A new VAE-GAN model to synthesize arterial spin labeling images from structural MRI

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a relatively new MRI technique that can measure cerebral blood flow, which is of great importance for the diagnosis of dementia diseases. Besides, this valuable imaging modality does not need exogenous tracers and has no radiation, which makes it favorable for elder patients. However, ASL data does lack in many contemporary image-based dementia diseases datasets, which include popular ADNI-1/GO/2/3 datasets. In order to supplement the valuable ASL data, a new Generative adversarial network (GAN)-based model is proposed to synthesize ASL images in this study. This new model is unique, as the popular variational auto-encoder (VAE) has been utilized as the generator of the GAN-based model. Hence, a new VAE-GAN architecture is introduced in this study. In order to demonstrate its superiority, dozens of experiments have been conducted. Experimental results demonstrate that, this new VAE-GAN model is superior to other state-of-the-art ASL image synthesis methods, and the accuracy improvement after incorporating synthesized ASL images from the new model can be as high as 42.41% in dementia diagnosis tasks.     

Investigation the correlation between chemical structure and swelling,thermal and flocculation properties of carboxymethylcellulose hydrogels

Hydrophilic polymer networks (hydrogels) based on sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) and polycarboxylic acids (oxalic, succinic, citric and adipic) as cross-linking agents are synthesized by esterification reaction; one series of NaCMC hydrogels cross-linked with citric acid is prepared with acrylamide and acrylic acid (Aam/Aac) copolymers using the design of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPN), in order to increase their potential application for flocculation purposes. The Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of hydrogels confirms the esterification reaction between NaCMC and cross-linking agents. Results of swelling measurements show that citric acid in the amount of 15 wt% gives the hydrogels with the best absorption capacity. The results of Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) show no significant difference in thermal properties of neat and semi-interpenetrating NaCMC hydrogels. The amorphous nature of hydrogels is confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The results of flocculation study show that combination of NaCMC network and Aam/Aac copolymer with initial mass ratio of 10/90 creates a theoretical platform for the production of flocculant which could show high efficacy in purifying of water dominated by positively charged particles.     

Structural transformation in Mn-substituted Sr2Bi2Ta2TiO12 Aurivillius phase synthesized by hydrothermal method: A comparative study and dielectric properties

In this study, a hydrothermal method was applied to synthesize the three-layer Aurivillius phase Sr₂Bi₂Ta₂TiO₁₂ (SBTTO) and Mn-substituted Sr_1·5Bi_2·5Ta₂Ti_0·5Mn_0·5O₁₂ (SBTTMO), with the use of NaOH as a mineralizer. The crystal structure, morphology, dielectric properties, and the correlation between the structural transformation and dielectric properties were investigated. The XRD data reveal that the SBTTO sample adopts a tetragonal crystal structure with the I4/mmm space group and is then transformed into an orthorhombic structure with the B2cb space group for SBTTMO. The morphology of both samples was observed by SEM, which showed anisotropic plate-like grains. With the Mn substitution, the ferroelectric transition temperature (T_c) significantly increases as the influence of the 6s² lone pair of Bi³⁺ increases, and this in turn further induces the relaxor-ferroelectric behavior. Consequently, the increase in T_c confirms the structural transformation from the paraelectric-tetragonal to the ferroelectric-orthorhombic phase.     

Methanol Synthesis with Steel Mill Gases: Performance Investigations in an On-Site Technical Center

An on-site laboratory with direct access to cleaned and conditioned steel mill gases was recently put into operation. The long-term performance and stability of Clariant's MegaMax®800 methanol synthesis catalyst utilizing steel mill gases is currently being investigated. First test results revealed that in order to investigate deactivation mechanisms arising from particular properties of the cleaned steel mill gases, the overlaying effect of thermal deactivation of the catalyst has to be minimized.     

Effect of hydrothermal aging on dental multilayered zirconia for monolithic restorations: An in vitro study

The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the changes in mechanical, optical, and surface properties of multilayered zirconia during hydrothermal aging.One conventional block (Katana Zirconia HT) and three multilayered blocks (Katana Zirconia ML, STML, and UTML) of monolithic zirconia were examined. Bar-shaped specimens were autoclaved at 134°C and 0.2MPa for 0, 5, and 10 h. The Young's modulus, three-point flexural strength, and nanoindentation hardness were measured to evaluate the mechanical properties. The surface roughness, phase distribution, surface microstructure, and elemental composition were measured to analyze the surface properties. The contrast ratio and total transmittance were measured via spectrophotometry to evaluate the optical properties. Statistical differences were analyzed using appropriate ANOVA, Tukey HSD post hoc tests, and independent and paired sample t-tests (α = .05).The monoclinic phase increased gradually after hydrothermal aging. The yttrium and zirconium concentrations decreased, and the oxygen concentration and the surface roughness increased in all specimens (P<.05) after the aging process. All specimens showed significant grain push-out and microcracks. The total transmittance increased, and the contrast ratio and Young's modulus decreased in all specimens (P<.05) after the aging process. The nanoindentation hardness and three-point flexural strength exhibited a decreasing tendency after the aging process. However, there were no statistical differences (P>.05) between the materials. Significant interactions between material grades and hydrothermal aging were found for all the properties studied (P<.001).Microstructural alterations and significant phase transformations were detected on the surface of the multilayered zirconia after hydrothermal aging. The hydrothermal aging led to increased surface roughness, opaqueness, and elasticity of multilayered zirconia. The optical, mechanical, and surface properties of multilayered zirconia were influenced by the grade of the material after hydrothermal aging. Careful consideration of the grade of materials is necessary for the appropriate selection of multilayered zirconia ceramics for monolithic restorations.     

