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To understand pyroptosis induced by ionizing radiation and its implications for radiation therapy, we explored the involved factors, possible mechanisms of radiation-induced pyroptosis and consequent antitumor immunity.The occurrence of pyroptosis was assessed by cell morphology, lactate dehydrogenase release, Annexin V/PI staining and the cleavage of Gasdermin E (GSDME). Cell radiosensitivity was tested with MTT and colony survival assays. Xenograft tumor volume, Ki-67, CD8Irradiation induced pyroptosis in GSDME high-expressing tumor cell lines covering lung, liver, breast, and glioma cancers. Cleavage of GSDME occurred in a dose- and time-dependent manner after irradiation, and pyroptosis could be induced by various kinds of irradiation. The combination of chemotherapy drugs for DNA damage (cisplatin or etoposide) or demethylation (decitabine or azacytidine) and irradiation significantly enhanced the occurrence of pyroptosis. Moreover, we revealed that the Caspase 9/Caspase 3/GSDME pathway was involved in irradiation-induced pyroptosis. Notably, enhanced tumor suppression was observed in Balb/c mice bearing GSDME-overexpressing 4T1 tumors compared with those bearing vector tumors for the promotion of antitumor immunity, which was manifested as distinctly elevated levels of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and release of the related cytokines rather than the direct effect of pyroptosis on tumor cell radiosensitivity.As an immunogenic cell death caused by radiation, pyroptosis promotes antitumor immunity after irradiation. Our findings may provide new insights to improve the efficacy of tumor radiation therapy.

Existing methods for monitoring radionuclides in aquatic environments require frequent sampling of a large volume of water, followed by tedious concentration and analytical procedures, which often make it impractical. Mussels have also been commonly employed to monitor radionuclides but bioaccumulation is significantly affected by physical and biological factors. This study explored the feasibility of using the ‘Artificial Mussel’ (AM) as a new tool for monitoring radionuclides in marine environments. We showed that (a) the uptake and accumulation of 238U, 88Sr, and 133Cs by AMs are directly related to their concentration in water, and equilibrium could be reached within 7 to 8 weeks with high concentration factors. Our results suggest that AMs can serve as an effective and practical tool for monitoring radionuclides in the aquatic environment and overcoming the difficulties faced by existing methods in radionuclide monitoring.

Urban air pollution has aroused growing attention due to its associated adverse health effects. A model which could promptly predict urban air quality with considerable accuracy is, therefore, important and will benefit the development of smart cities. However, only a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model could better resolve the dispersion behavior within an urban canyon layer. A machine learning (ML) model using the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach was formulated in the current study to investigate vehicle-derived airborne particulate (PM10) dispersion within a compact high-rise-built environment. Various measured meteorological parameters and PM10 concentrations were adopted as the model inputs to train the ANN model. A building-resolved CFD model under the same environmental settings was also set up to compare its model performance with the ANN model. Our results showed that the ANN model exhibited promising performance (r = 0.82, fractional bias = 0.002) when comparing the > 1000 h PM10 measurements. When comparing the diurnal hourly measured PM10 variations in a clear-sky day, both the ANN and CFD models performed well (r > 0.8). The good performance of the CFD model relied on the knowledge of the in situ diurnal traffic profile, the adoption of suitable mobile source emission factor(s) (e.g., from MOBILE 6 and COPERT4), and the use of urban thermal and dynamical variables to capture PM10 variations in both neutral and unstable atmospheric conditions. These requirements/constraints make it impractical for daily operation. On the contrary, the ML (ANN) model adopted here is free from these constraints and is fast (less than 0.1% computational time relative to the CFD model). These results demonstrate that the ANN model is a superior option for a smart city application.

Monte Carlo method was used to study the characteristics of neutron interactions with cells underneath a water medium layer with varying thickness. The following results were obtained. (1) The fractions of neutron interaction with 1H, 12C, 14N and 16O nuclei in the cell layer were studied. The fraction with 1H increased with increasing medium thickness, while decreased for 12C, 14N and 16O nuclei. The bulges in the interaction fractions with 12C, 14N and 16O nuclei were explained by the resonance spikes in the interaction cross-section data. The interaction fraction decreased in the order: 1H > 16O > 12C > 14N. (2) In general, as the medium thickness increased, the number of "interacting neutrons" which exited the medium and then further interacted with the cell layer increased. (3) The area under the angular distributions for "interacting neutrons" decreased with increasing incident neutron energy. Such results would be useful for deciphering the reasons behind discrepancies among existing results in the literature.

