Time Delay Study of Ultrasonic Gas Flowmeters Based on VMD-Hilbert Spectrum and Cross-Correlation.

The accuracy of ultrasonic flowmeter time delay measurement is directly affected by the processing method of the ultrasonic echo signal. This paper proposes a method for estimating the time delay of the ultrasonic gas flowmeter based on the Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD)-Hilbert Spectrum and Cross-Correlation (CC). The method improves the accuracy of the ultrasonic gas flowmeter by enhancing the quality of the echo signal. To denoise forward and reverse ultrasonic echo signals collected at various wind speeds, a Butterworth filter is initially used. The ultrasonic echo signals are then analyzed by Empirical Mode De-composition (EMD) and VMD analysis to obtain the Intrinsic Mode Function (IMF) containing distinct center frequencies, respectively. The Hilbert spectrum time-frequency diagram is used to evaluate the results of the VMD and EMD decompositions. It is found that the IMF decomposed by VMD has a better filtering performance and better anti-interference performance. Therefore, the IMF with a better effect is selected for signal reconstruction. The ultrasonic time delay is then calculated using the Cross-Correlation algorithm. The self-developed ultrasonic gas flowmeter was tested on the experimental platform of the gas flow standard devices using this signal processing method. The results show a maximum indication error of 0.84% within the flow range of 60-606 m3/h, with a repeatability of no more than 0.29%. These results meet the 1-level accuracy requirements as outlined in the national ultrasonic flowmeters calibration regulation JJG1030-2007.

Acoustic Characterization of Transmitted and Received Acoustic Properties of Air-Coupled Ultrasonic Transducers Based on Matching Layer of Organosilicon Hollow Glass Microsphere.

An air-coupled transducer was developed in this study, utilizing hollow glass microsphere-organosilicon composites as an acoustically matching layer, which demonstrated outstanding acoustic performance. Firstly, a comparison and analysis of the properties and advantages of different substrates was carried out to determine the potential application value of organosilicon substrates. Immediately after, the effect of hollow glass microspheres with different particle sizes and mass fractions on the acoustic properties of the matching layer was analyzed. It also evaluated the mechanical properties of the matching layer before and after optimization. The findings indicate that the optimized composite material attained a characteristic acoustic impedance of 1.04 MRayl and an acoustic attenuation of 0.43 dB/mm, displaying exceptional acoustic performance. After encapsulating the ultrasonic transducer using a 3D-printed shell, we analyzed and compared its emission and reception characteristics to the commercial transducer and found that its emission acoustic pressure amplitude and reception voltage amplitude were 34% and 26% higher, respectively. Finally, the transducer was installed onto a homemade ultrasonic flow meter for practical application verification, resulting in an accuracy rate of 97.4%.

The effect of interleukin 10 polymorphisms on breast cancer susceptibility in Han women in Shaanxi Province.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported on several genetic variants related to breast cancer, but a substantial proportion of mutation loci have not yet been identified. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and susceptibility to breast cancer in Shaanxi Han women in China. METHODS: Six SNPs were genotyped in 530 breast cancer patients and 628 healthy women from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Hospital. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by unconditional logistic regression analysis to assess the association between breast cancer risk and polymorphisms of six loci. RESULTS: Two SNPs, rs3024490 and rs1800871, were found to be significantly different between breast cancer patients and healthy women. These SNPs also increased the risk of breast cancer in co-dominant and dominant models. Moreover, another SNP, rs1554286, was significantly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in the co-dominant model. Functional assessments indicated that these three variants may influence the expression and transcription factor binding of IL-10. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that variants of IL-10 may be likelihood risk factors for the development and progression of breast cancer. Future studies should replicate this study and evaluate functional assessments in Chinese Han women and women from other regions.

