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By analyzing Newton’s rings, often encountered in interferometry, the parameters of spherical surfaces such as the rings’ center and the curvature radius can be estimated. First, the classical convolutional neural networks, visual geometry group (VGG) network and U-Net, are applied to parameter estimation of Newton’s rings. After these models are trained, the rings’ center and curvature radius can be obtained simultaneously. Compared with previous analysis methods of Newton’s rings, it is shown that the proposed method has higher precision, better immunity to noise, and lower time consumption. For a Newton’s rings pattern of 640 × 480 pixels comprising − 5 d B Gaussian noise or 60% salt-and-pepper noise, the parameters can be estimated by the VGG model in 0.01 s, the error of the rings’ center is less than one pixel, and the error of curvature radius is lower than 0.5%.

Interferometry is a widely used optical measurement technique. We can estimate the physical parameters of the measured object by analyzing the phase of the fringe pattern obtained by interference imaging. However, when the measurement object has spherical surface, the interferogram always contains closed fringes which the traditional analysis methods are difficult to handle. Therefore, we use several common deep learning networks to learn the closed fringe patterns and their phases, evaluate and choose the appropriate network to build an end-to-end phase analysis system for a single closed fringe pattern. The experimental results show that the constructed deep learning network model has excellent phase recovery effect on simulation closed fringe patterns, and can estimate the curvature radius of the spherical surface accurately.

Newton’s rings are often encountered in interferometry, and in analyzing them, we can estimate the physical parameters, such as curvature radius and the rings’ center. The fractional Fourier transform (FRFT) is capable of estimating these physical parameters from the rings despite noise and obstacles, but there is still a small deviation between the estimated coordinates of the rings' center and the actual values. The least-squares fitting method is popularly used for its accuracy but it is easily affected by the initial values. Nevertheless, with the estimated results from the FRFT, it is easy to meet the requirements of initial values. In this paper, the proposed method combines the advantages of the fractional Fourier transform (FRFT) with the least-squares fitting method in analyzing Newton’s rings fringe patterns. Its performance is assessed by analyzing simulated and actual Newton’s rings images. The experimental results show that the proposed method is capable of estimating the parameters in the presence of noise and obstacles. Under the same conditions, the estimation results are better than those obtained with the original FRFT-based method, especially for the rings’ center. Some applications are shown to illustrate that the improved FRFT-based method is an important technique for interferometric measurements.

Newton’s rings are the fringe patterns of quadratic phase, the curvature radius of optical components can be obtained from the coefficients of quadratic phase. Usually, the coordinate transformation method has been used to the curvature radius, however, the first step of the algorithm is to find the center of the circular fringes. In recent years, deep learning, especially the deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs), has achieved remarkable successes in object detection task. In this work, an new approach based on the Faster region-based convolutional neural network (Faster R-CNN) is proposed to estimate the rings’ center. Once the rings’ center has been detected, the squared distance from each pixel to the rings’ center is calculated, the two-dimensional pattern is transformed into a one-dimensional signal by coordinate transformation, fast Fourier transform of the spectrum reveals the periodicity of the one-dimensional fringe profile, thus enabling the calculation of the unknown surface curvature radius. The effectiveness of this method is demonstrated by the simulation and actual images.

