Sex-Related Differences in Regional Blood–Brain Barrier Integrity in Non-Demented Elderly Subjects

The role of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) breakdown has been recognized as being important in Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis. We aimed to evaluate whether regional BBB integrity differed according to sex and whether differences in BBB integrity changed as a consequence of aging or cognitive decline, using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In total, 75 participants with normal cognition (NC) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) underwent cognitive assessments and MRI examination including DCE-MRI. Regional K_trans was calculated in cortical regions and the Patlak permeability model was used to calculate BBB permeability (K_trans, min⁻¹). Females had a lower median K_trans in the cingulate and occipital cortices. In the “older old” group, sex differences in K_trans were only observed in the occipital cortex. In the MCI group, sex differences in K_trans were only observed in the occipital cortex. Age was the only predictor of cognitive assessment scores in the male MCI group; however, educational years and K_trans in the occipital cortex could predict cognitive scores in the female MCI group. Our study revealed that females may have better BBB integrity in cingulate and occipital cortices. We also found that sex-related differences in BBB integrity are attenuated with aging or cognitive decline.     

Novel (Phenothiazinyl)Vinyl-Pyridinium Dyes and Their Potential Applications as Cellular Staining Agents

We report here the synthesis and structural characterization of novel cationic (phenothiazinyl)vinyl-pyridinium (PVP) dyes, together with optical (absorption/emission) properties and their potential applicability as fluorescent labels. Convective heating, ultrasound irradiation and mechanochemical synthesis were considered as alternative synthetic methodologies proficient for overcoming drawbacks such as long reaction time, nonsatisfactory yields or solvent requirements in the synthesis of novel dye (E)-1-(3-chloropropyl)-4-(2-(10-methyl-10H-phenothiazin-3-yl)vinyl)pyridin-1-ium bromide 3d and its N-alkyl-2-methylpyridinium precursor 1c. The trans geometry of the newly synthesized (E)-4-(2-(7-bromo-10-ethyl-10H-phenothiazin-3-yl)vinyl)-1-methylpyridin-1-ium iodide 3b and (E)-1-methyl-4-(2-(10-methyl-10H-phenothiazin-3-yl)vinyl)pyridin-1-ium tetrafluoroborate 3a′ was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. A negative solvatochromism of the dyes in polar solvents was highlighted by UV-Vis spectroscopy and explanatory insights were supported by molecular modeling which suggested a better stabilization of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMO). The photostability of the dye 3b was investigated by irradiation at 365 nm in different solvents, while the steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence properties of dye 3b and 3a′ in solid state were evaluated under one-photon excitation at 485 nm. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the new PVP dyes on B16-F10 melanoma cells was evaluated by WST-1 assay, while their intracellular localization was assessed by epi-fluorescence conventional microscopy imaging as well as one- and two-photon excited confocal fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). PVP dyes displayed low cytotoxicity, good internalization inside melanoma cells and intense fluorescence emission inside the B16-F10 murine melanoma cells, making them suitable staining agents for imaging applications.     

Design of the broadband microstrip array antenna for blast furnace surface monitoring

Aiming at the requirements of high-resolution imaging and high integration of the blast furnace radar,this paper presents a method for designing a wideband microstrip array antenna,which broadens the antenna bandwidth through the design of parasitic patches and air layers.By combining multi-input multi-output (MIMO) radar and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging principles,a linear MIMO array is designed,and a near-field simulation imaging experiment is performed on the simulated feed line through the wave number domain imaging algorithm.Simulation results show that the gain of the main lobe of the antenna can reach 14.05 dBi,the reflection coefficient is less than -10 dB,the absolute bandwidth is 5.25 GHz,the operating frequency is 20.67~25.92 GHz,and the range resolution is increased to 3 cm compared with the existing blast furnace radar.The average error of the azimuth direction of the simulated material line imaging is 0.008 m,and the range direction is 0.0011 m.Compared with the traditional microstrip array antenna,this antenna effectively widens the bandwidth,and the range resolution is higher than that of the traditional blast furnace radar.It can accurately obtain the shape information on the simulated material line,and has an engineering application value for blast furnace surface monitoring.     

密集观测场景下的敏捷成像卫星任务规划方法

针对密集观测场景下敏捷成像卫星任务规划问题求解空间大、输入任务序列较长的特点,综合考虑时间窗口约束、任务转移时卫星姿态调整时间、存储约束和电量约束,对敏捷成像卫星任务规划问题进行建模. 提出融合IndRNN和Pointer Networks的算法模型（Ind-PN）对敏捷成像卫星任务规划问题进行求解,使用多层的IndRNN结构作为算法模型的解码器. 基于Pointer Networks机制对输入任务序列进行选择,使用Mask向量考虑敏捷成像卫星任务规划问题中的各类约束. 基于Actor Critic强化学习算法对算法模型进行训练,以获得最大的观测收益率. 实验结果表明,对于密集观测场景下的任务规划,Ind-PN算法的收敛速度更快,可以获得更高的观测收益率.     

水工混凝土构件裂缝检测方法及应用

水利工程在长期运行过程中,其混凝土构件会出现磨蚀、裂缝等损伤,如这类问题不能够及时得到处理,将会严重影响水利工程的安全运行。本次研究主要针对水工混凝土构件中的裂缝检测方法进行研究,提出从“定性”到“定量”的一体化检测思路,具体实施过程分为四部分,即“普探—详查—判定—验证”,其中,普探阶段采用探地雷达法,确定裂缝的总体分布;详查阶段采用超声横波反射三维成像的方法,确定裂缝的纵深向分布;判定阶段分别采用裂缝测宽法和表面声波法,用来确定裂缝的表面宽度和贯穿深度;验证采用钻孔电视,确定探测结果的正确性和准确性。上述技术路线突破了单一方法的限制,可有效地运用于水工混凝土构件裂缝检测,经实践证实,具有良好的检测效果。     

分布式PACS通信服务中间层构造方法研究

基于目前分布式PACS中存在的问题,提出一个通信服务中间层的构造方法,分别进行了基于设计模式通信框架的构造、DICOM图像互操作和分布式PACS可复用构件的研究.通信服务中间层的构造不仅提高了分布式PACS在网络异构环境中的可移植性、可扩展性以及相关QoS性能,还满足了PACS今后发展中提出的较高的互连互操作性的要求.     

