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BACKGROUND: Early pathologic studies have reported that focal areas of gray lesions in the cortex and other gray matter (GM) regions are important in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) can provide more specific insight into the disease process, progression, and therapeutic response of MS. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively assess the changes of global GM volumetry and relaxometry information simultaneously in MS patients using synthetic MRI. METHODS: All MS patients and healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores were obtained from all patients to evaluate the disability progression. Volumetry and relaxometry of the global brain and regional GM were obtained. The quantitative parameters between MS patients and HCs were compared using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The Pearson correlation assessed the correlations between the quantitative parameters and EDSS, illness duration, education in MS patients. RESULTS: Thirty-five MS patients and fifty-two age-matched HCs were enrolled in this prospective case-control study. The global volumetry including white matter volume (WMV), myelin volume (MYV), and brain parenchymal volume (BPV) were all significantly lower in MS patients (WMV: 613.120±65.388 vs. 579.903±68.432 mL; MYV: 151.883±22.766 vs. 192.457±27.381 mL; BPV: 1,136.771±106.126 vs. 1,276.712±107.368 mL), as well as a higher cerebral spinal fluid volume (CSFV) (241.294±81.805 vs. 177.017±39.729 mL) in MS patients than those in HCs. Similarly, brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) and myelin fraction (MYF) were significantly lower in MS patients (BPF: 82.623±5.368 vs. 87.85±2.392 mL; MYF: 11.034±1.529 vs. 13.231±1.465 mL). For regional GM volumetry, multiple regions of MS patients were significantly smaller than those of HCs (P

Automatic detection of multimodal fake news has gained a widespread attention recently. Many existing approaches seek to fuse unimodal features to produce multimodal news representations. However, the potential of powerful cross-modal contrastive learning methods for fake news detection has not been well exploited. Besides, how to aggregate features from different modalities to boost the performance of the decision-making process is still an open question. To address that, we propose COOLANT, a cross-modal contrastive learning framework for multimodal fake news detection, aiming to achieve more accurate image-text alignment. To further improve the alignment precision, we leverage an auxiliary task to soften the loss term of negative samples during the contrast process. A cross-modal fusion module is developed to learn the cross-modality correlations. An attention mechanism with an attention guidance module is implemented to help effectively and interpretably aggregate the aligned unimodal representations and the cross-modality correlations. Finally, we evaluate the COOLANT and conduct a comparative study on two widely used datasets, Twitter and Weibo. The experimental results demonstrate that our COOLANT outperforms previous approaches by a large margin and achieves new state-of-the-art results on the two datasets., Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures

Additional file 1: Figure S1. Doseand DERdistribution on half of the cross section in the nucleus for the irradiated cellular model as shown in Fig. 4, where the height of the partial shell was changed to 15 μm. Relationship between the dose distribution and radial distance from the center of the nucleus as well as the polar angle θ. Figure S2. Dose and DER profile along the 90-degree radial axis of the cross section of the nucleus for irradiated cellular model, as shown in Fig. 4, where the height of the partial shell was changed to 15 μm.

Emotional support conversation (ESC) task can utilize various support strategies to help people relieve emotional distress and overcome the problem they face, which has attracted much attention in these years. However, most state-of-the-art works rely heavily on external commonsense knowledge to infer the mental state of the user in every dialogue round. Although effective, they may suffer from significant human effort, knowledge update and domain change in a long run. Therefore, in this article, we focus on exploring the task itself without using any external knowledge. We find all existing works ignore two significant characteristics of ESC. (a) Abundant prior knowledge exists in historical conversations, such as the responses to similar cases and the general order of support strategies, which has a great reference value for current conversation. (b) There is a one-to-many mapping relationship between context and support strategy, i.e.multiple strategies are reasonable for a single context. It lays a better foundation for the diversity of generations. Taking into account these two key factors, we propose Prior Knowledge Enhanced emotional support model with latent variable, PoKE. The proposed model fully taps the potential of prior knowledge in terms of exemplars and strategy sequence and then utilizes a latent variable to model the one-to-many relationship of strategy. Furthermore, we introduce a memory schema to incorporate the encoded knowledge into decoder. Experiment results on benchmark dataset show that our PoKE outperforms existing baselines on both automatic evaluation and human evaluation. Compared with the model using external knowledge, PoKE still can make a slight improvement in some metrics. Further experiments prove that abundant prior knowledge is conducive to high-quality emotional support, and a well-learned latent variable is critical to the diversity of generations.