A method based on the fractional Fourier ridges for accurate phase demodulation of a single interferogram with quadratic phase is presented. The interferograms being analyzed may contain circular, elliptic or astigmatic fringes. In signal processing field, such interferograms can be called 2-D chirp-type signals. Since the fractional Fourier transform (FRFT) of a chirp signal is a function under the matched angle that is determined by chirp rates of the signal, so the method can be used to match the multiple chirp rates in chirp-type signals with multiple chirp components. In this work, the FRFT of all row (column) signals are firstly calculated, and the ridge of the FRFT amplitude of each row (column) signal in FRFT domain is recorded. Repeat the above process for each angle of a searching range. Then a ridge tracking approach is employed to determine the matched angle, which can be used to calculate the coefficient of the square term of row (column) coordinates. Moreover, under the matched angle, the ridge of the FRFT amplitude of each row (column) signal all lie on a straight line. The slope and constant term of the line can be used to calculate the coefficient of the linear term of row (column) coordinates and the coefficient of cross term, respectively. The same procedures are implemented to all column (row) signals to determine the coefficients of the square and liner term of column (row) coordinates. According to the obtained coefficients, the phase of the fringe pattern can be constructed without phase unwrapping operation. Furthermore, the present procedure is also capable of analysis of interferograms with or without circularly symmetry fringe distribution instead of using complex and time consuming algorithms for recovering phase from fringe patterns with closed fringes. Finally, the method is tested in simulated and real data.

Analysis of closed-fringe patterns with quadratic phase that are often encountered plays an important role in optical interferometry. But because the frequency spectra of the two exponential signals that compose closed-fringe patterns overlap in the Fourier domain while one is clearly distinct from the other in the fractional Fourier domain, fractional Fourier transform (FRFT) is a useful method for analyzing the images to provide parameter estimation. However, when the fringe pattern has varying background and/or modulation due to non-uniform illumination, parameter estimation accuracy based on FRFT is affected, which lacks theoretical justification. Thus, the impact of varying background and/or modulation on the FRFT is studied with theoretic analysis and presented in this paper. Key factors that contribute to the optimal results are discussed when employing three kinds of fringe normalization methods to eliminate the impact. Here, the fringe pattern is first processed by the normalization technique. Then the cosine-only term is used to estimate parameter by use of the FRFT-based method. Physical quantities are then obtained by parameter estimation. In comparison with our previous method based on FRFT, more accurate results are achieved. The feasibility and applicability of the proposed approach are demonstrated using simulation and experimental results.

An improved FRFT-based method for estimating parameters from Newton’s rings is proposed that can estimate parameters in about 1.3 seconds when processing a 1920×1080 pixel image of Newton’s rings.

Our study investigated an object-detection method based on the faster region-based convolutional neural network (faster R-CNN). The method was designed to determine the center of either a concentric circle or concentric ellipse. Specifically, the central spot of the image (as the object region) can be marked by the bounding box when the circular or elliptical image is used as input data for the faster R-CNN model. The center point of the bounding box can then be calculated according to the coordinates of the upper left and lower right corners, that is, the center position of the concentric circle or concentric ellipse. It is important to determine the center coordinates when taking optical measurements, as the curvature radius of optical components can thus be obtained. The effectiveness of this method is demonstrated through simulation images. Furthermore, we can obtain the center coordinates of the actual Newton’s rings image using the above method; according to the coordinate transformation method, the curvature radius can be estimated based on the center.

Phase extraction from a single closed interferogram with a quadratic phase plays an important role in optical interferometry. Based on the energy of the interference images of this type is concentrated in a very narrow range around a point in the fractional Fourier transform (FRFT) domain under matched angle, the FRFT technique is a useful parameter estimator for the fringe pattern, but it has not been used to retrieve the desired phase from the fringe pattern. Thus, the parameter estimation approach based on FRFT is extended to the extract phase. The phase extraction can be done without using a phase unwrapping algorithm. Moreover, for ensuring both the estimation precision and speed, a coarse-to-fine searching strategy that includes a direct searching process implemented with a large step size and an iterative searching based on quasi-Newton method is presented in this paper to implement the FRFT method. The feasibility and applicability of the proposed approach are demonstrated using simulation and experimental results. The experimental results show that the proposed method is robust to noise and obstacles.

By analyzing Newton's rings, often encountered in interferometry, using fractional Fourier transform (FRFT), we can estimate the physical parameters, such as the curvature radius of the spherical surface and the rings' center. However, parameter estimation from large images using FRFT consumes considerable time. We introduce an improved method that resamples the image before applying FRFT. Because Newton's rings are sparse in the FRFT domain, this method reduces the computational time without decreasing the accuracy. Experimental results show that compared to traditional FRFT-based algorithms, this method can estimate parameters in about 1.3 s when processing 1920×1080 pixel images.

