Influences of heating processes on properties and microstructure of porous CeO2 beads as a surrogate for nuclear fuels fabricated by a microfluidic sol-gel process

Tong Song,Lin Guo,Ming Chen,Zhen-Qi Chang 한국원자력학회 2019 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.51 No.1

The control of microstructure is critical for the porous fuel particles used for infiltrating actinide nuclides. This study concerns the effect of heating processes on properties and microstructure of the fuel particles. The uniform gel precursor beads were synthesized by a microfluidic sol-gel process and then the porousCeO2 microspheres, as a surrogate for the ceramic nuclear fuel particles, were obtained by heatingtreatment of the gel precursors. The fabricated CeO2 microspheres have a narrow size distribution andgood sphericity due to the feature of microfluidics. The effects of heating processes parameters, such asheating mode and peak temperatures on the properties of microspheres were studied in detail. Anoptimized heating mode and the peak temperature of 650 C were selected to produce porous CeO2microspheres. The optimized heating mode can avoid the appearance of broken or crack microspheres inthe heating process, and as-prepared porous microspheres were of suitable pore size distribution andpore volume for loading minor actinide (MA) solution by an infiltration method that is used for fabricationof MA-bearing nuclear fuel beads. After the infiltration process, 1000 C was selected as the finaltemperature to improve the compressive strength of microspheres.

Enhanced carrier separation in g-C3N4/MoO3-x heterostructures towards efficient phenol removal

Tong Song,Cong Xie,Quande Che,Ping Yang 한국공업화학회 2023 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.122 No.-

Two-dimensional (2D)/2D g-C3N4/MoO3-x heterojunctions were constructed for enhanced photocatalyticphenol removal. The oxygen vacancies in MoO3-x help to extend absorption in a full solar spectrum especiallyin near-infrared (NIR) region. Improved charge transfer path preserved photogenerated electronsand holes with powerful enough redox abilities, which simultaneously improved phenol photodegradationperformance and photocatalytic activation efficiency of peroxydisulfate (PDS). In full solar spectrumactivated PDS system, the phenol removal efficiency using g-C3N4/MoO3-x heterostructures reached 98%within 60 min. For the contribution of PDS activation process, active species trapping experiment and insituopen-circuit potentials (OCP) measurement indicated that radical and non-radical pathways jointlypromoted the elimination of phenol. The existence of oxygen vacancies promoted the formation ofcatalyst-PDS* complex and thus facilitated the electron transfer process, which exerted crucial effectas non-radical pathway. This result provided an ideal catalyst for photocatalytic persulfate activation systemin the field of environmental remediation.

Heterojunction nanoarchitectonics with SnS2/g-C3N4 S-scheme toward enhanced photooxidation and photoreduction

Tong Song,Xiao Zhang,Quande Che,Ping Yang 한국공업화학회 2022 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.113 No.-

Novel g-C3N4/SnS2 van der Waals heterojunctions were fabricated via SnS2 crystals embedded superiorthin g-C3N4 nanosheets for efficient photocatalytic oxidation and reduction activities simultaneously. S-scheme charge migration path was confirmed through test and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Two dimensional (2D)/2D interfaces, powerful internal electric field (IEF) and band bending effecttogether expedited charge transfer. Photocatalytic removal of organic pollutants and hydrogen evolutionwere employed to evaluate photocatalytic performance. Particularly, the g-C3N4/SnS2 heterojunctionsexhibited excellent 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) photooxidation and Cr(VI) photoreduction activitiesat the same time. 85% of Cr(VI) and 94% of 2,4-DCP were removed in the mixed solution after visible lightirradiation for 2 h (k > 420 nm). The hydrogen evolution rate enhanced to 6.58 times of g-C3N4. DFT simulationmatched with test for narrowed band gap and enhanced IEF (accelerating photogenerated carriertransfer). This work provided new insights for constructing S-scheme multifunctional g-C3N4-basedphotocatalyst.

