High-temperature high-sensitivity AlN-on-SOI Lamb wave resonant strain sensor

A piezoelectric AlN-on-SOI structured MEMS Lamb wave resonator (LWR) is presented for high-temperature strain measurement. The LWR has a composite membrane of a 1 μm thick AlN film and a 30 μm thick device silicon layer. The excited acoustic waves include Rayleigh wave and Lamb waves. A tensile strain sensor has been prepared with one LWR mounted on a uniaxial tensile plate, and its temperature characteristics from 15.4°C to 250°C and tensile strain behaviors from 0 μϵ to 400 μϵ of Rayleigh wave and S4 mode Lamb wave were tested. The temperature test verifies the adaptability of the tensile strain sensor to temperature up to 250°C, and S4 mode Lamb wave and Rayleigh wave represent almost the same temperature characteristics. The strain test demonstrates that S4 mode Lamb wave shows much higher strain sensitivity (-0.48 ppm/μϵ) than Rayleigh wave (0.05 ppm/μϵ) and confirms its advantage of strain sensitivity. Finally, for this one-LWR strain sensor, a method of beat frequency between S4 mode Lamb wave and Rayleigh wave is proposed for temperature compensation and high-sensitivity strain readout

PND-Net: Physics based Non-local Dual-domain Network for Metal Artifact Reduction

Metal artifacts caused by the presence of metallic implants tremendously degrade the reconstructed computed tomography (CT) image quality, affecting clinical diagnosis or reducing the accuracy of organ delineation and dose calculation in radiotherapy. Recently, deep learning methods in sinogram and image domains have been rapidly applied on metal artifact reduction (MAR) task. The supervised dual-domain methods perform well on synthesized data, while unsupervised methods with unpaired data are more generalized on clinical data. However, most existing methods intend to restore the corrupted sinogram within metal trace, which essentially remove beam hardening artifacts but ignore other components of metal artifacts, such as scatter, non-linear partial volume effect and noise. In this paper, we mathematically derive a physical property of metal artifacts which is verified via Monte Carlo (MC) simulation and propose a novel physics based non-local dual-domain network (PND-Net) for MAR in CT imaging. Specifically, we design a novel non-local sinogram decomposition network (NSD-Net) to acquire the weighted artifact component, and an image restoration network (IR-Net) is proposed to reduce the residual and secondary artifacts in the image domain. To facilitate the generalization and robustness of our method on clinical CT images, we employ a trainable fusion network (F-Net) in the artifact synthesis path to achieve unpaired learning. Furthermore, we design an internal consistency loss to ensure the integrity of anatomical structures in the image domain, and introduce the linear interpolation sinogram as prior knowledge to guide sinogram decomposition. Extensive experiments on simulation and clinical data demonstrate that our method outperforms the state-of-the-art MAR methods.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figure

Early human albumin administration is associated with reduced mortality in septic shock patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: A retrospective study from the MIMIC-III database

Background: Sepsis-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was associated with higher mortality. It is unclear whether albumin supplementation early in the course of ARDS can affect the prognostic outcomes of septic shock (SS) patients with ARDS.Methods: The MIMIC-III database was employed to identify SS patients with ARDS. The effect of early application (<24 h after ICU admission) of human albumin on 28-day mortality in SS patients with ARDS was explored. The propensity score matching was used to minimize the bias between the non-albumin and early albumin treatment groups.Results: The analysis for all eligible patients who received human albumin showed significantly lower 28-hospital mortality rates than the non-albumin group (37% versus 47%, p = 0.018). After propensity matching, the difference between the two groups also significantly (34.8% versus 48.1%, p = 0.031). Moreover, we found that the relationship between albumin use and reduced 28-day mortality was inconsistent across SOFA score subgroups (Pinteraction = 0.004, non-adjustment for multiple testing).Conclusion: Early human albumin administration in SS patients with ARDS was independently associated with a reduction of 28-day mortality. Furthermore, the benefit of human albumin treatment appeared to be more pronounced in patients with a SOFA score of ≤ 10

Odd coloring of two subclasses of planar graphs

A proper coloring of a graph is odd if every non-isolated vertex has some color that appears an odd number of times on its neighborhood. Petru\v{s}evski and \v{S}krekovski conjectured in 2021 that every planar graph admits an odd $5$-coloring. We confirm this conjecture for outer-1-planar graphs and 2-boundary planar graphs, which are two subclasses of planar graphs.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figure