Chirp signals are very common in radar, communication, sonar, and etc. Little is known about chirp images, i.e., 2-D chirp signals. In fact, such images frequently appear in optics and medical science. Newton's rings fringe pattern is a classical example of the images, which is widely used in optical metrology. It is known that the fractional Fourier transform(FRFT) is a convenient method for processing chirp signals. Furthermore, it can be extended to 2-D fractional Fourier transform for processing 2-D chirp signals. It is interesting to observe the chirp images in the 2-D fractional Fourier transform domain and extract some physical parameters hidden in the images. Besides that, in the FRFT domain, it is easy to separate the 2-D chirp signal from other signals to obtain the desired image.

Background A few studies have been conducted on the relationship between cerebellar volume and emotional memory or clinical severity in major depressive disorder (MDD). In this study, we aimed to compare the volume and density of the cerebellar gray matter (GM) in patients with MDD and in healthy controls (HCs) and explore the association between these cerebellar parameters and measurements of emotional memory and clinical severity. Method Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and Individual Brain Atlases using Statistical Parametric Mapping (IBASPM) were used to assess GM density and volume in the cerebellum, respectively, in patients with MDD and the HCs. Indicators of emotional memory performance were measured, including the hit rate (HR), rate of false alarm (FA), precision (Pr = HR − FA) and emotional memory enhancement [∆Pr = Pr(emotion) − Pr(neutral)] values. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores were used to measure the severity of depression. Results In the patients with MDD, the GM density was decreased in three cerebellar cortical regions and increased in three cerebellar cortical regions (p

Objective: To investigate the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the expression of drug resistance genes, multidrug resistance-1 (MDR1) and multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP), in patients with primary breast cancer. Methods: MDR1 and MRP expression were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in 20 patients with primary breast cancer, before and after chemotherapy. Results: Before chemotherapy, MDR1 and MRP expression can be detected in 15 cases (75%) and 18 cases (90%) respectively. After chemotherapy, expression of MDR1 is not significantly different from that before chemotherapy, but expression of MRP is significantly different from that before chemotherapy. Conclusion: Expression of drug resistance gene MRP, but not MDR1, is enhanced in patients with primary breast cancer submitted to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

To analyze the changes in CD8(low) T lymphocyte subsets in patients with occupational chronic lead poisoning.Flow cytometric analysis was used to count the numbers of CD8+ cells. 23 patients with occupational chronic lead poisoning and 20 controls were examined.Compared with control group (8.21% ± 3.02%), the CD8(low) T lymphocyte (12.98% ± 5.62%) were significantly increased in patients with occupational chronic lead poisoning.Although the ratio of CD+ T lymphocyte is normal, the CD8 level is significantly decreased. The increase of CD8(low) T lymphocyte may be an important phenomenon of immuno-injury induced by lead. CD8(low) T lymphocyte could be an new direction for research of lead immuno-toxicity.

To explore the anti-tumor effects induced by fusion of interleukin (IL)-18 gene transfected lung cancer cell line NCI-H460 cells with dendritic cells (DC).(1) DC were induced from human monocytes and fused with IL-18 transfected NCI-H460 cells. Fusion was selected using MACS microbeads. (2) Four groups (group GT, group PT, group NT and group BC) were set up. T cells activated by IL-18 gene transfected fusion or pcDNA3. 1 + vector transfected fusion and non-transfected fusion were taken as effetor cells. No effector cells was in group BC. Lactic dehydrogenase ( LDH) method was used to evaluate the antitumor effect in vitro. (3) Tumor-bearing nude mice were inoculated with effector cells mentioned above. The tumor size and weight in the 4 groups were compared.The killing rate in vitro of 3 groups were 53. 14% ,30. 10% and 31.49% , respectively. The tumor size and weight in the 3 groups were lower than group BC, among which group GT was the lowest.Fusion of IL-18 gene transfected NCI-H460 lung cancer cells with dendritic cells can effectively induce anti-tumor immunity in the host.