Solar (UVA + UVB) exposure was assessed using the Gafchromic EBT3 film. The coloration change was represented by the net reflective optical density (Net ROD). Through calibrations against a UV-tube lamp, operational relationships were obtained between Net ROD and the (UVA + UVB) exposures (in J cm(-2) or J m(-2)). The useful range was from ∼0.2 to ∼30 J cm(-2). The uniformity of UV irradiation was crucial for an accurate calibration. For solar exposures ranging from 2 to 11 J cm(-2), the predicted Net ROD agreed with the recorded values within 9%, while the predicted exposures agreed with the recorded values within 15%.

An intercomparison of methodology and of dating results, from α-counting and from the more recent γ-spectrometry method, has been made for marine sediment cores from several locations. The former method involves considerable chemical manipulation, whereas the latter is more straightforward and enables direct interpretation of the results. Similar precisions (∼ 12%) were found for both methods. With the constant flux model, the methods gave calculated sedimentation rates between 4.3 and 7.8 cm a−1 for replicate cores near a ferry pier in Hong Kong Harbor. The γ-spectrometry method is thus a reliable, more rapid method for routine monitoring and investigation of the harbor dynamics and history of pollution.

In a teaching studio groups of about six students can discuss problems posed in a short lecture so as to allow any one of them to present the answer to the class. This encourages them to work with each other. The trial described here has had many benefits and produced positive responses to a questionnaire.

To compare the doses calculated by the Acuros XB (AXB) algorithm and analytical anisotropic algorithm (AAA) with experimentally measured data adjacent to and within heterogeneous medium using intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and RapidArc(®) (RA) volumetric arc therapy plans for nasopharygeal carcinoma (NPC).Two-dimensional dose distribution immediately adjacent to both air and bone inserts of a rectangular tissue equivalent phantom irradiated using IMRT and RA plans for NPC cases were measured with GafChromic(®) EBT3 films. Doses near and within the nasopharygeal (NP) region of an anthropomorphic phantom containing heterogeneous medium were also measured with thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) and EBT3 films. The measured data were then compared with the data calculated by AAA and AXB. For AXB, dose calculations were performed using both dose-to-medium (AXB_Dm) and dose-to-water (AXB_Dw) options. Furthermore, target dose differences between AAA and AXB were analyzed for the corresponding real patients. The comparison of real patient plans was performed by stratifying the targets into components of different densities, including tissue, bone, and air.For the verification of planar dose distribution adjacent to air and bone using the rectangular phantom, the percentages of pixels that passed the gamma analysis with the ± 3%/3mm criteria were 98.7%, 99.5%, and 97.7% on the axial plane for AAA, AXB_Dm, and AXB_Dw, respectively, averaged over all IMRT and RA plans, while they were 97.6%, 98.2%, and 97.7%, respectively, on the coronal plane. For the verification of planar dose distribution within the NP region of the anthropomorphic phantom, the percentages of pixels that passed the gamma analysis with the ± 3%/3mm criteria were 95.1%, 91.3%, and 99.0% for AAA, AXB_Dm, and AXB_Dw, respectively, averaged over all IMRT and RA plans. Within the NP region where air and bone were present, the film measurements represented the dose close to unit density water in a heterogeneous medium, produced the best agreement with the AXB_Dw. For the verification of point doses within the target using TLD in the anthropomorphic phantom, the absolute percentage deviations between the calculated and measured data when averaged over all IMRT and RA plans were 1.8%, 1.7%, and 1.8% for AAA, AXB_Dm and AXB_Dw, respectively. From all the verification results, no significant difference was found between the IMRT and RA plans. The target dose analysis of the real patient plans showed that the discrepancies in mean doses to the PTV component in tissue among the three dose calculation options were within 2%, but up to about 4% in the bone content, with AXB_Dm giving the lowest values and AXB_Dw giving the highest values.In general, the verification measurements demonstrated that both algorithms produced acceptable accuracy when compared to the measured data. GafChromic(®) film results indicated that AXB produced slightly better accuracy compared to AAA for dose calculation adjacent to and within the heterogeneous media. Users should be aware of the differences in calculated target doses between options AXB_Dm and AXB_Dw, especially in bone, for IMRT and RA in NPC cases.

