/m = 1.8) cluster.
•Helium diffusion and desorption behavior was researched by DBS and TDS measurements.•Helium atoms combining with dislocation change the distribution of electron density.•Helium atoms combined with jogs were more stable than dislocations.•Dislocations promote helium desorption from HenVm clusters (n/m = 1.8).
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
We conduct an extensive examination of the profitability of technical analysis in ten emerging foreign exchange markets. Studying 25,988 trading strategies for emerging foreign exchange markets, we ...find that the best rules can sometimes generate an annual mean excess return of more than 30%. Based on standard tests, we find hundreds to thousands of seemingly significant profitable strategies. However, almost all of these profits vanish once the data snooping bias is taken into account. Overall, we show that the profitability of technical analysis is illusory.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
A numerical and experimental study has been carried out on the heat transfer and fluid flow in two types of welded plate heat exchangers (PHEs). A new approach providing a proper clearance between ...two adjacent corrugated plates is proposed to improve the mesh quality around the contact points. The clearance value and the influence on the mesh quality and computational results are carefully studied. The results show that a relative clearance of 0.02 is proper. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results agree with the experimental results with a deviation of 15%. The proposed approach is proved effective and practical because it can increase the grid quality without losing the accuracy of the results. This paper shows that CFD is a reliable tool for studying the effects of various geometrical configurations on the optimum design of a PHE.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, DOBA, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK