A new linearly constrained minimum variance beamformer for reconstructing EEG sparse sources

Brain source imaging based on EEG aims to reconstruct the neural activities producing the scalp potentials. This includes solving the forward and inverse problems. The aim of the inverse problem is to estimate the activity of the brain sources based on the measured data and leadfield matrix computed in the forward step. Spatial filtering, also known as beamforming, is an inverse method that reconstructs the time course of the source at a particular location by weighting and linearly combining the sensor data. In this paper, we considered a temporal assumption related to the time course of the source, namely sparsity, in the Linearly Constrained Minimum Variance (LCMV) beamformer. This assumption sounds reasonable since not all brain sources are active all the time such as epileptic spikes and also some experimental protocols such as electrical stimulations of a peripheral nerve can be sparse in time. Developing the sparse beamformer is done by incorporating L1-norm regularization of the beamformer output in the relevant cost function while obtaining the filter weights. We called this new beamformer SParse LCMV (SP-LCMV). We compared the performance of the SP-LCMV with that of LCMV for both superficial and deep sources with different amplitudes using synthetic EEG signals. Also, we compared them in localization and reconstruction of sources underlying electric median nerve stimulation. Results show that the proposed sparse beamformer can enhance reconstruction of sparse sources especially in the case of sources with high amplitude spikes.     

Propagation of surface cracks on beam blank in the mould during continuous casting

ABSTRACT

We focus on crack propagation to investigate surface cracks in the mould during continuous casting, based on the crack initiation mechanism proposed in previous studies. The temperature and stress data of a solidified shell were extracted, and an extended finite element model based on the continuous damage theory of elastic–plastic materials was developed to simulate surface crack propagation. The results showed that, in the cracked area, stress concentration occurred at the crack tip, and the element split open and the crack propagated when the maximum principal stress in the stress concentration area reached the critical value. Prefabricated cracks in the fillet and web mainly developed into longitudinal cracks in the mould. The theoretical mechanism of this study was found to be the same as the crack propagation mechanism observed during the actual production of beam blanks. Thus, this study reveals the theoretical principle of crack initiation and propagation and can provide theoretical guidance for controlling surface cracks during beam blank continuous casting.     

Extraction optimisation,antioxidant activity and inhibition on α-amylase and pancreatic lipase of polyphenols from the seeds of Syzygium cumini

The objectives of this study were to determine the optimal extraction conditions of polyphenols from Syzygium cumini seeds by response surface methodology and investigate their antioxidant activity and inhibition on α-amylase and pancreatic lipase. As results, the optimal extraction conditions in the ultrasonic extraction process which maximised total polyphenols content, minimised the IC₅₀ values of α-amylase and pancreatic lipase were determined as follows: extraction time 60 min, ethanol concentration 63% and solvent/solid ratio 44 mL g⁻¹. The main phenolic compounds in partially purified fraction of Syzygium cumini seeds were catechin, epicatechin, kaempferol, gallic, 5-caffeoylquinic, caffeic and ferulic acids. In addition, the partially purified fraction inhibited 87.66 ± 5.55 and 86.61 ± 3.15% of α-amylase and pancreatic lipase, respectively. The results suggested that Syzygium cumini seeds could be explored as a natural antioxidant and could be used as a source of highly antidiabetic and anti-obesity bioactive compounds.     

压水堆核电厂压力容器开盖时刻主冷却剂放射性浓度控制要求研究

压水堆核电厂停堆开盖时刻主冷却剂放射性浓度限值是核电厂的重要设计参数。本文基于停堆开盖后厂内辐射风险来源分析,建立了适用于压水堆核电厂停堆压力容器开盖时刻主冷却剂中的放射性浓度控制值评估方法,并采用欧洲第三代压水堆技术方案(EPR)堆型核电厂的设计参数对建立的方法进行了验证。验证结果表明:基于此方法得出的停堆开盖限值与EPR堆型核电厂原设计较接近。     