The main aim of the current study was to assess the dosimetric impact on intensity modulated stereotactic radiotherapy (IMSRT) for locally persistent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) due to the recalculation from the Anisotropic Analytical Algorithm (AAA) to the recently released Acuros XB (AXB) algorithm. The dosimetric accuracy of using AXB in predicting air∕tissue interface doses from an open single small field in a simple geometric phantom and intensity modulated small fields in an anthropomorphic phantom was also investigated.The central axis percentage depth doses (PDD) of a rectangular phantom containing an air cavity were calculated by both AAA and AXB from 6 MV beam with small field sizes (2 × 2 to 5 × 5 cm(2)). These data were compared to PDD measured by thin thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) and Monte Carlo simulations. The doses predicted by AAA and AXB near air∕tissue interfaces from five different IMSRT plans were compared to the TLD measured doses in an anthropomorphic phantom. The PTV coverage, conformity and doses to organs at risk (OARs) calculated by AAA and AXB were compared for 12 patients, using identical beam setup, leaves movement and monitor units.Testing using the simple rectangular phantom demonstrated that AAA and AXB overestimated the PDD at the air∕tissue interfaces by up to 41% and 6%, respectively, from a 2 × 2 cm(2) field. The secondary build-up curves predicted by AXB caught up well with the measured data at around 2 mm beyond the air cavity. Testing using the anthropomorphic phantom showed that AAA overestimated the doses by up to 10%, while the measured doses matched those of the AXB to within 3%. Using AAA, the planning target coverage represented by 100% of the reference dose was estimated to be 4% higher than using AXB. The averaged minimum dose to the PTV predicted by AAA was about 4% higher and OARs doses 3% to 6% higher compared to AXB.AXB should be used whenever possible as the standard reference for IMSRT boost of NPC cases. The more accurate AXB indicating lower target coverage and lower minimum target dose compared to AAA should be noted.

TheU(1) axial anomaly in a hot fermion medium is investigated by using the real time Green's function method. After calculating the lowest order triangle diagrams, we find that finite temperature as well as finite fermion density does not affect the axial anomaly. The higher order corrections for the axial anomaly are discussed.

This paper describes a method for monitoring 90Sr contamination in terms of 131I contamination in food imported from a country with a recent nuclear power plant accident. For imported food, the guideline levels set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission will be applied, which requires that the contamination in food by beta emitters (typically strontium) be monitored. However, the measurement of strontium contamination cannot be made within a reasonably short time as it requires rather time-consuming chemical extraction and sample preparation procedures in advance. We propose here to use the contamination level of 131I in these foodstuffs as indicators of 90Sr contamination levels. Possible accident scenarios are employed to estimate the abundance ratio of 131I and 90Sr deposited on soil and intercepted by plants. Using a dynamic food chain model, we can calculate their relative activities in the food products which, when combined with the 131I levels present, give the theoretical 90Sr levels present.

Pultrusion has been now accepted as an effective and versatile technique for the production of continuous fiber reinforced composites with constant profile crosssection. Fillers such as calcium carbonate, hollow glass microspheres, liquid rubber are quite often added to reduce materials cost and to improve impact resistance [1]. One possible class of filler for pultruded glass fiber reinforced plastics (GRP) is the natural cellulosic fibers. Cellulose-based natural fibers are used as reinforcing fillers in polymeric matrix composites [2] for their low cost and attractive specific properties. A comprehensive review on cellulosic natural fiber reinforced composites is given by Bledzki and Gassan [3]. The microstructures of sisal fibers are very different from those of synthetic fibers. A sisal fiber is not a single fiber but is made up of a bundle of tubular micro-fibers of diameter 4–12 μm. The cell wall of a tubular microfiber is 1–2 μm thick and has a composite structure of lignocellulosic material reinforced by helical microfibrillar bands of cellulose. The cell walls are in turn covered by a layer of bonding material that separates one micro-fiber from another [4, 5]. The major problem in using sisal fiber in polymer matrix composite is the poor interfacial bonding. The general approach to improve the interfacial bonding between sisal fiber and polymer matrix include mercerization, heat treatment and coupling agent coating [6–8]. In the mercerization process, some of the lignin phase will be dissolved away by the alkali solution, which will give a corresponding increase in the density of the treated sisal fibers [6]. For heat treated sisal fibers, the crystallinity of the cellulosic micro-fibers will be increased as determined from X-ray diffraction [6]. The objective of the present investigation is to determine the effect of γ -irradiation treatment on the short beam shear (SBS) behavior of a sisal-fiber/glass-fiber/polyester hybrid composite produced by pultrusion. Pultrusion was carried out by using a small pultrusion machine (model HB/LJ-3, manufactured by Harbin FRP Institute) with 12 kN pulling force capacity. The pultruded profile has a near rectangular cross-section (with both ends semi-circular, see Fig. 1) with dimensions 15.3× 4.3 mm. Two compositions of specimens were pultruded. In the first composition, both sisal fiber and glass fiber were used as reinforcements, and the resulting composite is called hybrid in this work. The

