Locally optimal detector design in impulsive noise with unknown distribution

Abstract This paper designs the locally optimal detector (LOD) in additive white impulsive noise with unknown distribution. Unlike traditional LODs derived from a known or approximated noise probability density function (PDF), the LOD proposed in this paper is achieved by designing the zero-memory non-linearity (ZMNL) function based on real data. After the PDF estimation in a nonparametric way by a kernel method, the ZMNL function is designed as a piecewise differentiable function consisting of a polynomial function and inverse proportional functions. Then, we analyze the detection performance and develop the constant false alarm ratio technique. Simulation results show that the LOD design is near-optimal in α-stable noise and the optimal in real atmospheric data, compared with the maximum likelihood detector of α-stable distribution

Design and Synthesis of Novel Podophyllotoxins Hybrids and the Effects of Different Functional Groups on Cytotoxicity

Development of novel anticancer therapeutic candidates is one of the key challenges in medicinal chemistry. Podophyllotoxin and its derivatives, as a potent cytotoxic agent, have been at the center of extensive chemical amendment and pharmacological investigation. Herein, a new series of podophyllotoxin-N-sulfonyl amidine hybrids (4a–4v, 5a–5f) were synthesized by a CuAAC/ring-opening procedure. All the synthesized podophyllotoxins derivatives were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activity against a panel of human lung (A-549) cancer cell lines. Different substituents’, or functional groups’ antiproliferative activities were discussed. The –CF3 group performed best (IC50: 1.65 μM) and exhibited more potent activity than etoposide. Furthermore, molecular docking and dynamics studies were also conducted for active compounds and the results were in good agreement with the observed IC50 values

Hydration, Setting and Crack-Resistance Properties of Activated HVFACs at Early Stages

In order to develop a simple and effective activation method of low calcium fly ash concrete (FAC) and to understand their basic properties, the present paper experimentally investigates the influences of the volume of fly ash (FA), the dosage of the activator (AC) and the water to binder ratio (w/b) on the hydration, setting times and the crack-resistance properties of activated FACs. Results verify that increasing FA can effectively reduce the hydration heat of the FA-cement system and increase the setting time of FACs, as well as indicate that FA can delay the occurrence of the initial crack and reduce the maximum width and total area of cracks in these concretes through a new quantitative test. The curing time of concrete affects the hydration heat of FA paste with/without AC. When the curing time of FAC increases, the decrease in amplitude of hydration heat reduces gradually. Additionally, it was found that the used ACs can effectively stimulate the activity of FA in Portland cement (PC) systems, which reduces their setting time slightly. However, high dosages of ACs also accelerate the development of early cracks in the FACs, as well. According to the study, the combined activator (10% CaO + 1.5% Na2SO4) was suggested as the most effective way to promote FA-PC concrete for obtaining acceptable properties at early stages. Besides, the existing calculation model for predicting the setting times of FACs was examined and modified to be more suitable to FACs activated by 10% CaO + 1.5% Na2SO4. The proposed model was verified and can evaluate the experimental results well

Utilization of Carbide Slag by Wet Grinding as an Accelerator in Calcium Sulfoaluminate Cement

In this study, wet-ground carbide slag (i.e., WGCS) was utilized as an accelerator in calcium sulfoaluminate cement (CSA) for obtaining considerably faster setting processes for some special engineering processes such as plugging projects and rapid repair engineering. The WGCS–CSA system was designed, in which the replacement ratio of CSA by carbide slag was chosen as 4%, 8% and 12%. The setting time and compressive strength were measured, and the mechanism of the system hydration was studied in detail by means of calorimetry, XRD, thermogravimetry (TG) and SEM. The results showed that WGCS shortened the setting time of cement and significantly augmented the early strength. The addition of 8% of WGCS contributed to increasing the 2-h compressive strength from 4.2 MPa to 32.9 MPa. The decrease in the setting time and the increase in the initial strength were mainly attributed to the high initial pH value of the liquid phase and the high content of calcium ions in WGCS. Both these factors contributed to the ettringite formation and, at the same time, to the transformation of the morphology at a later time. Such results testify that WGCS can be used as an accelerator in the CSA system and also that it provides a novel approach to the reutilization of carbide slag

Opportunities and challenges of indocyanine green in gastrointestinal cancers for intraoperative and nano-medicine application

Abstract The morbidity and mortality of gastrointestinal tumours remain high worldwide. Surgical resection is currently the most critical radical therapeutic schedule, while postoperative complications and sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification are closely related to the outcome. Indocyanine green (ICG)-mediated fluorescence imaging is increasingly being used in gastrointestinal surgery. It has been embraced by various surgical disciplines as a potential method to improve lymph node detection and enhance surgical field visualization. ICG can passively concentrate in SLN because of enhanced permeation and retention effects. After excitation by near-infrared light devices, SLN can display higher intensity fluorescence, helping visualization for better lymph node dissection. In addition, visual assessment of intestinal blood flow through ICG may reduce the incidence of anastomotic leakage. Although it has good clinical application, ICG-imaging still faces some problems, such as a higher false-negative rate, poorly targeted biodistribution, and lower fluorescence contrast, due to the lack of active tumour targeting. Thus, different ICG-coupled nanoparticles with inherent characteristics or functional modification-enhanced SLN identification features for gastrointestinal cancers bring benefit through active tumour targeting, superior tumour-background ratio, and high resolution. Nano-ICG combined with potential substances, including enhanced imaging contrast and/or combination therapy (chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, etc.), have been packaged and accumulated in the tumour area through active targeting for multimodal imaging and treatment. In this review, we outline the intraoperative application and possible future nanodirections of ICG in gastrointestinal cancer. The prospects and challenges of nano-ICG diagnostic and therapeutic methods in clinical applications are also discussed. Graphical Abstrac

CuX Dual Catalysis: Construction of Oxazolo[2,3‑<i>b</i>][1,3]oxazines via a Tandem CuAAC/Ring Cleavage/[4+2+3] Annulation Reaction

CuX as a simple dual catalyst strategy that promotes the tandem transformations of fused oxazolo[2,3-b][1,3]oxazines has been developed. Copper catalyzed terminal ynones, sulfonyl azides, and nitriles for the CuAAC/ring cleavage/[4+2] annulation reaction, while the halogen catalyzed ring cleavage and [2+3] annulation of oxiranes to form the final fused products. This study provides a four-component, one-pot strategy for synthesizing complex fused heterocycles from simple ingredients and expands the application of CuAAC in organic synthesis

CuX Dual Catalysis: Construction of Oxazolo[2,3‑<i>b</i>][1,3]oxazines via a Tandem CuAAC/Ring Cleavage/[4+2+3] Annulation Reaction

CuX as a simple dual catalyst strategy that promotes the tandem transformations of fused oxazolo[2,3-b][1,3]oxazines has been developed. Copper catalyzed terminal ynones, sulfonyl azides, and nitriles for the CuAAC/ring cleavage/[4+2] annulation reaction, while the halogen catalyzed ring cleavage and [2+3] annulation of oxiranes to form the final fused products. This study provides a four-component, one-pot strategy for synthesizing complex fused heterocycles from simple ingredients and expands the application of CuAAC in organic synthesis