To study the antitumor effects induced by fusions of dendritic cells (DC) and NCI-H460 cells and compared with antigen pulsed DC.(1) DC were induced from human monocytes and were fused with NCI-H460 cells. Three experimental groups were set up, including group fusions cell (FC), group pulsed cell (PC) and group T cell (TC), for which T cells activated by fusions, antigen pulsed DC, and non-activated T cells were used as the effector cells respectively. The killing activity of effector cells to NCI-H460 cells were evaluated by lactate dehydrogenase method. (2) NCI-H460 cells were injected subcutaneously to BALB/c nude mice. Then 18 cancer-bearing mice were divided randomly into 3 groups, group FC, group PC and group TC. Effector cells mentioned above were inoculated subcutaneously. The tumor size and tumor weight were assessed and compared.The killing rates to NCI-H460 cells of group FC, group PC and group TC were 43.54%, 26.57% and 3.25% respectively. Comparison of the killing activity of these 3 groups showed group FCgroup PCgroup TC (F = 5.47, P0.05). The tumor size of group FC was significantly smaller than that of group PC and group TC. The tumor weights of group FC, group PC and group TC were (1,129 +/- 123) mg, (1,709 +/- 160) mg and (3,344 +/- 288) mg respectively (F = 37.05, P0.01).Fusions of DC and NCI-H460 cells could induce powerful antitumor immunity, which was more effective than antigen pulsed DC.

Radiofrequency (RF) can destroy local tumor tissue with less damage to the intervening tissue. The effect of RF on immune function of tumor-bearing body needs to be further investigated. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of RF on splenocyte immunity of mice bearing H22 liver cancer through detecting splenocyte proliferation, cytotoxicity, and expression pattern of cytokines T helper type 1 (Th1)/Th2.A total of 24 BALB/c mice were randomized into 4 groups: RF, surgical resection, tumor-bearing control, and normal control groups. The proliferation of splenocytes was detected by MTT assay, and the cytotoxicity of splenocytes was assayed by double-color flow cytometry (FCM). The concentrations of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, and IL-10 in splenocyte culture supernatants were detected by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA), and mRNA levels of the cytokines in splenocytes were assayed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).The proliferation of splenocytes and mortality of H22 cells were significantly higher in RF group than in surgical resection group, normal control group, and tumor-bearing group (P0.05). The concentration and mRNA level of IL-2 and IFN-gamma were significantly higher in RF group than in surgical resection group, normal control group, and tumor-bearing group (P0.05); the concentration and mRNA level of IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly lower in RF group than in surgical resection group, normal control group, and tumor-bearing group (P0.05). No significant difference were found between surgical resection group and normal control group (P0.05).RF can efficiently stimulate splenocyte activation and proliferation in H22-bearing mice, and enhance splenocyte cytotoxicity to tumor cells. RF could facilitate the secretion and gene transcription of Th1 type cytokines in H22 cells.

To express the GST-MAGE-3 protein in E. coli, and investigate the antitumor immune responses induced by Dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with GST-MAGE-3 protein, the recombinant expression plasmid pGEX-MAGE-3 was constructed by ligating MAGE-3 gene, which was amplified by RT-PCR and confirmed by sequencing, and the pGEX-4T-2 vector. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into BL-21 E. coli. The expression of GST-MAGE-3 was induced with IPTG. The GST-MAGE-3 protein expressed as high as 32% of the total cellular protein. After purification with Glutathione Sepharose 4B, the purity of the protein was more than 90%, and 3mg GST-MAGE-3 was obtained from 100 mL BL-21 lysate. Dendritic cells from gastric carcinoma patients were pulsed with GST-MAGE-3 protein, and these DCs were used to stimulate the autologous T. lymphocytes. After 7 days, the T. lymphocytes cocultured with DCs pulsed with GST-MAGE-3 antigen exhibited specific cytotoxicity against MAGE-3 positive SGC-7901 cells. It is concluded that the GST-MAGE-3 protein are able to present antigen to T. lymphocytes, activate antigen-specific CTLs and induce special antitumor immune responses in vitro. Our results lay the groundwork for further research of the MAGE-3 vaccine.

