Search

Background The prognosis of lung cancer varies widely, even in cases wherein the tumor stage, genetic mutation, and treatment regimens are the same. Thus, an effective means for risk stratification of patients with lung cancer is needed. Purpose To develop and validate a combined model for predicting progression-free survival and risk stratification in patients with advanced anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with ensartinib. Material and Methods We analyzed 203 tumor lesions in 114 patients and evaluated average radiomic feature measures from all lesions at baseline and changes in these features after early treatment (Δradiomic features). Combined models were developed by integrating clinical with radiomic features. The prediction performance and clinical value of the proposed models were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic analysis, calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA), and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Results Both the baseline and delta combined models achieved predictive efficacy with a high area under the curve. The calibration curve and DCA indicated the high accuracy and clinical usefulness of the combined models for tumor progression prediction. In the Kaplan–Meier analysis, the delta and baseline combined models, Δradiomic signature, and two selected clinical features could distinguish patients with a higher progression risk within 42 weeks. The delta combined model had the best performance. Conclusion The combination of clinical and radiomic features provided a prognostic value for survival and progression in patients with NSCLC receiving ensartinib. Radiomic-signature changes after early treatment could be more valuable than those at baseline alone.

To conduct real-time monitoring of the particle radiation environment in the orbit of the Tiangong space station, the installation of an energy particle detector operating on the outside of Wentian laboratory cabin module is proposed. Monitoring the energy, flux, and direction of high-energy protons, electrons, heavy ions, and neutrons in orbital space, as well as the LET spectrum and radiation dose rate generated by them, provides an important basis for studying the mechanism of the space environment that causes harm to space stations and astronauts. It also provides the necessary space environment parameters for the scientific experiment instruments on the space station. During its ground development process, the detector was verified by various calibration methods such as standard radioactive sources, equivalent signal generators, and particle accelerators. The results show that the detector can realize discrimination of particle ingredients (electrons, protons, heavy ions, and neutrons). Meanwhile, the measurement indexes can also realize target requirements, namely, from lower limit of 20 keV for medium-energy electrons and protons to heavy ion GeV, 0.025 eV~100 MeV for neutrons, and 0.233~17,475 keV/μm for the LET spectrum and 0.1~1000 mGy/day for the dose rate produced. The measurement precisions of all indexes are better than approximately 16%.

The single event effect caused by space heavy ion radiation is one of the important factors affecting the safety and operation of spacecraft on orbit. In the research and evaluation of the frequency, spatial distribution and time characteristics of single event effects, linear energy transfer (LET) spectra of space radiation play an important role. On the Beidou navigation M15 and M16 satellites, a single event upset (SEU) and LET monitor was developed to obtain the upsets of the memory device and the LET spectra of space radiation which passes through the device. Through the measurement results from this monitor, the correlation between the device’s SEUs and the LET spectra could be studied.

This work introduces the instruments’ design of multi-directional medium-energy electron detector (energy range: 30–770 keV) and high-energy electron detector (energy range: 400 keV to 5.8 MeV) deployed on one of the BeiDou navigation satellites in medium earth orbit. Through the electromagnetic compatibility design, the problem of the detector signal being susceptible to electromagnetic interference is solved and the lower detection limit reaches a very low level of 20 keV. The proton contamination in the electron measurement can be effectively removed by designing the light-blocking layer and the logical working mode of the sensors. The detector circuits and sensor structure are optimized and the miniaturization of the instrument is realized. This study also introduces the calibration method of the detectors, and gives the ground test results, which can provide a basis for the on-orbit calibration and data processing of the instrument.