Comparison of Effectiveness in Differentiating Benign from Malignant Ovarian Masses between IOTA Simple Rules and Subjective Sonographic Assessment

Tongsong, Theera,Tinnangwattana, Dangcheewan,Vichak-ururote, Linlada,Tontivuthikul, Paponrad,Charoenratana, Cholaros,Lerthiranwong, Thitikarn Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.9

Background: To compare diagnostic performance in differentiating benign from malignant ovarian masses between IOTA (the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis) simple rules and subjective sonographic assessment. Materials and Methods: Women scheduled for elective surgery because of ovarian masses were recruited into the study and underwent ultrasound examination within 24 hours of surgery to apply the IOTA simple rules by general gynecologists and to record video clips for subjective assessment by an experienced sonographer. The diagnostic performance of the IOTA rules and subjective assessment for differentiation between benign and malignant masses was compared. The gold standard diagnosis was pathological or operative findings. Results: A total of 150 ovarian masses were covered, comprising 105 (70%) benign and 45 (30%) malignant. Of them, the IOTA simple rules could be applied in 119 (79.3%) and were inconclusive in 31 (20.7%) whereas subjective assessment could be applied in all cases (100%). The sensitivity and the specificity of the IOTA simple rules and subjective assessment were not significantly different, 82.9% vs 86.7% and 94.0% vs 94.3% respectively. The agreement of the two methods in prediction was high with a Kappa index of 0.835. Conclusions: Both techniques had a high diagnostic performance in differentiation between benign and malignant ovarian masses but the IOTA rules had a relatively high rate of inconclusive results. The IOTA rules can be used as an effective screening technique by general gynecologists but when the results are inconclusive they should consult experienced sonographers.

Sonographic Pattern Recognition of Endometriomas Mimicking Ovarian Cancer

Saeng-Anan, Ubol,Pantasri, Tawiwan,Neeyalavira, Vithida,Tongsong, Theera Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.9

Background: To assess the accuracy of ultrasound in differentiating endometrioma from ovarian cancer and to describe pattern recognition for atypical endometriomas mimicking ovarian cancers. Materials and Methods: Patients scheduled for elective surgery for adnexal masses were sonographically evaluated for endometrioma within 24 hours of surgery. All examinations were performed by the same experienced sonographer, who had no any information of the patients, to differentiate between endometriomas and non-endometriomas using a simple rule (classic ground-glass appearance) and subjective impression (pattern recognition). The final diagnosis as a gold standard relied on either pathological or post-operative findings. Results: Of 638 patients available for analysis, 146 were proven to be endometriomas. Of them, the simple rule and subjective impression could sonographically detect endometriomas with sensitivities of 64.4% (94/146) and 89.7% (131/146), respectively. Of 52 endometriomas with false negative tests by the simple rule, 13 were predicted as benign masses and 39 were mistaken for malignancy. Solid masses and papillary projections were the most common forms mimicking ovarian cancer, consisting of 38.5% of the missed diagnoses. However, with pattern recognition (subjective impression), 32 from 39 cases mimicking ovarian cancer were correctly predicted for endometriomas. All endometriomas subjectively predicted for ovarian malignancy were associated with high vascularization in the solid masses. Conclusions: Pattern recognition of endometriomas by subjective assessment had a higher sensitivity than the simple rule in characterization of endometriomas. Most endometriomas mimicking ovarian malignancy could be correctly predicted by subjective impression based on familiarity of pattern recognition.

IOTA Simple Rules in Differentiating between Benign and Malignant Ovarian Tumors

Tantipalakorn, Charuwan,Wanapirak, Chanane,Khunamornpong, Surapan,Sukpan, Kornkanok,Tongsong, Theera Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.13

Background: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of IOTA simple rules in differentiating between benign and malignant ovarian tumors. Materials and Methods: A study of diagnostic performance was conducted on women scheduled for elective surgery due to ovarian masses between March 2007 and March 2012. All patients underwent ultrasound examination for IOTA simple rules within 24 hours of surgery. All examinations were performed by the authors, who had no any clinical information of the patients, to differentiate between benign and malignant adnexal masses using IOTA simple rules. Gold standard diagnosis was based on pathological or operative findings. Results: A total of 398 adnexal masses, in 376 women, were available for analysis. Of them, the IOTA simple rules could be applied in 319 (80.1%) including 212 (66.5%) benign tumors and 107 (33.6%) malignant tumors. The simple rules yielded inconclusive results in 79 (19.9%) masses. In the 319 masses for which the IOTA simple rules could be applied, sensitivity was 82.9% and specificity 95.3%. Conclusions: The IOTA simple rules have high diagnostic performance in differentiating between benign and malignant adnexal masses. Nevertheless, inconclusive results are relatively common.