The two sources with high galactic latitudes detected by the COS-B detector, namely 3C273 and 2CG 010-31, have been studied with the SAS-2 data by using the cross-correlation function method. It has been found that both of them have a corresponding γ-ray peak in the SAS-2 correlated flux. The flux values derived are in good agreement with previous results. These indicate that it is consistently appropriate to apply the cross-correlation function method to the SAS-2 data and that fruitful results are available from the analysis of the SAS-2 data.

Bootstrap sampling is a method that can be used to generate a large number of simulated samples (bootstrap samples) from the data of the measured sample. By working out the statistic of interest in each bootstrap sample and then calculating the frequency distribution of the statistic over the bootstrap samples, we can derive the probability distribution of the parameter required. A bootstrap sample is a subset of the measured data formed by randomly drawing data from the measured sample with replacement. In this paper, we have made use of the bootstrap sampling technique to identify the γ-ray signals for the 3 extragalactic γ-ray sources NGC 4151, 3C 273, and Cen-A.

Purpose Side effects related to radiation exposures are based primarily on the assumption that the detrimental effects of radiation occur in directly irradiated cells. However, several studies have reported over the years of radiation-induced non-targeted/ abscopal effects in vivo that challenge this paradigm. There is evidence that Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) plays an important role in modulating non-targeted effects, including DNA damages in vitro and mutagenesis in vivo. While most reports on radiation-induced non-targeted response utilize x-rays, there is little information available for heavy ions. Methods and Materials Adult female transgenic gpt delta mice were exposed to an equitoxic dose of either carbon or argon particles using the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC) at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) in Japan. The mice were stratified into 4 groups of 5 animals each: Control; animals irradiated under full shielding (Sham-irradiated); animals receiving whole body irradiation (WBIR); and animals receiving partial body irradiation (PBIR) to the lower abdomen with a 1 x 1 cm2 field. The doses used in the carbon ion group (4.5 Gy) and in argon particle group (1.5 Gy) have a relative biological effectiveness equivalent to a 5 Gy dose of x-rays. 24 hours after irradiation, breast tissues in and out of the irradiated field were harvested for analysis. Induction of COX2, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX), and apoptosis-related cysteine protease-3 (Caspase-3) antibodies were examined in the four categories of breast tissues using immunohistochemical techniques. Analysis was performed by measuring the intensity of more than 20 individual microscopic fields and comparing the relative fold difference. Results In the carbon ion group, the relative fold increase in COX2 expression was 1.01 in sham irradiated group (p > 0.05), 3.07 in PBIR (p < 0.05) and 2.50 in WBIR (p < 0.05),respectively, when compared with controls. The relative fold increase in 8-OHdG expression was 1.29 in sham-irradiated (p > 0.05), 11.31 in PBIR (p < 0.05) and 11.79 inWBIR (p < 0.05), respectively, when compared with controls. A similar increase in γ-H2AX expression was found in that, compared to controls, the increase was 1.41 fold in sham-irradiated (p > 0.05), 8.41 in PBIR (p < 0.05) and 10.59 inWBIR (p < 0.05). Results for the argon particle therapy group showed a similar magnitude of changes in the various biological endpoints examined. There was no statistical significance observed in Caspase-3 expression among the 4 groups. Conclusions Our data show that both carbon and argon ions induced non-targeted, out of field induction of COX2 and DNA damages in breast tissues. These effects may pose new challenges to evaluate the risks associated with radiation exposure and understanding radiation-induced side effects.