The effect of the exposed crystal plane on the antioxidant activity of nanoceria

Previous reports have noted that exposed crystal planes could affect the antioxidant activity of nanocerias, although the synthesized nanocerias used in those studies had different exposed crystal planes, as well as different sizes and morphologies. In order to better understand the effect of the crystal planes on the antioxidant activity of the materials, two types of nanocerias with similar morphology and size distribution but different crystal planes were synthesized using the hydrothermal method (CeO₂–H) and the ultrasonic template method (CeO₂–U). The antioxidant activities of the nanocerias were further explored within different ·OH concentrations in the reaction system. The experimental results showed that there is an obvious difference in the antioxidant activity of the two types of nanocerias in the lower free radical concentration system due to the effects of exposed crystal planes. CeO₂–U, with more active crystal planes (100), had stronger antioxidant activity. However, with the increase in the ·OH concentration in the reaction system, the difference in the antioxidant activity of the two nanocerias decreased. This research will increase our understanding of the antioxidant activity of the exposed crystal planes on nanocerias.     

基于IMCT理论的CaO-SiO2-MgO-Al2O3-Na2O渣系的脱硫热力学模型

 为了精确表征含Na2O渣系的脱硫能力，改善脱硫效果，基于熔渣离子与分子共存理论（IMCT）建立了CaO-SiO2-MgO-Al2O3-Na2O渣系结构单元的作用浓度计算模型和1 753 K时该渣系的脱硫热力学模型。并对渣系的总硫分配比及各自硫分配比的影响因素进行了讨论分析。理论结果表明，除LS， MgS外，随着Al2O3质量分数的增加，该渣系的脱硫能力明显下降，而MgO和Na2O质量分数的增加，对提高渣系的脱硫能力具有明显的促进作用。此外，少量的Na2O即可表现出很强的脱硫效果，这为含有Na2O的冶金二次资源在铁水脱硫过程中的应用以及铁水脱硫渣系的优化提供了必要的理论依据。     

云南镇源难处理金精矿工艺矿物学研究

利用X射线衍射、X射线荧光光谱（XRF）、X射线能谱分析（EDX）和矿物解离分析（MLA）等检测手段对云南镇源难处理金精矿的化学组成、矿物组成、硫化物特征以及金的分布情况进行了详细的工艺矿物学研究。结果显示：该金矿以硫化矿、碳酸盐和硅酸盐类矿物为主，含有3.18%的有机碳和2.37%的无机碳。通过金的诊断浸出发现96.16%的金被硫化物包裹，少量金以单体形式存在。通过对主要载金矿物黄铁矿、辉锑矿和毒砂的粒度、包裹及裸露情况进行分析，得出大部分硫化矿以解离单体的形式存在，少部分与其他矿物共生。根据MLA测试及金的诊断浸出，认为大部分金被硫化矿完全包裹，处理该矿石时应先进行硫化物包裹层的氧化处理，再进行金矿的浸出。     

板栗壳黄酮结构分析及其对胰脂肪酶活力的抑制作用

在分析板栗壳黄酮结构的基础上，研究其对胰脂肪酶的抑制作用及类型。采用醇提法提取板栗壳中的黄酮，并用AB-8大孔吸附树脂进行纯化，冻干后得到的黄酮含量为（107.50±1.00）mg/g，提取得率为（5.66±0.05）%。利用超高效液相色谱-四极杆/静电场轨道阱质谱联用技术对板栗壳黄酮进行结构分析，鉴定出8 种黄酮类化合物。采用对硝基苯酚法测定胰脂肪酶活力，分别考察板栗壳黄酮对胰脂肪酶的抑制效果及不同反应条件下板栗壳黄酮对胰脂肪酶活性的影响，结果表明，板栗壳黄酮对胰脂肪酶有较好的抑制作用，半抑制浓度（half maximal inhibitory concentration，IC50）为0.074 mg/mL，且使胰脂肪酶最适pH值向碱性偏移。通过Lineweaver-Burk双倒数作图法确定其抑制类型为非竞争性抑制，抑制常数Ki＝53.19 mg/mL。由此可见，板栗壳黄酮是一种效果良好的胰脂肪酶抑制剂。