57 research outputs found
Local ROI Reconstruction via Generalized FBP and BPF Algorithms along More Flexible Curves
We study the local region-of-interest (ROI) reconstruction
problem, also referred to as the local CT problem. Our scheme
includes two steps: (a) the local truncated normal-dose
projections are extended to global dataset by combining a few
global low-dose projections; (b) the ROI are reconstructed by
either the generalized filtered backprojection (FBP) or
backprojection-filtration (BPF) algorithms. The simulation results
show that both the FBP and BPF algorithms can reconstruct
satisfactory results with image quality in the ROI comparable to
that of the corresponding global CT reconstruction
On the Representation of Causal Background Knowledge and its Applications in Causal Inference
Causal background knowledge about the existence or the absence of causal
edges and paths is frequently encountered in observational studies. The shared
directed edges and links of a subclass of Markov equivalent DAGs refined due to
background knowledge can be represented by a causal maximally partially
directed acyclic graph (MPDAG). In this paper, we first provide a sound and
complete graphical characterization of causal MPDAGs and give a minimal
representation of a causal MPDAG. Then, we introduce a novel representation
called direct causal clause (DCC) to represent all types of causal background
knowledge in a unified form. Using DCCs, we study the consistency and
equivalency of causal background knowledge and show that any causal background
knowledge set can be equivalently decomposed into a causal MPDAG plus a minimal
residual set of DCCs. Polynomial-time algorithms are also provided for checking
the consistency, equivalency, and finding the decomposed MPDAG and residual
DCCs. Finally, with causal background knowledge, we prove a sufficient and
necessary condition to identify causal effects and surprisingly find that the
identifiability of causal effects only depends on the decomposed MPDAG. We also
develop a local IDA-type algorithm to estimate the possible values of an
unidentifiable effect. Simulations suggest that causal background knowledge can
significantly improve the identifiability of causal effects
Superconducting Diode Effect and Large Magnetochiral Anisotropy in T-MoTe Thin Film
In the absence of time-reversal invariance, metals without inversion symmetry
may exhibit nonreciprocal charge transport -- a magnetochiral anisotropy that
manifests as unequal electrical resistance for opposite current flow
directions. If superconductivity also sets in, the charge transmission may
become dissipationless in one direction while remaining dissipative in the
opposite, thereby realizing a superconducting diode. Through both
direct-current and alternating-current measurements, we study the nonreciprocal
effects in thin films of the noncentrosymmetric superconductor
T-MoTe\textsubscript{2} with disorders. We observe nonreciprocal
superconducting critical currents with a diode efficiency close to 20\%~, and a
large magnetochiral anisotropy coefficient up to
\SI{5.9e8}{\per\tesla\per\ampere}, under weak out-of-plane magnetic field in
the millitesla range. The great enhancement of rectification efficiency under
out-of-plane magnetic field is likely abscribed to the vortex ratchet effect,
which naturally appears in the noncentrosymmetric superconductor with
disorders. Intriguingly, unlike the finding in Rashba systems, the strongest
in-plane nonreciprocal effect does not occur when the field is perpendicular to
the current flow direction. We develop a phenomenological theory to demonstrate
that this peculiar behavior can be attributed to the asymmetric structure of
spin-orbit coupling in T-MoTe\textsubscript{2}. Our study highlights how
the crystallographic symmetry critically impacts the nonreciprocal transport,
and would further advance the research for designing the superconducting diode
with the best performance.Comment: 7 pages, 5figure
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Discovery of (S)-6-methoxy-chroman-3-carboxylic acid (4-pyridin-4-yl-phenyl)-amide as potent and isoform selective ROCK2 inhibitors
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ROCK1 and ROCK2 are highly homologous isoforms. Accumulated studies indicate that they have distinct different functions, and the development of isoform selective ROCK inhibitors will pave new roads for the treatment of various diseases. In this work, a series of amide-chroman derivatives were synthesized and biologically evaluated in order to develop potent and isoform selective ROCK2 inhibitors. Remarkably, (S)-6-methoxy-chroman-3-carboxylic acid (4-pyridin-4-yl-phenyl)-amide ((S)-7c) possessed ROCK2 inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 3 nM and 22.7-fold isoform selectivity (vs. ROCK1). Molecular docking indicated that hydrophobic interactions were the key element for the high potency and isoform selectivity of (S)-7c. The binding free energies predicted by MM/GBSA were in good agreement with the experimental bioactivities, and the analysis of individual energy terms suggested that residue Lys105 in ROCK1 or Lys121 in ROCK2 was the key residue for the isoform selectivity of (S)-7c
A Numerical Model for Ammonia/Water Absorption From a Bubble Expanding at a Submerged Nozzle Into a Binary Nanofluid
Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance of Cu<sub>2</sub>Se via Nanostructure and Compositional Gradient
Forming co-alloying solid solutions has long been considered as an effective strategy for improving thermoelectric performance. Herein, the dense Cu2−x(MnFeNi)xSe (x = 0–0.09) with intrinsically low thermal conductivity was prepared by a melting-ball milling-hot pressing process. The influences of nanostructure and compositional gradient on the microstructure and thermoelectric properties of Cu2Se were evaluated. It was found that the thermal conductivity decreased from 1.54 Wm−1K−1 to 0.64 Wm−1K−1 at 300 K via the phonon scattering mechanisms caused by atomic disorder and nano defects. The maximum zT value for the Cu1.91(MnFeNi)0.09Se sample was 1.08 at 750 K, which was about 27% higher than that of a pristine sample
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