Gafchromic XRCT, radiochromic film is assessed over a broad energy range, from kilovoltage to megavoltage x rays for variations in reflected optical density to dose response. A large energy dependence was found with reflected optical density output for the same delivered dose varying from 7.8 +/- 0.35 at 25.5 keV (50 kVp) peaking at 12.1 +/- 0.5 at 54 keV (125 kVp) to 0.975 +/- 0.03 at 2300 keV (10 MV) when normalized to 1 at 1400 keV (6 MV) energy. The response is constant (within 3%) in the 36-69 keV equivalent photon energy range, which corresponds to x-ray tube generating potentials of approximately 100-150 kVp. This matches well with beam qualities for diagnostic computed topography applications.

High energy x-ray beam penumbra are measured using Gafchromic EBT film. Gafchromic EBT, due to its limited energy dependence and high spatial resolution provide a high level of accuracy for dose assessment in penumbral regions. The spatial resolution of film detector systems is normally limited by the scanning resolution of the densitometer. Penumbral widths (80%/20%) measured at Dmax were found to be 2.8, 3.0, 3.2, and 3.4 mm (+/- 0.2 mm) using 5, 10, 20, and 30 cm square field sizes, respectively, for a 6 MV linear accelerator produced x-ray beam. This is compared to 3.2 mm +/- 0.2 mm (Kodak EDR2) and 3.6 mm +/- 0.2 mm (Kodak X-Omat V) at 10 cm x 10 cm measured using radiographic film. Using a zero volume extrapolation technique for ionization chamber measurements, the 10 cm X 10 cm field penumbra at Dmax was measured to be 3.1 mm, a close match to Gafchromic EBT results. Penumbral measurements can also be made at other depths, including the surface, as the film does not suffer significantly from dosimetric variations caused by changing x-ray energy spectra. Gafchromic EBT film provides an adequate measure of penumbral dose for high energy x-ray beams.

In the algorithm of Leksell GAMMAPLAN (the treatment planning software of Leksell Gamma Knife), scattered photons from the collimator system are presumed to have negligible effects on the Gamma Knife dosimetry. In this study, we used the EGS4 Monte Carlo (MC) technique to study the scattered photons coming out of the single beam channel of Leksell Gamma Knife. The PRESTA (Parameter Reduced Electron-Step Transport Algorithm) version of the EGS4 (Electron Gamma Shower version 4) MC computer code was employed. We simulated the single beam channel of Leksell Gamma Knife with the full geometry. Primary photons were sampled from within the 60Co source and radiated isotropically in a solid angle of 4pi. The percentages of scattered photons within all photons reaching the phantom space using different collimators were calculated with an average value of 15%. However, this significant amount of scattered photons contributes negligible effects to single beam dose profiles for different collimators. Output spectra were calculated for the four different collimators. To increase the efficiency of simulation by decreasing the semiaperture angle of the beam channel or the solid angle of the initial directions of primary photons will underestimate the scattered component of the photon fluence. The generated backscattered photons from within the 60Co source and the beam channel also contribute to the output spectra.

Three photon interaction processes, namely, the photoelectric effect, Compton effect, and pair production, can occur when materials with high atomic numbers are irradiated by the high- and low-energy bremsstrahlung photons from a linear accelerator. A dose enhancement, due to the photoelectric effect and pair production, near targets with platinum implants (with a high atomic number) in radiosurgery cannot be predicted by the XKnife radiosurgery treatment planning system. In the present work, Monte Carlo simulations using PRESTA EGS4 were employed to investigate the resulting dose enhancements from 4, 6, and 10 MV energies commonly used in the stereotactic radiosurgery system. Dose enhancements from 32% to 68% were observed close to the platinum implant for the above energies when using a 12.5 mm collimator. Comparatively higher dose enhancements were observed when using smaller collimators. It was found that this dose enhancement increased with beam energy but decreased as beam size increased.

This research aimed to quantitatively evaluate the differences in percentage dose of maximum for 6MV and 18MV x-ray beams within the first 1 cm of interactions. Thus provide quantitative information regarding the basal, dermal and subcutaneous dose differences achievable with these two types of high-energy x-ray beams. Percentage dose of maximum build up curves are measured for most clinical field sizes using 6MV and 18MV x-ray beams. Calculations are performed to produce quantitative results highlighting the percentage dose of maximum differences delivered to various depths within the skin and subcutaneous tissue region by these two beams. Results have shown that basal cell layer doses are not significantly different for 6MV and 18MV x-ray beams. At depths beyond the surface and basal cell layer there is a measurable and significant difference in delivered dose. This variation increases to 20% of maximum and 22% of maximum at 1 mm and 1 cm depths respectively. The percentage variations are larger for smaller field sizes where the photon in phantom component of the delivered dose is the most significant contributor to dose. By producing graphs or tables of % dose differences in the build up region we can provide quantitative information to the oncologist for consideration (if skin and subcutaneous tissue doses are of importance) during the beam energy selection process for treatment.

