Role of T2 mapping of magnetic resonance imaging in the differentiation of endometrial cancer and benign endometrial lesions

PURPOSEThe T2 mapping of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in endometrial cancer (EC), benign endometrial lesions (BELs), and normal endometrium (NE) has rarely been reported. This study aimed to determine the T2 values of MRI in EC, BELs, and NE to investigate whether the T2 values can differentiate them and to assess the aggressiveness of EC.METHODSIn total, 73 patients [EC, 51 (age, 57.4 ± 5.4 years); BELs, 22 (age, 57.8 ± 11.8 years)] and 23 normal volunteers (age, 56.1 ± 6.6 years) were included. The T2 values of MRI of the EC (type I and II), BEL, and NE groups were described and compared. The relationships between the T2 values of MRI in EC and the pathological characteristics [International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage and grade] were analyzed.RESULTSThe median T2 values of NE, BEL, and EC were 197.5 (142.9–324.0) ms, 131.1 (103.2–247.9) ms, and 103.0 (71.6–243.5) ms (P < 0.001), respectively. The median T2 values of type I and type II EC were 100.8 (71.62–130.44) ms and 125.7 (119.7–243.5) ms, respectively. There were significant differences in the T2 values among the NE, BEL, type I EC, and type II EC groups (P < 0.001) except for between the type II EC and BEL groups (P = 0.938). The T2 value of MRI in type I EC was significantly lower than that in type II EC (P = 0.001). There were no significant differences in patients with type I EC having different FIGO stages (P = 0.273) or tumor grades (P = 0.686).CONCLUSIONT2 mapping of MRI has the potential to quantitatively differentiate between EC, BELs, and NE as well as between type I and type II EC

Cluster-randomized controlled trial of the effects of free glasses on purchase of children's glasses in China:The PRICE (Potentiating Rural Investment in Children's Eyecare) study

Offering free glasses can be important to increase children's wear. We sought to assess whether "Upgrade glasses" could avoid reduced glasses sales when offering free glasses to children in China.In this cluster-randomized, controlled trial, children with uncorrected visual acuity (VA)6/12 in both eyes at 138 randomly-selected primary schools in 9 counties in Guangdong and Yunnan provinces, China, were randomized by school to one of four groups: glasses prescription only (Control); Free Glasses; Free Glasses + offer of $15 Upgrade Glasses; Free Glasses + offer of$30 Upgrade Glasses. Spectacle purchase (main outcome) was assessed 6 months after randomization.Among 10,234 children screened, 882 (8.62%, mean age 10.6 years, 45.5% boys) were eligible and randomized: 257 (29.1%) at 37 schools to Control; 253 (28.7%) at 32 schools to Free Glasses; 187 (21.2%) at 31 schools to Free Glasses + $15 Upgrade; and 185 (21.0$30 Upgrade. Baseline ownership among these children needing glasses was 11.8% (104/882), and 867 (98.3%) children completed follow-up. Glasses purchase was significantly less likely when free glasses were given: Control: 59/250 = 23.6%; Free glasses: 32/252 = 12.7%, P = 0.010. Offering Upgrade Glasses eliminated this difference: Free + $15 Upgrade: 39/183 = 21.3$30 Upgrade: 38/182 = 20.9%, RR 0.91 (0.59, 1.42), P = 0.69.Upgrade glasses can prevent reductions in glasses purchase when free spectacles are provided, providing important program income.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02231606. Registered on 31 August 2014

Effect of the Sputtering Power on the Structure, Morphology and Magnetic Properties of Fe Films

In this paper, the radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering (MS) method was utilized to fabricate multiple sets of the iron film samples under different sputtering powers. With the help of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), how the sputtering power affected the structure, morphology and magnetic properties of the iron film was studied. XRD results showed that all Fe films have a polycrystalline bcc structure and (110) preferred orientation. According to the Bragg equation calculation, the larger the sputtering power, the larger the average grain size, which is consistent with the results of AFM particle size analysis. The main reason is that the sputtering power affects the grain growth mode. As the sputtering power increases, it gradually changes from a small island-like growth to a thick columnar growth. However, from the surface morphology and height profile, we saw that the iron film deposited under 230 W had the most uniform grain size distribution and the grain size was relatively small. This is why thin films deposited under this condition have the best soft magnetic properties. The saturation magnetization (Ms) reaches 1566 emu/cm3, coercivity (Hc) is 112 Oe, and squareness ratio (Mr/Ms) is 0.40. Therefore, iron film prepared under 230 W has good comprehensive properties (highest Ms, lower Hc and Mr/Ms) that provide an experimental basis for further thin film research work

Research on dynamic deformation behavior and constitutive relationship of hot forming high strength steel