Bone mass is maintained by the balance between osteoclast-induced bone resorption and osteoblast-triggered bone formation. In inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), however, increased osteoclast differentiation and activity skew this balance resulting in progressive bone loss. O-GlcNAcylation is a posttranslational modification with attachment of a single O-linked β-D-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) residue to serine or threonine residues of target proteins. Although O-GlcNAcylation is one of the most common protein modifications, its role in bone homeostasis has not been systematically investigated. We demonstrate that dynamic changes in O-GlcNAcylation are required for osteoclastogenesis. Increased O-GlcNAcylation promotes osteoclast differentiation during the early stages, whereas its downregulation is required for osteoclast maturation. At the molecular level, O-GlcNAcylation affects several pathways including oxidative phosphorylation and cell-cell fusion. TNFα fosters the dynamic regulation of O-GlcNAcylation to promote osteoclastogenesis in inflammatory arthritis. Targeted pharmaceutical or genetic inhibition of O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) or O-GlcNAcase (OGA) arrests osteoclast differentiation during early stages of differentiation and during later maturation, respectively, and ameliorates bone loss in experimental arthritis. Disruption of the O-GlcNAcylation target NUP153 phenocopies OGT inhibition and inhibits osteoclastogenesis. These findings highlight an important role of O-GlcNAcylation in osteoclastogenesis and may offer the potential to therapeutically interfere with pathologic bone resorption.

Background: With the advent of IoT, the deployment of batteries with a limited lifetime in remote areas is a major concern. In certain conditions, the network lifetime gets restricted due to limited battery constraints. Subsequently, the collaborative approaches for key facilities to reduce the constraint demands of the current security protocols. Objective: This work covers and combines a wide range of concepts linked by IoT based on security and energy efficiency. Specifically, this study examines the WSN energy efficiency problem among IoT devices and security for the management of threats in IoT through collaborative approaches and finally outlines the future. The concept of energy-efficient key protocols which clearly cover heterogeneous IoT communications among peers with different resources has been developed. Because of the low capacity of sensor nodes, the energy efficiency in WSNs has been an important concern. Methods: In this paper, we present an algorithm for Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) which reviews security and energy consumption to discuss their constraints in the IoT scenarios. Results: The results of a detailed experimental assessment are analyzed in terms of communication cost, energy consumption and security, which prove the relevance of a proposed ABC approach and a key establishment. Conclusion: The validation of DTLS-ABC consists of designing an inter-node cooperation trust model for the creation of a trusted community of elements that are mutually supportive. Initial attempts to design the key methods for management are appropriate individual IoT devices. This gives the system designers, an option that considers the question of scalability.

Additional file 7: Table S4: Summary of RNA-Seq data and mapping metrics.

Additional file 4: Table S1: The primers used for qRT-PCR verification.

Additional file 7: Table S4: Summary of RNA-Seq data and mapping metrics.

Additional file 6: Table S3: The parameters of gradient elution of HPLC.

Additional file 2: Fig. S2: Morphological characteristics of flower organs at three flower developmental stages in three Camellia sinensis varieties. BY1 represents the C. sinensis cv. ‘BaiYe 1’, HJY represents the C. sinensis cv. ‘HuangJinYa’, SCZ represents the C. sinensis cv. ‘SuChaZao’, S1-S3 represent the three flower developmental stages.

Additional file 1: Fig. S1: The ABCDE model and the quartet model of floral organ development in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Additional file 1: Fig. S1. Identification of therecombinant baculovirus infection by cytopathic effects. The recombinant baculovirus were generated successfully. Cytopathic effects (CPE) such as cell swelling was observed in infected cells. Fig. S2. Representative results of immunofluorescence. Immunofluorescence assays were performed on PEDV infected cells. Serums were used as primary antibodies, while PBS was used in mock control. Alexa Fluor 488-conjugated goat anti-pig IgA antibody was used as secondary antibody. Outof 213 pig serum samples from local farms, 75 (35.21%) and 138 (64.79%) were shown to be PEDV IgA positive and negative, respectively. Typical fluorescence was presented. The nuclei were stained blue with DAPI; PEDV infected cells were stained with green fluorescence by positive serum, andsyncytia was visible. Fig. S3. ROC data distribution. Serum samples that positive in both ELISA and IFA were regard as true-positive; Serum samples that positive in ELISA but negativein IFA were regard as false-positive; Serum samples that negative in ELISA butpositive in IFA were regard as false-negative; Serum samples that negative in both ELISA and IFA were regard as true-negative. The cutoff values of S1/S1T1/S1T2/S1T3-ELISA against PEDV IgA were presented as dotted lines.