Donghui Hou,1 Weihua Li,2 Sicong Wang,3 Yao Huang,1 Jianwei Wang,1 Wei Tang,1 Lina Zhou,1 Linlin Qi,1 Ning Wu,1,4,&ast; Shijun Zhao1,&ast; 1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 3GE Healthcare, Life Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 4PET-CT Center, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Shijun Zhao; Ning WuDepartment of Diagnostic Radiology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 17, Panjiayuan Nanli, Beijing, 10021, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-10-8778-8550; Tel/Fax +86-10-8778-7523Email zsj.2001@163.com; cjr.wuning@vip.163.comPurpose: Although patients with primary and acquired epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) respond to osimertinib treatment, the optimal treatment strategy differs for these two groups of patients. This study aimed to compare the clinicopathologic and computed tomography (CT) imaging characteristics between primary and acquired EGFR T790M mutations in patients with NSCLC before treatment.Patients and Methods: We enrolled two groups of patients with primary or acquired EGFR T790M mutation NSCLC (n = 103 per group) from January 2012 to December 2019. We analyzed their clinicopathologic and CT characteristics and differences between the groups. The groups were further categorized based on 21L858R and 19del to exclude the effect of coexistent mutations.Results: Primary, compared to acquired, T790M mutation tends to coexist with 21L858R (P < 0.001), exhibiting earlier tumor stage (P < 0.001), higher differentiation (P = 0.029), higher proportion of lepidic subtype adenocarcinoma (P < 0.001), and significant associations with some CT features (multiple primary lung cancers, ground-glass opacity, air bronchogram, and vacuole sign [all P < 0.001]). The combined model, composed of clinicopathologic and conventional CT signature and CT-radiomic signature, showed good discriminative ability with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.90 and 0.91 in the training and validation datasets, respectively. The T790M mutation contributed to these differences independently of coexistent mutations.Conclusion: We identified clinicopathologic and CT imaging differences between primary and acquired T790M mutations. These findings provide insights into developing future personalized T790M mutation status-based theranostic strategies.Keywords: non-small-cell lung cancer, T790M mutation, osimertinib, clinicopathologic characteristic, computed tomography

Background Here, we aimed to assess the association of ALK variants and alterations with ensartinib response duration in NSCLC, and explore the potential value of computed tomography (CT) radiomic features in predicting progression‐free survival (PFS). Methods We enrolled 88 patients with identified ALK variant NSCLC in a multicenter phase 2 trial, and assessed the impact of ALK variants and secondary ALK alterations on the clinical outcome (response duration) of patients receiving ensartinib. We also established a multifactorial model of clinicopathological and quantitative CT radiomic features to predict PFS and risk stratification. Kaplan–Meier analysis was conducted to identify risk factors for tumor progression. Results Univariate analysis indicated a statistical difference (p = 0.035) in PFS among ALK variants in three classifications (V1, V3, and other variants). Secondary ALK alterations were adversely associated with PFS both in univariate (p = 0.008) and multivariate (p = 0.04) analyses and could identify patients at high risk for early progression in the Kaplan–Meier analysis (p = 0.002). Additionally, response duration to crizotinib, The secondary ALK alterations were adversely associated with ensartinib response duration in NSCLC, and ALK variants might not correlate with PFS. CT quantitative radiomic signature could add prognostic prediction value of clinicopathological features.

Purpose Although patients with primary and acquired epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) respond to osimertinib treatment, the optimal treatment strategy differs for these two groups of patients. This study aimed to compare the clinicopathologic and computed tomography (CT) imaging characteristics between primary and acquired EGFR T790M mutations in patients with NSCLC before treatment. Patients and Methods We enrolled two groups of patients with primary or acquired EGFR T790M mutation NSCLC (n = 103 per group) from January 2012 to December 2019. We analyzed their clinicopathologic and CT characteristics and differences between the groups. The groups were further categorized based on 21L858R and 19del to exclude the effect of coexistent mutations. Results Primary, compared to acquired, T790M mutation tends to coexist with 21L858R (P < 0.001), exhibiting earlier tumor stage (P < 0.001), higher differentiation (P = 0.029), higher proportion of lepidic subtype adenocarcinoma (P < 0.001), and significant associations with some CT features (multiple primary lung cancers, ground-glass opacity, air bronchogram, and vacuole sign [all P < 0.001]). The combined model, composed of clinicopathologic and conventional CT signature and CT-radiomic signature, showed good discriminative ability with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.90 and 0.91 in the training and validation datasets, respectively. The T790M mutation contributed to these differences independently of coexistent mutations. Conclusion We identified clinicopathologic and CT imaging differences between primary and acquired T790M mutations. These findings provide insights into developing future personalized T790M mutation status-based theranostic strategies.

To investigate the natural history of persistent pulmonary pure ground-glass nodules (pGGNs) with deep learning–assisted nodule segmentation. Between January 2007 and October 2018, 110 pGGNs from 110 patients with 573 follow-up CT scans were included in this retrospective study. pGGN automatic segmentation was performed on initial and all follow-up CT scans using the Dr. Wise system based on convolution neural networks. Subsequently, pGGN diameter, density, volume, mass, volume doubling time (VDT), and mass doubling time (MDT) were calculated automatically. Enrolled pGGNs were categorized into growth, 52 (47.3%), and non-growth, 58 (52.7%), groups according to volume growth. Kaplan-Meier analyses with the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis were conducted to analyze the cumulative percentages of pGGN growth and identify risk factors for growth. The mean follow-up period of the enrolled pGGNs was 48.7 ± 23.8 months. The median VDT of the 52 pGGNs having grown was 1448 (range, 339–8640) days, and their median MDT was 1332 (range, 290–38,912) days. The 12-month, 24.7-month, and 60.8-month cumulative percentages of pGGN growth were 10%, 25.5%, and 51.1%, respectively, and they significantly differed among the initial diameter, volume, and mass subgroups (all p