Conflict-free incidence coloring and two-way radio networks

In this paper, we introduce the conflict-free incidence coloring of graphs to model a problem of designing two-way radio networks efficiently and economically. Specifically, we call the vertex-edge pair $(v,e)$ an incidence of a graph. A conflict-free incidence coloring of a graph is a coloring of the incidences in such a way that two incidences $(u,e)$ and $(v,f)$ get distinct colors if and only if they conflicts each other, i.e.,(i) $u=v$, (ii) $uv$ is $e$ or $f$, or (iii) there is a vertex $w$ such that $uw=e$ and $vw=f$. The minimum number of colors used among all conflict-free incidence colorings of a graph is the conflict-free incidence chromatic number. For a simple graph with maximum degree $\Delta$, we claim that its conflict-free incidence chromatic number is either $2\Delta$, $2\Delta+1$, or $2\Delta+2$, and each of them can be attained by infinite many graphs. We also show that the conflict-free incidence chromatic number of an outer-1-planar graph with maximum degree $\Delta$ is either $2\Delta$ or $2\Delta+1$, and moreover, characterize all outer-1-planar graphs whose conflict-free incidence chromatic numbers are exactly $2\Delta$ or $2\Delta+1$.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

Simulation Study of the Transport Characteristics of the Ice Core in Ice Drilling with Air Reverse Circulation

Ice core drilling with air reverse circulation is a promising technology that uses high-speed airflow to transport the ice core from the bottom of the hole along the central passage of the drill pipe to the surface. Understanding how the ice core moves through the pipe is crucial for this technology in order to calculate the pneumatic parameters. In this paper, experimental study and the CFD dynamic mesh technique are used to analyze the ice core transport process and flow field characteristics. In order to prove the correctness of the dynamic mesh technique, the simulation results were verified with the experimental results, and it was found that all the simulation data were in agreement with the experimental data trend, and the maximum error was less than 10%. According to the study, once the ice core’s velocity reaches its maximum throughout the transport process, it does not change. The ice core’s maximum velocity increases with the diameter ratio and decreases with the length-to-diameter ratio, while eccentricity has no impact on the maximum velocity. When the air velocity reaches 21 m/s, the diameter ratio for the ice core with a length-to-diameter ratio of 2 increases from 0.80 to 0.92, and the maximum velocity increases from 8.92 m/s to 17.45 m/s. Data fitting demonstrates that the equation Vmax=−1.04V0 + 1.04Va describes the relationship between the ice core’s maximum velocity, Vmax, and air velocity, Va. Finally, we obtain the ice core’s suspension velocity model using CFD simulation to calculate the suspension velocity, V0

The Application Value of CT Lymphangiography in Diagnosis and Grading in Patients with Primary Chyluria

Objective: To investigate the application value of CT lymphangiography in diagnosis and grading in patients with primary chyluria. Methods: Clinical and CTL imaging data of 79 patients diagnosed with primary chyluria were collected retrospectively. For CTL, the indexs were (1) Involved kidney and distribution of abnormal lymphatic vessels in the kidney: unilateral or bilateral kidney,renal sinus, renal parenchymal, suprahilar area and subhilar area; (2) Distribution of perirenal and retroperitoneal abnormal lymphatic vessels: retroperitoneal area,lumbar trunk area, renal perivascular area, fatty capsule area, adrenal area, etc; (3) Distribution of dilated lymphatic vessels and lymphatic reflux in chest, abdomen and pelvis; (4) Other abnormal manifestations: lymphatic-related abnormal changes in the chest, abdomen, pelvic cavity and bone; (5) Imaging grading: the imaging grading was carried out according to the range of retroperitoneal involvement, and the retroperitoneal area was divided into 10 areas, including left and right suprahilar area, subhilar area, perirenal area, renal perivascular area and lumbar trunk area, involvement of five or fewer areas were graded as mild, while involvement of six or more were graded as severe. In addition, clinical grading was carried out according to clinical manifestations. The clinical characteristics and CTL signs of patients with primary chyluria were statistically described by the composition ratio of classification variables, and the consistency of imaging grade and clinical grade of patients with primary chyluria was evaluated by Kappa test. Results: CTL showed abnormal lipiodol deposition in kidney in 74 cases (93.7%), unilateral kidney in 55 cases (69.6%), bilateral kidneys in 19 cases (24.1%), renal sinus in 74 cases (93.7%), renal parenchyma in 37 cases (46.8%); suprahilar area in 61 cases (77.2%), 52 cases (65.8%) were unilateral and 9 cases (11.4%) were bilateral; subhilar area in 61 cases (77.2%), 47 cases (59.5%) were unilateral and 14 cases (17.7%) were bilateral; retroperitoneal area in 78 cases (98.7%); lumbar trunk area in 76 cases (96.2%), 20 cases (25.3%) were unilateral and 56 cases (70.9%) were bilateral; perivascular area in 72 cases (91.1%), 45 cases (57.0%) were unilateral and 27 cases (34.2%) were bilateral; fatty capsule in 14 cases (17.7%), 13 cases (16.5%) were unilateral and 1 case (1.3%) was bilateral; adrenal area in 12 cases (15.2%); bladder in 31 cases (39.2%), perivesical area in 12 cases (15.2%), iliac perivascular area in 73 cases (92.4%), abdominal and pelvic wall in 14 cases (17.7%), perineal area in 12 cases (15.2%), perirectal area in 14 cases (17.7%), mesentery in 26 cases (32.9%), intestinal wall in 11 cases (13.9%), intestinal canal in 5 cases (6.3%), peripancreatic area in 15 cases (18.9%), perisplenic area in 2 cases (2.5%), perihepatic area in 7 cases (8.8%), hilus of the lung in 1 case (1.3%), mediastinum in 14 cases (17.7%), pericardium in 1 case (1.3%), extrapleural area in 25 cases (31.6%), chest wall in 2 cases (2.5%), skeleton in 2 cases (2.5%), end of thoracic duct in 70 cases (88.6%). Among the 79 patients with primary chyluria, according to clinical classification, 27 cases were mild and 52 cases were severe; according to imaging classification, 40 cases were mild and 39 cases were severe. The consistency of the two grades was moderate. Conclusion: CTL can evaluate the distribution and range of intrarenal, perirenal and retroperitoneal dilated lymphatic vessels accurately, and evaluate the abnormal lymphatic vessels in the chest, abdomen and pelvis and thoracic duct in patients with primary chyluria.It can provide image basis for the diagnosis, grading and treatment of primary chyluria