Dose in the build up region for high energy x-rays produced by a medical linear accelerator is affected by the x-ray source to patient surface distance (SSD). The use of isocentric treatments whereby the tumour is positions 100 cm from the source means that depending of the depth of the tumour and the size of the patient, the SSD can vary from distances of 80 cm to 100 cm. To achieve larger field sizes, the SSD can also be extended out to 120 cm at times. Results have shown that open fields are not significantly affected by SSD changes with deviations in percentage dose being less than 4% of maximum dose for SSD's from 80 cm to 120 cm SSD. With the introduction of beam modifying devices such as Perspex blocking trays, the effects are significant with a deviation of up to 22% measured at 6MV energy with a 6 mm Perspex tray for SSD's from 80 cm to 120 cm. These variations are largest at the skin surface and reduce with depth. The use of a multi leaf collimator for blocking removes extra skin dose caused by the Perspex block trays with decreasing SSD.

The effects of chamber polarity have been investigated for the measurement of 6MV and 18MV x-ray surface dose using a parallel plate ionization chamber. Results have shown that a significant difference in measured ionization is recorded between polarities at 6MV and 18MV at the phantom surface. A polarity ratio ranging from 1.062 to 1.005 is seen for 6MV x-rays at the phantom surface for field sizes 5 cm x 5 cm to 40 cm x 40 cm when comparing positive to negative polarity. These ratio's range from 1.024 to 1.004 for 18MV x-rays with the same field sizes. When these charge reading are compared to the Dmax readings of the same polarity it is found that these polarity effects are minimal for the calculation of percentage dose results with variations being less than 1% of maximum.

This note investigates in-vivo dosimetry using a Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) for radiotherapy treatment at superficial and orthovoltage x-ray energies. This was performed within one fraction of the patients treatment. Standard measurements along with energy response of the detector are given. Results showed that the MOSFET measurements in-vivo agreed with calculated results on average within +/- 5.6% over all superficial and orthovoltage energies. These variations were slightly larger than TLD results with variations between measured and calculated results being +/- 5.0% for the same patient measurements. The MOSFET device provides adequate in-vivo dosimetry for superficial and orthovoltage energy treatments with the accuracy of the measurements seeming to be relatively on par with TLD in our case. The MOSFET does have the advantage of returning a relatively immediate dosimetric result after irradiation.

By using Hawking's treatment as well as Zaslavskii's treatment respectively and the brick wall model, two different values of classical entropy and quantum entropy of scalar fields in the two-dimensional extreme charged dilaton black hole backgrounds have been obtained. A new divergent term emerges in the quantum entropy under the extreme limit for Zaslavskii's treatment and its connection with the phase transition has been addressed., Latex version, to be published on Phys.Lett.B

A microcomputer-based image processing system is used to digitize and process serial sections of CT/MRI scan and reconstruct three-dimensional images of brain structures and brain lesions. The images grabbed also serve as templates and different vital regions with different risk values are also traced out for 3D reconstruction. A knowledge-based system employing rule-based programming has been built to help identifying brain lesions and to help planning trajectory for operations. The volumes of the lesions are also automatically determined. Such system is very useful for medical skills archival, tumor size monitoring, survival and outcome forecasting, and consistent neurosurgical planning.

A microcomputer-based image processing system is integrated to do three-dimensional reconstruction of serial sections of brain CT/MRI scans from photographic films. The brain scans are taken with a stereotactic registration frame mounted on the patient''s head as reference, thus enabling quantitative 3D reconstruction to sub-mm accuracy. The software includes digitization, data compression, data archiving, image processing, pattern recognition, features retrieval and 3D reconstruction. With manual driven interactive 3D graphics, the system enables neurosurgeons and medical physicists to do interactive diagnostics, analysis and treatment planning. The system put together in this way satisfies both low cost and high efficiency requirements in the Far East medical environment.

Citation analysis was made bibliometrically on the collection and dispersion of the references in Acta Pharmacologica Sinica 1984-1989. Core periodicals were sorted out: 31 in foreign languages and 6 in Chinese. Suggestions are proposed to the information services.