Rs1884444 variant in IL23R gene is associated with a decreased risk in esophageal cancer in Chinese population.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in interleukin-23 receptor (IL23R) are involved in the pathogenesis of many cancers and autoimmune diseases. IL23R gene is still controversial in the study of esophageal cancer. The aim of this research is to investigate the influence of IL23R SNPs on the risk of esophageal cancer. Five hundred six esophageal cancer and 507 controls frequency matched by age and gender were conducted, and the genotypes were determined by the Agena MassARRAY. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of rs1884444 and rs6682925 with susceptibility of esophageal cancer. A total of 30 articles are eligible. Pooled ORs and the 95% CI were calculated using the random-effect model. Database predicts the expression of IL23R gene in esophageal cancer. IL23R rs1884444 allele G decreased the risk of esophageal cancer under allele, genotype, and additive models (allele model: OR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.68-0.98, P = .032; genotype model: OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.44-0.97, P = .035; additive model: OR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.68-0.98, P = .031). Meta-analysis shown that IL23R rs1884444 increased the risk of overall disease in allele model (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.08-1.25, P < .001), and also increased the risk of gastrointestinal tumor (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.05-1.31, P = .005). The database analysis showed that the expression of IL23R gene was upregulated in esophageal cancer tissues. IL23R rs1884444 may play an important role in the susceptibility of esophageal cancer.

Treatment efficacy of DC-CIK with different loading combined with 5-FU on nude mice bearing colon cancer HT-29 cell transplanted tumor / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@# Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect of dendritic cell-induced killer cells (DC-CIK) combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and loaded with CD133+ HT-29 cell lysate or RNA on mice bearing colon cancer HT-29 cell transplanted tumor, and to explore the underlying mechanism. Methods: Colon cancer xenograft model was established in BALB /c nude mice by using human colon cancer HT-29 cells at logarithmic growth phase; Antigen-free DC-CIK, 5-FU+DC-CIK, R+DC-CIK (loaded with total RNA of CD133+ cells), L+DC-CIK (loaded with CD133+ cell lysate), 5-FU and normal saline were respectively injected into transplanted mice, and the treatment efficacies on the growth of transplanted tumor in each group after three treatment cycles were observed, and the tumor growth curve was drawn. The nude mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and the tumor volume and body weight were measured. qPCR was used to detect the expression of AKT mRNA in transplanted tumor tissue, and WB was used to detect the expression of phosphorylated AKT protein. Results: After treatment, the body mass of nude mice in R+DC-CIK group, L+DC-CIK group and 5-FU+DC-CIK group increased steadily, while the body mass of nude mice in DC-CIK group and 5-FU group decreased gradually; the tumor growth speed of nude mice in R+DC-CIK group, 5-FU+DC-CIK group and L+DC-CIK group was significantly slower than that of the control group (P<0.05). Compared with 5-FU and DC-CIK alone, the combined treatment with loaded lysate/RNA had more sig nificant effect on mRNA and protein expressions of AKT(P<0.05). Conclusion: The effect of DC-CIKwithdifferentloadingoritscombinationwith5-FUisbetterthanthatofchemotherapy alone. One of the mechanisms is related to the down-regulation ofAKT level.

Synergistic anti-tumor effects of dasatinib and dendritic cell vaccine on metastatic breast cancer in a mouse model.

Immunotherapy is currently considered as one of the major anti-tumor modalities, but its efficacy is limited. Dasatinib could improve the expansion and recruitment of cluster of differentiation (CD) 8+T cells and natural killer (NK) cells to the tumor microenvironment. The present study aimed to evaluate the synergistic anti-tumor effects of dasatinib with dendritic cell (DC) vaccine in metastatic breast cancer. Dasatinib with DC vaccine was administered to mice inoculated with 4T1 breast cancer cells. Thereafter, tumor volume was measured every other day. On day 34, lung metastasis was assessed with a stereomicroscope. Tumor proliferation and angiogenesis were determined by immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis in tumor tissues was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling. The results showed that although there were no significant differences in tumor volumes between the untreated control, DC vaccine and dasatinib groups, the tumor volume was significantly decreased in the combined treatment group compared to the other three groups. Mice in the combined treatment group showed the longest survival time, while mice treated with either single treatment had a slightly increased survival time compared to the untreated control mice. Additionally, the number of metastatic lung nodules was significantly decreased in combined treatment group compared with the dasatinib alone, DC vaccine alone and untreated control groups. Furthermore, the combined treatment group showed significantly reduced intratumoral microvessel density compared to the other three groups. In addition, the ratios of CD8+ T and NK cells were significantly increased in the combined treatment group compared with the other three groups. These results suggest that dasatinib combined with the DC vaccine is a possible modality for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.