Application of CT Lymphangiography in the Diagnosiis of Primary Pulmonary Lymphedema

Objective: To explore the clinical value of CT lymphangiography in diagnosing primary pulmonary lymphedema. Methods: 52 patients who were diagnosed by clinical, imaging and pathology as primary pulmonary lymphedema were analyzed retrospectively. All patients underwent CT lymphangiography. Two experienced radiologists carried out double-blind film reading of the CT lymphangiography manifestations, and observed the abnormal perfomance of lymphatic vessels in the chest as well as CT signs of other chest diseases.Results: CT lymphangiography showed contrast agent abnormity deposited in all 52 patients: the end of thoracic duct was found in 38 cases (73.1%), mediastinum in 34 cases (65.4%), hilar in 22 cases (42.3%), pleura in 18 cases (34.6%), pericardium in 15 cases (28.8%), diaphragm in 5 cases (9.6%), hepatic hilum in 9 cases (17.3%), pancreas in 5 cases (9.6%), retroperitoneum in 12 cases (23.1%). Abnormal CT changes including: (1) alveolar nodule-like ground glass opacity in 19 cases (36.5%), patchy ground glass opacity in 23 cases (44.2%), atelectasis in 11 cases (21.2%), pulmonary nodules in 3 cases (5.8%). (2) the thickening of bronchovascular bundle in 43 cases (82.7%), the thickening of interlobular septum in 43 cases (82.7%), the thickening of intralobular interstitium in 4 cases (7.7%), frog-spawn sign in 7 cases (13.5%). (3) abnormal mediastinum changes in 34 cases (65.4%). (4) other chest CT abnormalities including: the crazy-paving sign in 2 cases (3.8%), pleural effusion in 18 cases (34.6%), pericardial effusion in 18 case (34.6%). Conclusion: CT lymphangiography can indirectly predict the abnormality of lymphatics and the presence or absence of lymphatic reflux by showing the abnormal deposition and distribution of contrast agents, and thus can provide valuable imaging basis for the diagnosis and treatment of primary pulmonary lymphedema

Siglec-15 as a New Perspective Therapy Target in Human Giant Cell Tumor of Bone

The main features of a giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) are frequent recurrence and aggressive osteolysis, which leads to a poor prognosis in patients. Although the treatment methods for a GCTB, such as scraping and resection, effectively inhibit the disease, the tendency toward malignant transformation remains. Therefore, it is important to identify new treatment methods for a GCTB. In this study, we first found high Siglec-15 expression in GCTB tissues, which was significantly associated with Campanacci staging and tumor recurrence. In Spearman’s analysis, Siglec-15 expression was significantly correlated with Ki-67 levels in tumor tissues. In vitro, the mRNA and protein levels of Siglec-15 were high in GCTB stromal cells (Hs737. T), and Siglec-15 knockdown inhibited the biological characteristics of GCTB stromal cells. The RNA sequencing results enabled a prediction of the downstream genes by using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Gene Ontology (GO), and MCODE analyses, and the findings showed that CXCL8 was significantly regulated by Siglec-15 and might be a promising downstream target gene of Siglec-15. Therefore, Siglec-15 may be a potential immunotherapy target for a GCTB