Additional file 6: Table S3: The parameters of gradient elution of HPLC.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc), also known as scleroderma, is a chronic autoimmune disease, which is characterized by extensive fibrosis, vascular alterations, inflammation and autoantibodies against various cellular antigens. Its etiology is highly complex and still incompletely understood. A major hallmark of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is an uncontrolled and persistent transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ)-induced fibroblasts activation, which release excessive amounts of extracellular matrix (ECM), and disrupts the tissue architecture leading to organ dysfunction and causing morbidity and mortality of SSc. Thus, the precise molecular mechanisms and the intracellular signaling that mediate the TGFβ-induced activation of fibroblasts and production of ECM are essential for developing effective therapeutic options for SSc. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 3A2 (ALDH3A2) is found to be involved in the oxidation of fatty aldehyde and fatty acid generation. Some research has found that ALDH3A2 is involved the process of fibrotic disease. However, physiological roles of FALDH in fibrosis are unclear. The purpose of the study was to characterize whether ALDH3A2 contributes to the pathologic activation of dermal fibroblasts in patients with SSc and to evaluate the anti-fibrotic potential of ALDH3A2 reduction. We found that ALDH3A2 is the predominant Aldehyde dehydrogenase in skin with pronounced downregulated in patients with SSc as compared to non-fibrotic controls. In addition, ALDH3A2 was down regulated by TGFβ both in vivo and in vitro. We also demonstrated that decrease of ALDH3A2 plays an antifibrotic role in fibrobast activation and collagen release in vitro. And the knockdown of ALDH3A2 (ALDH3A2-KD) ameliorated TBR-, bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis, as well as in experimental sclerodermatous cGvHD induced dermal fibrosis. Finally, the RNAseq analysis of ALDH3A2-KD fibroblast showed that inactivation of ALDH3A2 interferes with the activation of fibroblast and metabolism of collagen. Knockdown of ALDH3A2 interfered with the TGFβ-dependent regulation of WNT signaling, NOTCH signaling, NODAL signaling and Hedgehog signaling.

Additional file 5: Table S2: ESI-MS/MS parameters for determination of eight phytohormones.