Human exploration of the Moon is associated with substantial risks to astronauts from space radiation. On the surface of the Moon, this consists of the chronic exposure to galactic cosmic rays and sporadic solar particle events. The interaction of this radiation field with the lunar soil leads to a third component that consists of neutral particles, i.e., neutrons and gamma radiation. The Lunar Lander Neutrons and Dosimetry experiment aboard China's Chang'E 4 lander has made the first ever measurements of the radiation exposure to both charged and neutral particles on the lunar surface. We measured an average total absorbed dose rate in silicon of 13.2 ± 1 μGy/hour and a neutral particle dose rate of 3.1 ± 0.5 μGy/hour.

Chang'E 4 is the first mission to the far side of the Moon and consists of a lander, a rover, and a relay spacecraft. Lander and rover were launched at 18:23 UTC on December 7, 2018 and landed in the von K��rm��n crater at 02:26 UTC on January 3, 2019. Here we describe the Lunar Lander Neutron \& Dosimetry experiment (LND) which is part of the Chang'E 4 Lander scientific payload. Its chief scientific goal is to obtain first active dosimetric measurements on the surface of the Moon. LND also provides observations of fast neutrons which are a result of the interaction of high-energy particle radiation with the lunar regolith and of their thermalized counterpart, thermal neutrons, which are a sensitive indicator of subsurface water content., 38 pages, submitted to Space Science Reviews

This paper reported a facile microwave-assisted process to modify spent graphite (SG) powders for their re-utilization as LIBs anodes. The SG powders were treated by a simple impurity-removal process and a microwave irradiation in air for an exposure time range of 15–40 s. The as-obtained samples were characterized via various techniques. The microwave-modified samples (MW-G) exhibit enlarged interlayer distances and some open sites in their layers. The results show that the microwave-irradiation time has an obvious effect on their energy-storage property, and too long irradiation is harmful for their performance. The sample (MW-G-15) with a microwave-irradiation time of 15 s displays a high specific capacity of ≥ 400 mAh g–1, much higher than that (~300 mAh g–1) of the fresh commercially available graphite under the same test condition. MW-G-15 has a capacity retention of 96% and an initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 84%, and the charge transfer and rate capacities are highly improved. The enhanced performances of MW-G-15 are attributed to the reconstruction of graphite structure during the microwave irradiation by introducing suitable open sites or channels for the intercalation and migration of Li ions. This work gives a useful enlightenment to explore low-cost and eco-friendly approach towards re-utilization of spent graphite as LIBs anode materials.

The Lunar Lander Neutron & Dosimetry (LND) experiment is part of the scientific payload of the Chinese Chang'E 4 spacecraft which landed on the Moon on January 3, 2019. The LND measures the radiation environment on the surface of the moon in preparation of future manned missions to the Moon. There are, however, also four radioactive sources on the lander, a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) and three radioisotope heater units (RHUs) which provide heat and power for the instruments on the Chang'E 4 lander. The radiation emitted by these radioactive sources leads to a non-negligible background which interferes with the measurements of LND. The aim of this paper is to describe the method that how to remove the background from these radioactive sources on the Chang'E 4 lander. We measured the effect of the RTG and RHUs on LND in a laboratory on Earth which is a very different environment from that on the Moon. We discuss how to take these major differences into account using a combination of scaling laws and Monte-Carlo simulations.

Feicheng Basin is an important energy base in Shandong Province, China. The Ordovician limestone is the main aquifer for water supply in the basin. As a result of the current practice in which individual water users control the exploitation of the karst water, the regional groundwater level has dropped more than 30 m over the last 20 years. The groundwater is overdrawn in approximately 300 km2 because of the poor management from 1981. A numerical model with distributed parameters is developed for the karst aquifer to help properly manage the water resource and sustain its utilization. The responding matrix method is used to couple the prediction model and the management model. The objective of the modeling exercises is to obtain the maximum amount of water while keeping the water level drawdown within an acceptable level. The optimum management scheme is selected among two proposed designs. The recommended measures from this study include (1) improvement of water use efficiency in industries, (2) comprehensive utilization of the water pumped from the mines, and (3) improvement of the irrigation practice. When the domestic water supply and corporates water demand take the top priorities, the numerical modeling provides a useful tool to help with the rational distribution of the karst water resources among different water users.