A benzoate coprecipitation route for synthesizing nanocrystalline GDC powder with lowered sintering temperature

Electrolyte powders with low sintering temperature and high-ionic conductivity can considerably facilitate the fabrication and performance of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Gadolinia-doped ceria (GDC) is a promising electrolyte for developing intermediate- and low-temperature (IT and LT) SOFCs. However, the conventional sintering temperature for GDC is usually above 1200 °C unless additives are used. In this work, a nanocrystalline powder of GDC, (10 mol% Gd dopant, Gd_0.1Ce_0.9O_1.95) with low-sintering temperature has been synthesized using ammonium benzoate as a novel, environmentally friendly and cost-effective precursor/precipitant. The synthesized benzoate powders (termed washed- and non-washed samples) were calcined at a relatively low temperature of 500 °C for 6 h. Physicochemical characteristics were determined using thermal analysis (TG/DTA), Raman spectroscopy, FT-IR, SEM/EDX, XRD, nitrogen absorptiometry, and dilatometry. Dilatometry showed that the newly synthesized GDC samples (washed and non-washed routes) start to shrink at temperatures of 500 and 600 °C (respectively), reaching their maximum sintering rate at 650 and 750 °C. Sintering of pelletized electrolyte substrates at the sintering onset temperature for commercial GDC powder (950 °C) for 6 h, showed densification of washed- and non-washed samples, obtaining 97.48 and 98.43% respectively, relative to theoretical density. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis for the electrolyte pellets sintered at 950 °C showed a total electrical conductivity of 3.83 × 10^?2 and 5.90 × 10^?2 S cm^?1 (under air atmosphere at 750 °C) for washed- and non-washed samples, respectively. This is the first report of a GDC synthesis, where a considerable improvement in sinterability and electrical conductivity of the product GDC is observed at 950 °C without additives addition.     

Efficient sunlight and UV photocatalytic degradation of Methyl Orange,Methylene Blue and Rhodamine B,using Citrus×paradisi synthesized SnO2 semiconductor nanoparticles

In this work, tin dioxide (SnO2) Nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized through green synthesis, using Citrus × paradisi extract as a stabilizing (capping). The extract concentrations used were 1, 2 and 4% in relation to the aqueous solution. The resulting SnO2 NPs were used for the degradation of Methyl Orange (MO), Methylene Blue (MB) and Rhodamine B (RhB), under both solar and UV radiation. The NPs were characterized via Attenuated Total Reflectance Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-IR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM-SAED), the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) theory, Ultraviolet to Visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), and Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL); while the photocatalytic degradation was evaluated using UV-VIS. The results showed that the Citrus × paradisi extract is a good medium for the formation of SnO2 NPs. These NPs presented quasi-spherical morphology, particle sizes of 4–8 nm, with a rutile phase crystalline structure, and with banned gap of 2.69 at 3.28 eV. The NPs had excellent photocatalytic properties under solar radiation, degrading 100% of the OM in 180 min. Furthermore, under UV radiation, 100% degradation of the three dyes was achieved in a short time; 20 min for MO, and 60 min for MB and RhB. Therefore, green synthesis is a feasible medium for the formation of SnO2 NPs with good photocatalytic properties.     

Synthesis,Anticancer Activity,Structure-Activity Relationship and Mechanistic Investigations of Falcarindiol Analogues

Forty samples of optically active falcarindiol analogues are synthesized by using the easily available C2 symmetric (R)- and (S)-1,1’-binaphth-2-ol (BINOL) in combination with Ti(OⁱPr)₄, Zn powder and EtI. Their anticancer activities on Hccc-9810, HepG2, MDA-MB-231, Hela, MG-63 and H460 cells are assayed to elucidate their structure-activity relationships. These results showed that the falcarindiol analogue (3R,8S)- 2 i with the terminal double bond has the most potent anti-proliferation effect on Hccc-9810 cells with IC₅₀ value of 0.46 μM. The falcarindiol analogue (3R,8S)- 2 i can induce obvious Hccc-9810 cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner by Hoechst staining and flow cytometry analysis. The proposed mechanism suggests that the falcarindiol analogue (3R,8S)- 2 i increases LDH release and MDA content, and reduces the levels of SOD activity, which lead to the accumulation of oxidative stress and induce apoptosis in Hccc-9810 cells.