To investigate the antitumor immune responses induced by MAGE-3 DNA vaccine, the recombinant mammalian expression plasmid pcDNA3.1/MAGE-3 was constructed by ligating MAGE-3 gene, which was amplified by RT-PCR, and the pcD-NA3.1 + vector. The recombinant plasmids were transfected into B16 cells by liposome, the expression of MAGE-3 was checked by RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry and Western blot. Then, 100 ug recombinant plasmids were injected intramuscularly per C57BL/6 mouse on 0, 10 and 20 days, with pcDNA3.1 + plasmid and PBS as controls. Splenocytes CTLs, the level of antibodies against MAGE-3 the changes of the T lymphocyte subsets and the levels of cytokines were checked after 3 times immunization. As a result, the mice immunized with pcDNA3.1/MAGE-3 plasmid can produce MAGE-3 specific immune response. The CTLs kill activities against B16/MAGE-3 cells was 51.08 +/- 7.41%, and had significant difference (P0.01) compared with that of pcDNA3.1 + group (8.44 +/- 1.89%) and PBS group (5.76 +/- 1.75%). The titre of antibody against MAGE-3 was 1:15, while controls were negtive. The number of CD4 + CD8 + and the levels of IFN-gamma IL-2 increased significantly after immunization with pcDNA3.1/MAGE-3 plasmid as compared with those of control groups (P0.01). It is concluded that the pcDNA3.1-MAGE-3 DNA vaccine are able to induce both cellular and humoral immune responses in vivo.

To assess the significance of expression of sialylated carbohydrate antigens and nm23-H1 gene in metastasis and prognosis of breast cancer.Tissue specimens from 102 cases of primary breast cancer were stained with antibodies against sialyl Lewis A (SleA) and salyl Lewis X (SleX), and nm23-H1 proteins by immunohistochemical methods.Of the 102 cases, the positive cases of SleA and SleX were 24.5% (25/102) and 59.89% (61/102),respectively; the reduced expression of nm23-H1 was showed in 37.3% (38/102) of the cases. The positive expression of SleX and the reduced expression of nm23-H1 gene were significantly associated with lymph node involvement. Among the 100 patients who underwent curative surgery, the disease-free survival rate was significantly correlated with nm23-H1 and SleX expression, respectively,but not with SleA expression. In multivariate analysis using Cox regression model, combination assay of nm23 H1 and SleX expression emerged as independent prognostic factors.These results suggest that nm23-H1 gene and SleX may be involved in the metastatic process in human breast cancer, and immunohistochemical detection of SleX and nm23-H1 may be used as a biologic marker of prognosis.

AIM: To investigate the expression of pathological factors of VEGF-C and its receptor FLT-4 in primary gastric cancer and adjacent normal tissues. METHODS: The expression of VEGF-C and FLT-4 was studied in 80 primary gastric cancers and adjacent normal tissues from the same patients by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immumohistochemistry. RESULTS: Both primary gastric cancer and adjacent normal tissue could express VEGF-C and FLT-4, and FLT-4 expression was also detected in endothelial cells of stromal blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. There was a significant difference in expression of VEGF-C between primary tumor and adjacent normal tissue samples (P = 0.01), and a statistical correlation between VEGF-C and FLT-4 expression in tumors (P = 0.00886). With regard to VEGF-C expression, there was a significant difference between moderate-poor differential type and high differential type (P = 0.032), and a significant difference between positive and negative lymph node metastases (P = 0.024). However, there was no significant difference between positive and negative serosal invasions (P = 0.219). CONCLUSION: VEGF-C and its receptor FLT-4 play a role in the development of gastric cancer, and the tumors with expression of VEGF-C and FLT-4 are more likely to have lymph node metastasis.