Red Emissive Carbon Dots Prepared from Polymers as an Efficient Nanocarrier for Coptisine Delivery in vivo and in vitro

Negatively charged fluorescent carbon dots (CDs, E_m=608 nm) were hydrothermally prepared from thiophene phenylpropionic acid polymers and then successfully loaded with the positively charged anticancer cargo coptisine, which suffers from poor bioavailability. The formed CD-coptisine complexes were thoroughly characterized by particle size, morphology, drug loading efficiency, drug release, cellular uptake and cellular toxicity in vitro and antitumor activities in vivo. In this nano-carrier system, red emissive CDs possess multiple advantages as follows: 1) high drug loading efficiency (>96 %); 2) sustained drug release; 3) enhanced drug efficacy towards cancer cells; 4) EPR effect; 5) drug release tracing with near-infrared imaging. These properties indicated that red emissive CDs prepared from polymers could be used as a novel drug delivery system with integrated therapeutic and imaging functions in cancer therapy, which are expected to have great potential in future clinical applications.     

Trace Identification and Visualization of Multiple Benzimidazole Pesticide Residues on Toona sinensis Leaves Using Terahertz Imaging Combined with Deep Learning

Molecular spectroscopy has been widely used to identify pesticides. The main limitation of this approach is the difficulty of identifying pesticides with similar molecular structures. When these pesticide residues are in trace and mixed states in plants, it poses great challenges for practical identification. This study proposed a state-of-the-art method for the rapid identification of trace (10 mg·L⁻¹) and multiple similar benzimidazole pesticide residues on the surface of Toona sinensis leaves, mainly including benzoyl (BNL), carbendazim (BCM), thiabendazole (TBZ), and their mixtures. The new method combines high-throughput terahertz (THz) imaging technology with a deep learning framework. To further improve the model reliability beyond the THz fingerprint peaks (BNL: 0.70, 1.07, 2.20 THz; BCM: 1.16, 1.35, 2.32 THz; TBZ: 0.92, 1.24, 1.66, 1.95, 2.58 THz), we extracted the absorption spectra in frequencies of 0.2–2.2 THz from images as the input to the deep convolution neural network (DCNN). Compared with fuzzy Sammon clustering and four back-propagation neural network (BPNN) models (TrainCGB, TrainCGF, TrainCGP, and TrainRP), DCNN achieved the highest prediction accuracies of 100%, 94.51%, 96.26%, 94.64%, 98.81%, 94.90%, 96.17%, and 96.99% for the control check group, BNL, BCM, TBZ, BNL + BCM, BNL + TBZ, BCM + TBZ, and BNL + BCM + TBZ, respectively. Taking advantage of THz imaging and DCNN, the image visualization of pesticide distribution and residue types on leaves was realized simultaneously. The results demonstrated that THz imaging and deep learning can be potentially adopted for rapid-sensing detection of trace multi-residues on leaf surfaces, which is of great significance for agriculture and food safety.     

Physiological Imaging Methods for Evaluating Response to Immunotherapies in Glioblastomas

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant brain tumor in adults, with a dismal prognosis despite aggressive multi-modal therapy. Immunotherapy is currently being evaluated as an alternate treatment modality for recurrent GBMs in clinical trials. These immunotherapeutic approaches harness the patient’s immune response to fight and eliminate tumor cells. Standard MR imaging is not adequate for response assessment to immunotherapy in GBM patients even after using refined response assessment criteria secondary to amplified immune response. Thus, there is an urgent need for the development of effective and alternative neuroimaging techniques for accurate response assessment. To this end, some groups have reported the potential of diffusion and perfusion MR imaging and amino acid-based positron emission tomography techniques in evaluating treatment response to different immunotherapeutic regimens in GBMs. The main goal of these techniques is to provide definitive metrics of treatment response at earlier time points for making informed decisions on future therapeutic interventions. This review provides an overview of available immunotherapeutic approaches used to treat GBMs. It discusses the limitations of conventional imaging and potential utilities of physiologic imaging techniques in the response assessment to immunotherapies. It also describes challenges associated with these imaging methods and potential solutions to avoid them.     

Genetic Architecture and Molecular,Imaging and Prodromic Markers in Dementia with Lewy Bodies: State of the Art,Opportunities and Challenges

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is one of the most common causes of dementia and belongs to the group of α-synucleinopathies. Due to its clinical overlap with other neurodegenerative disorders and its high clinical heterogeneity, the clinical differential diagnosis of DLB from other similar disorders is often difficult and it is frequently underdiagnosed. Moreover, its genetic etiology has been studied only recently due to the unavailability of large cohorts with a certain diagnosis and shows genetic heterogeneity with a rare contribution of pathogenic mutations and relatively common risk factors. The rapid increase in the reported cases of DLB highlights the need for an easy, efficient and accurate diagnosis of the disease in its initial stages in order to halt or delay the progression. The currently used diagnostic methods proposed by the International DLB consortium rely on a list of criteria that comprises both clinical observations and the use of biomarkers. Herein, we summarize the up-to-now reported knowledge on the genetic architecture of DLB and discuss the use of prodromal biomarkers as well as recent promising candidates from alternative body fluids and new imaging techniques.