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The neutron emission of compressed capsules filled with fuels in inertial confinement fusion implosions can be measured by neutron imaging systems. Source reconstruction is an important method in coded-aperture imaging. In this paper, we use a combination algorithm to reconstruct the neutron source image. This method can improve the resolution and signal–noise ratio of the reconstructed image. In addition, the ray tracing method is used to obtain the point spread functions of the whole field of view (250 µm), and thus, the system response can be obtained. The edge gray interpolation method is used to restore the missing portion of incomplete coded images. The method can maintain a good performance when the missing-data angle is limited to less than 50°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still a major threat to human health globally, with a disappointing prognosis. Regular monitoring of patients at high risk, utilizing abdominal ultrasonography combined with alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) serum analysis, enables the early detection of potentially treatable tumors. However, the approach has limitations due to its lack of sensitivity. Meanwhile, the current standard procedure for obtaining a tumor biopsy in cases of HCC is invasive and lacks the ability to assess the dynamic progression of cancer or account for tumor heterogeneity. Hence, there is a pressing need to develop non‐invasive, highly sensitive biomarkers for HCC which can improve the accuracy of early diagnosis, assess treatment response and accurately predict the prognosis. In contrast to the conventional method of tissue biopsy, liquid biopsy offers a non‐invasive approach that can be readily repeated. As a liquid biopsy approach, the analysis of cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) offers real‐time insights that can accurately portray the tumor burden and provide a comprehensive depiction of the genetic profile associated with HCC. In this review, we present a comprehensive summary of the recent research findings pertaining to the significance and potential practicality of cfDNA analysis in the early detection and effective management of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deuterium–tritium neutron yield has reached up to about 1013 at the 100 kJ-level laser facility, which makes measurement of neutron emission images possible with the neutron imaging system. There are two methods to collect neutron images from the scintillator array, optical fiber taper and the lens system. Here, we report a design of the lens system for the neutron imaging system at the 100 kJ-level laser facility. The lens system, which consists of a nine-element collecting lens, with a spatial resolution of 20 µm and a light-collection efficiency of 5.9% has been designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3,3′-diindolylmethane (DIM) is a dimer compound converted from Indoly-3-carbinol that had been studied as promising chemo-preventive agent against breast cancer. In this study, we observed that proportion of CD133+Nanog+ subpopulation in MCF-7 cells was significantly increased after DIM administration with up-regulated AKT activity by using CyTOF assay. SPADE analysis revealed this stem-like subpopulation exhibited apoptosis-resistance property against DIM treatment. By combining with AKT inhibitor AZD5363, DIM induced CD133 expression could be suppressed. In addition, a combination treatment of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells with DIM and AZD5363 showed synergistic decreases in cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, results from imaging flow cytometry suggested that FoxO3a nuclear localization and PUMA expression could be improved by combination of AZD5363 with DIM. Taken together, the above observations suggested that the combination of AZD5363 with DIM could be developed as potential therapy for breast cancer. [Display omitted] • CD133 + stem-like cells was increased after DIM administration in MCF-7 cells. • AKT inhibitor AZD5363 decreased DIM induced CD133 expression in MCF-7 cells. • AKT inhibitor AZD5363 increased DIM-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. • AZD5363 increased foxo3a nuclear translocation in DIM treated MCF-7 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]