In the present study, the effects of a newly developed photosensitizer chrolophyll derivative (CPD4) from Chinese Medicine Cansha (silkworm excrement) with pulsed copper vapor laser and pumped-dye laser (510, 578, 630, and 670 nm wavelength) on human rectal cancer cell line HR8348 was investigated. Hematoporphyrin derivative (YHPD) was used as a positive control. The relationship between CPD4 dose, the laser wavelength, and laser energy was explored. The MTT rapid colorimetric assay was used as a measuring indicator of photodynamic cytotoxicity and compared with 3 H-thymidine incorporation assay and colony-forming assay. The photodynamic sensitivity of different cell lines was observed. The results showed that CPD4-induced HR8348 cells irradiated with pulsed copper vapor laser displayed a markedly photodynamic effect.

AIM: To evaluate of scoring system in predicting choledocholithiasis in selective intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). METHODS: The scoring system of predicting choledocholithiasis was developed during the retrospective study in 264 cases, and was tested in 184 to evaluate its predictive value in choledocholithiasis. RESULTS: The scoring system was developed in a retrospective study of 264 cases, the statistical analyses showed the predictive factors included sex, transaminase levels, alkaline phosphatase level, bilirubin level, and common bile duct diameter on ultrasonography. The scoring system was used in 184 cases prospectively, of which, 3 of 162 (1.9%) cases scoring < 3 had choledocholithiasis, 17 of 22 (77.3%) cases scores≥3 had choledocholithiasis. A case of scores≥3 or more prospectively should be considered highly intraoperative cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. CONCLUSION: The scoring system can predict choledocholithiasis and is helpful in selection patietns for intraoperative cholangiography.

The superimposed assemblages of structural lines trending northeast, east-northeast and west-northwest form the major structural framework of the continental margin in the northern South China Sea. The northeast structural trend represents Mesozoic basement trends, those in early Paleogene sedimentary layers. The east-northeast or west-northwest structural lines developed in post-Eocene-Oligocene sedimentary layers as a result of superimposition of northeast trends. The Tertiary sedimentary basins have been produced and developed in block structures formed by these structural trends. Tertiary deposits at the continental margin of the northern South China Sea reach a maximum thickness of 10 km. Lower Tertiary sequences are usually absent from the high points but are commonly present in the splintered segments, with continental deposits dominating. The Upper Tertiary section is well developed, and extensively overlaps the high points and the splintered segments, with marine deposits dominating. Tertiary sediments can be divided into four subcycles of Paleocene-Early Oligocene, Late Oligocene-Early Miocene, Mid-Miocene-Late Miocene, and Late Miocene-Pliocene ages. The early Pliocene transgression was the greatest since late Oligocene time. During Early-Late Miocene time, regression was most extensive. All or part of the Upper Miocene is absent in many basins. The known productive formations (Eocene Lower Oligocene, Upper Oligocene-Lower Miocene and Mid-Miocene) are all closely related to the middle stages of the sedimentary subcycles. Tertiary basins have different structural positions depending on basement features. Multisite-type faulting depressions are developed within the basin causing splintering. The basins are shaped like grabens and pan-type depressions, and had an initial stage of faulting, a middle stage of depression, and a late stage of overlapping and coverage by sediments. The development of normal faults within the basin, high heat flow, and the lack of compressive folding show that the basins were formed by extension. The development of basins was influenced by four plate movements during Cenozoic time. The Tertiary basins in the north of the South China Sea are related to the gradual disintegration of the northern continental margin or the South China Sea, the frequent movement of the plates around the South China Sea, and the spreading of the South China Sea Basin. Thus basins were formed with different structural attributes but similar sedimentary cycles.