To accurately characterize the dynamic deformation mechanical properties of hot forming steels 6Mn6 and 22MnB5 under collision conditions, quasi-static tensile tests (0.001s−1) and Hopkinson compression bar tests (∼2000s−1, ∼3000s−1, ∼4000s−1) were conducted to analyze the influence of strain rate on the material mechanical properties. Based on the experimental results, four constitutive models including Johnson-Cook (JC), modified JC (m-JC), Cowper-Symond (CS), and Khan-Huang (KH) models were established for both 6Mn6 and 22MnB5. Additionally, a modified model based on the Swift-Voce strain hardening model coupled with the Cowper-Symond model was proposed. A numerical simulation model for compression bar tests was developed using JC and m-JC models. The experimental results indicate that both hot forming steels exhibit strain rate sensitivity, with 6Mn6 performed a more pronounced effect than 22MnB5. The average absolute error (AARE) and correlation coefficient (R) of the m-JC and CS models were 0.99 and 0.29 %, 0.95 and 0.4 %, respectively. The dynamic deformation behavior of 6Mn6 and 22MnB5 at high strain rates was accurately predicted. Comparing with the JC model, the utilization of the m-JC user subroutine has resulted in a significant improvement in simulation accuracy by 58 % and 84 % for these two materials, which laying a solid foundation for high-precision vehicle collision simulation

Interface boosted highly efficient selective photooxidation in Bi3O4Br/Bi2O3 heterojunctions

Selective photooxidation of amines to biologically important imines is in great demand for industrial applications. The conversion efficiency and selectivity of the process are strongly dependent on the activation of photocatalytic molecular oxygen (O2) into reactive oxygen species. Here, we propose the construction of rich interfaces to boost photocatalytic O2 activation by facilitating the transfer of photocarriers. Taking Bi3O4Br/Bi2O3 heterojunctions as an example, rich interfaces facilitate electron transfer to adsorbed O2 for superoxide (O2·−) generation, thus achieving ≥ 98% conversion efficiency and selectivity for benzylamine and benzylamine derivatives. This study offers a valid method to design advanced photocatalysts for selective oxidation reactions

Semantic Edge Based Disparity Estimation Using Adaptive Dynamic Programming for Binocular Sensors

Disparity calculation is crucial for binocular sensor ranging. The disparity estimation based on edges is an important branch in the research of sparse stereo matching and plays an important role in visual navigation. In this paper, we propose a robust sparse stereo matching method based on the semantic edges. Some simple matching costs are used first, and then a novel adaptive dynamic programming algorithm is proposed to obtain optimal solutions. This algorithm makes use of the disparity or semantic consistency constraint between the stereo images to adaptively search parameters, which can improve the robustness of our method. The proposed method is compared quantitatively and qualitatively with the traditional dynamic programming method, some dense stereo matching methods, and the advanced edge-based method respectively. Experiments show that our method can provide superior performance on the above comparison

Synthesis and properties of calix[4]arene telluropodant ethers as Ag+ selective sensors and Ag+, Hg2+ extractants

Three novel phenyltelluroalkoxyl functionalized tweezer-like calix[4]arenes 6–8 and two monophenyltelluropropoxyl functionalized calix[4]arenes 10 (cone conformer) and 12 (partial cone conformer) were synthesized and characterized. They are good Ag+-selective ionophores in ion-selective electrodes evaluated by electromotive force measurements of polymer membrane electrodes. The tweezer-like ionophores 6–8 showed excellent extraction ability towards Ag+ and Hg2+

Efficient synthesis of calix[6]tmpa: a new calix[6]azacryptand with unique conformational and host-guest properties.

A new C(3v)-symmetrical calix[6]azacryptand, that is, calix[6]tmpa (11), was synthesized by efficient [1+1] macrocyclization reactions. Remarkably, both linear and convergent synthetic strategies that were applied lead to equally good overall yields. Calix[6]tmpa behaves as a single proton sponge and appeared reluctant to undergo polyprotonation, unlike classical tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (tmpa) derivatives. It also acts as a good host for ammonium ions. Interestingly, it strongly binds a sodium ion and a neutral guest molecule, such as a urea, an amide, or an alcohol, in a cooperative way. A (1)H NMR study indicated that the ligand, as well as its complexes, adopt a major flattened cone conformation that is the opposite of that observed with the previously reported calix[6]cryptands. Characterization of the monoprotonated derivative 11H(+) by X-ray diffraction also revealed the presence of a 1,3-alternate conformation, which is the first example of its kind in the calix[6]arene family. This conformer is probably also present in solution as a minor species. The important covalent constraint induced by the polyaromatic tmpa cap on the calixarene skeleton, and conversely from the calix core onto the tmpa moiety, is the likely basis for the unique conformational and chemical properties of this host.Journal ArticleFLWINinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Population prevalence of myopia, glasses wear and free glasses acceptance among minority versus Han schoolchildren in China.

AimTo measure myopia, glasses wear and free glasses acceptance among minority and Han children in China.MethodsVisual acuity testing and questionnaires assessing ethnicity, study time, and parental and teacher factors were administered to a population-based sample of 9-12 year old minority and Han children in Yunnan and Guangdong, and their teachers and parents. Refraction was performed on children with uncorrected visual acuity (VA) Main outcome measuresBaseline myopia (uncorrected visual acuity = 1 eye and spherical equivalent refractive power ResultsAmong 10,037 children (mean age 10.6 years, 52.3% boys), 800 (8.0%) were myopic, 4.04% among Yunnan Minority children (OR 0.47, 95%CI 0.33, 0.67, PConclusionMyopia is more common among Han children and in wealthier Guangdong. Baseline differences in glasses wear could be explained by student, teacher and parental factors. Yunnan Minority children were more likely to accept free glasses