IOTA Simple Rules in Differentiating between Benign and Malignant Adnexal Masses by Non-expert Examiners

Tinnangwattana, Dangcheewan,Vichak-ururote, Linlada,Tontivuthikul, Paponrad,Charoenratana, Cholaros,Lerthiranwong, Thitikarn,Tongsong, Theera Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.9

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of IOTA simple rules in predicting malignant adnexal tumors by non-expert examiners. Materials and Methods: Five obstetric/gynecologic residents, who had never performed gynecologic ultrasound examination by themselves before, were trained for IOTA simple rules by an experienced examiner. One trained resident performed ultrasound examinations including IOTA simple rules on 100 women, who were scheduled for surgery due to ovarian masses, within 24 hours of surgery. The gold standard diagnosis was based on pathological or operative findings. The five-trained residents performed IOTA simple rules on 30 patients for evaluation of inter-observer variability. Results: A total of 100 patients underwent ultrasound examination for the IOTA simple rules. Of them, IOTA simple rules could be applied in 94 (94%) masses including 71 (71.0%) benign masses and 29 (29.0%) malignant masses. The diagnostic performance of IOTA simple rules showed sensitivity of 89.3% (95%CI, 77.8%; 100.7%), specificity 83.3% (95%CI, 74.3%; 92.3%). Inter-observer variability was analyzed using Cohen's kappa coefficient. Kappa indices of the four pairs of raters are 0.713-0.884 (0.722, 0.827, 0.713, and 0.884). Conclusions: IOTA simple rules have high diagnostic performance in discriminating adnexal masses even when are applied by non-expert sonographers, though a training course may be required. Nevertheless, they should be further tested by a greater number of general practitioners before widely use.

Prenatal screening of DiGeorge (22q11.2 deletion) syndrome by abnormalities of the great arteries among Thai pregnant women

( Kuntharee Traisrisilp ),( Fuanglada Tongprasert ),( Kasemsri Srisupundit ),( Suchaya Luewan ),( Theera Tongsong ) 대한산부인과학회 2020 Obstetrics & Gynecology Science Vol.63 No.3

Objective 22q11.2DS (deletion syndrome) is one of the common serious anomalies resulting in high perinatal morbidity and mortality rate. Nevertheless, prenatal diagnosis of 22q11.2DS in Southeast Asia has never been described and its prevalence in prenatal series has never been explored. The objective of this study was to describe the experience of prenatal diagnosis of 22q11.2DS in the Thai population and to determine its prevalence among fetuses prenatally diagnosed with abnormalities of the great arteries. Methods A prospective study was conducted on pregnant Thai women prenatally diagnosed with abnormalities of the great arteries in the second trimester. The recruited cases were investigated for fetal 22q11.2 deletion by in situ hybridization with a probe specific to the DiGeorge/VCFS TUPLE 1 region located on chromosome 22 for the locus D22S75, and 22qter for a telomere specific sequence clone as the control region. Results Five out of the 42 (11.9%) fetuses with abnormalities of the great arteries meeting the inclusion criteria were proven to have 22q11.2DS. The most common abnormalities were the tetralogy of Fallot (or variants) and right-sided aortic arch, followed by a thymic hypoplasia. Conclusion As observed in the western countries, we have documented that, among pregnant Thai women, 22q11.2DS is highly prevalent in fetuses with abnormalities of the great arteries (approximately 12%). This information is important when counselling couples to undergo prenatal testing for 22q11.2DS, since this information is vital in the patients' decision of termination or continuation of pregnancy and in a well-prepared management of the affected child.