Intra- and interobserver assessments of intestinal wall thickness and segmentations from transverse sections of feline abdominal ultrasound images

Measurements of intestinal wall thicknesses from ultrasound imaging (US) are routinely used to support diagnoses of intestinal disorders in cats, however published studies describing observer agreement are currently lacking. The aim of this retrospective, observer agreement study was to quantify inter- and intraobserver repeatability and agreement in the measurement of intestinal wall layer thicknesses and the segmentation of transverse sections of small intestines in US images of 20 cats. Intestinal wall layer thickness measurements of the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, serosa layer, and total thickness of these layers were performed on five cats with small cell epitheliotropic lymphoma, five with inflammatory bowel disease, and 10 with other conditions. Thickness measurements and the segmentation encompassing the serosa layer were obtained from five observers four times non-sequentially. The average standard deviation in thickness measurements (95% confidence interval) in the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, serosa, and total thickness were 0.35 (0.07–0.95), 0.24 (0.07-0.52), 0.22 (0.06-0.49), 0.20 (0.05-0.49), and 0.57 (0.11-1.60) mm, respectively. The average intraclass correlation coefficients, which estimates the degree of consistency in thickness measurements and segmentation areas for each observer, ranged from 0.355 to 0.870 and 0.850 to 0.993, respectively. The interclass correlation coefficient, which estimates the degree of consistency when measuring a thickness or segmentation area over all observers ranged from 0.115 to 0.753, and 0.811 to 0.902, respectively. The overall average Dice Coefficient, which estimates the extent of overlap of the segmentations for all observers was 0.957 (0.933 to 0.972). Our results suggest segmentations of small intestines have a higher interobserver agreement than measurements of intestinal wall thicknesses.     

右美托咪定抑制NOX4缓解急性应激致大鼠肾损伤

本研究拟探索右美托咪定（dexmedetomidine,DEX）对大鼠急性应激致肾损伤的保护作用,并从氧化应激的角度探索DEX对大鼠肾的保护通路。本研究使用了急性束缚应激模型,其中,大鼠被迫游泳15 min,并束缚3 h。本试验采用生化检测、组织病理学切片观察以评估肾功能,然后测定了氧化应激以及氧化应激的相关通路蛋白。旷场试验证实成功建立了急性应激模型。急性应激引起的肾损伤增加了NOX4,降低了Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1表达水平。DEX可降低NOX4表达,同时升高Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1的表达水平。DEX治疗组与急性应激组相比的肾生化结果明显恢复正常,病理切片观察损伤显著降低。试验结果表明,DEX治疗急性应激可影响NOX4/Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1信号通路,并抑制氧化应激。因此,DEX对急性应激引起的肾损伤具有保护作用,并在应激综合征中具有潜在的临床应用。     

植物对磷饥饿的反应研究进展

磷是构成生命的重要元素之一,也是土壤中有效性最低的一种营养元素。我国是世界上最大的小麦生产国。但是我国耕地中有59%的土壤缺磷。农作物的产量常受到缺磷的影响而受损。土壤缺磷并不是土壤中总磷量低,而是土壤中可供植物直接吸收利用的有效态磷含量低。植物在磷饥饿时会发生各种各样的变化,以尽最大可能满足自身对磷的需求。植物对缺磷的反应是一个复杂的网络过程。大约有100多个基因参与了植物对缺磷的反应。其中主要的有磷转运蛋白基因、核糖核酸酶基因、磷酸酶基因等。植物在吸收外界的磷的过程中磷转运蛋白发挥了重要作用。植物磷转运蛋白基因按照序列相似性可以划分为H+/Pi共转运家族(Pht1家族)和Na+/Pi共转运家族(Pht2家族)。按照吸收动力学的标准可以分为高亲和力磷转运蛋白和低亲和力磷转运蛋白两种。磷饥饿时植物对磷吸收能力的增强的原因之一是增加了磷转运蛋白分子的合成数目。目前尽管人们对植物吸收磷的理解已经有了长足的进步,但是在植物对磷的具体调控机制、磷的跨液泡膜运输等重要方面仍然没有明确的结果。     

Fault Section Diagnosis Algorithm of Distribution Networks Based On Topology Identification

An algorithm of fault section diagnosis based on topology identification for distribution networks is presented. By decomposing the topologic matrix which describing the distribution network into two parts,one part only contain the complex coupling factor ,and the other ignore the complex coupling factor. Using this method, the fault zones in distribution network can be identified and isolated efficiently, and the vertexes of the zones can also be identified automatically. This approach adapts to the changefully network structures.     

Analysis of Radial Forces on the Seal Block in a Compound Gear Pump with 3 Idle Gears

By analyzing the pressure distribution between gears and sealing blocks in compound gear pump with three idlers,the resultant hydraulic forces acting on seal blocks are obtained.The conclusion is the unbalanced resultant hydraulic forces are relatively small in magnitude.In the pump,the inner sealing edges are long and so it s Sealing effect is good,but the outer sealing effect is relatively poor because of its short sealing edges.The little unbalanced force pushes the sealing block to te pumping chamber,therefore it is advantageous to meliorating the pump's sealing effect,thereby to improving it's volumetric efficiency as well.     

A FINITE ELEMENT ALGORITHM FOR PARALLEL PROCESSING OF MULTI-FRONTS

In this paper,a new algorithm for solving large-scale finite element system is presented, which utilizes the architecture of parallel processing. Firstly, the structure is partitioned into sub-regions. Then multi-fronts are used to assemble and eliminate concurrently in every sub-region. Thus the condensed interface stiffness matrices and load vectors are obtained. By serially assembling and solving global equation to get interface displacements and backing to every sub-region, the inter-nodal displacements and element stresses can be solved. The results of computation show that it can not only increase the speed of computation,but also save the memory space of computer effectively. This algorithm is an effective method for solving large-scale structural finite element systems.     

A Spot Price Model with Var Cost

This paper has applied the var cost to the theory of spot price.An augmented Lagrange method is employed to develop the exact model of spot price of active power and reactive power,and the physical means of Lagrange multipliers are explained.The numerical examples are given to demonstrate the validity of the proposed model.     

Loads Equalization Based on Optimization Principle and the Hierarchical Model for Distribution Networks

Loss reduction is important for distribution networks and it is available to reduce loss by loads equalization. With increasing numbers of vertexes in distribution networks, compounding of loads are rapid increasing. It is hard to achieve the global optimization for load balancing by traditional model of distribution networks. Base on analyzing character of loads equalization for distribution networks, this paper provides a new method which conjugate the optimization principle and the hierarchical model of the distribution networks, can transfer the optimization issues into multi stage decision making problems,and can also achieve the optimization equalization of the distribution networks loads.     

Summarization of Current Research on Application of Durability of Structures

This paper summarized the recent research results about the durability of structures, introduced their current application in durability design, appraisal, estimation of rest life and strategy of maintenance and strengthening as well as in other fields.     

Seismic Behavior of Asymmetric Building under Pushover Analysis

Pushover analysis is a tool to study the inelastic behavior of structures under strong seismic action. The 3D-pushover analysis was performed to analyze the inelastic lateral-torsional coupled response of multistory asymmetric structures. The symmetric frame and frame-wall systems were studied in this paper, and the capability curve of the top displacement and base shear,the story drift and the position of rotation center were compared with reference to corresponding symmetric structures. The characters of inelastic response of multistory asymmetric structures were found. The conclusion provides reference for performance-based seismic design of asymmetric structures.