The application of metal nanoparticles as sensitization materials is a common strategy that is used to study dose enhancement in radiotherapy. Recent in vitro tests have revealed that magnetic gold nanoparticles can be used in cancer therapy under a magnetic field to enhance the synergistic efficiency in radiotherapy and photothermal therapy. However, magnetic gold nanoparticles have rarely been studied as sensitization materials. In this study, we obtained further results of the sensitization properties of magnetic gold nanoparticles using the Monte Carlo method TOPAS and TOPAS-nBio. We analyzed the properties of magnetic gold nanoparticles in monoenergetic photons and brachytherapy, and we investigated whether the magnetic field contributes to the sensitization process. Our results demonstrated that the dose enhancement factor of the magnetic gold nanoparticles was 16.7% lower than that of gold nanoparticles in a single particle irradiated by monoenergetic photons. In the cell model, the difference was less than 8.1% in the cytoplasm. We revealed that the magnetic field has no detrimental effect on radiosensitization. Moreover, the sensitization properties of magnetic gold nanoparticles in a clinical brachytherapy source have been revealed for the first time.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text, Objective: To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of antiemetic regimen with aprepitant in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and provide updated information for clinical practice. Methods: Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and 3 Chinese literature databases were systematically searched. Randomized controlled trials comparing standard regimen (5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonist and glucocorticoid) with aprepitant triple regimen (aprepitant plus the standard regimen) for preventing CINV were screened. Literature selection, data extraction, and quality evaluation were performed by 2 reviewers independently. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated in the meta-analysis using RevMan 5.3 software. Results: A total of 51 randomized controlled trials were finally included in the systematic review. Compared with the standard regimen, the aprepitant triple regimen significantly improved the complete response in the overall (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.71–2.07), acute (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.65–2.32) and delayed (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.70–2.27) phases, regardless of emetogenic risk of chemotherapy. Aprepitant could also significantly enhance the proportions of patients who have no emesis, nausea, or use of rescue medication respectively in the overall, acute and/or delayed phases. Aprepitant was found to be associated with decreased risk of constipation (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.74–0.97), but increased the incidence of hiccup (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.05, 1.51). There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups on other safety outcomes. Conclusion: The aprepitant triple regimen is effective for the prevention of CINV in patients being treated with moderately or highly emetogenic chemotherapy, and has a significant tendency to reduce the risk of constipation and increase the incidence of hiccup.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread worldwide. During the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, most hospitals have postponed elective surgeries. However, some emergency surgeries, especially for trauma patients, are inevitable. For patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, a standard protocol addressing preoperative preparation, intraoperative management, and postoperative surveillance should be implemented to avoid nosocomial infection and ensure the safety of patients and the health care workforce. With reference to the guidelines and recommendations issued by the National Health Commission and Chinese Society of Anesthesiology, this article provides recommendations for anesthesia management of trauma and emergency surgery cases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective To investigate the neuroprotective effect of puerarin on rat hippocampal neurons cultured in high glucose medium, and to examine the role of the p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways in this effect. Methods Primary cultures of hippocampal neurons were prepared from newborn Sprague Dawley rats. Neuron-specific enolase immunocytochemistry was used to identify neurons. The neurons were cultured with normal medium (control group) or with high-glucose medium (high-glucose group), and puerarin (puerarin group), a p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB239063; p38 MAPK inhibitor group) or a JNK inhibitor (SP600125; JNK inhibitor group) were added. After 72 h of treatment, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay was performed to detect apoptosis, and western blotting was used to assess protein levels of p-p38, p38, p-JNK and JNK. Results In the high-glucose group, the neuronal apoptosis rate and the p-p38/p38 and p-JNK/JNK ratios were higher than in the control group. The p38 MAPK and JNK inhibitors prevented this increase in the apoptosis rate. The apoptosis rates in the puerarin group, the p38 MAPK inhibitor group and the JNK inhibitor group were significantly decreased compared with the high-glucose group. Moreover, protein levels of p-p38 and p-JNK were significantly reduced, and the p-p38/p38 and p-JNK/JNK ratios were decreased in the puerarin group compared with the high-glucose group. In addition, compared with the high-glucose group, p-p38 levels and the p-p38/p38 ratio were reduced in the p38 MAPK inhibitor group, and p-JNK levels and the p-JNK/JNK ratio were decreased in the JNK inhibitor group. Conclusion Puerarin attenuates neuronal apoptosis induced by high glucose by reducing the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK.

Rationale: Erythema nodosum (EN), a type of septal panniculitis, could be a rare nonspecific cutaneous presentation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Patient Concerns: A 58-year-old Chinese female was admitted for a 4-week history of painful cutaneous lesions, accompanied by a sternal pain and fever. The lesions once resolved spontaneously but then recurred. Physical examination revealed warm, tender, indurated, rounded, erythematous to violaceous nodules in bilateral lower extremities, ranging in diameter from 1 to 6 cm. Blood marrow examination was compatible with AML-M2. Diagnoses: AML-M2 presenting as EN. Interventions: Daunorubicin and cytarabine were used in induction chemotherapy. The patient achieved complete remission and her skin lesions disappeared simultaneously. Six courses of consolidation chemotherapy were conducted in the following 6 months. Outcomes: The patient died due to AML relapse. Lessons: The case strengthens the awareness of cutaneous involvement of AML and raises oncological vigilance in patients with EN.

Switched reluctance machines (SRMs) have been comprehensively researched, and they play an important role in the modern industrial field. The topology of SRMs is quite simple and only one set of windings is employed. Consequently, the winding configuration has an essential impact on performance. In this paper, a new winding configuration for SRMs with only half-teeth wound (HT-SRM) is proposed, which is totally different from the conventional SRMs with full-teeth wound (FT-SRM). First, the basic topology and operating principle of HT-SRMs are presented by a three-phase 12/8 prototype. Then, based on the 2-D finite element analysis, an optimization of the original 12/8 HT-SRM is conducted and a series of static characteristics of three SRMs, namely, a conventional 12/8 FT-SRM, an original 12/8 HT-SRM with the same iron laminations, and an optimal HT-SRM with the optimized dimensions, are compared. Finally, three 12/8 SRM prototypes are fabricated and the experimental results verify the theoretical analysis and the corresponding finite element analysis-based predictions.

Highly active Al–Ga–In–SnCl2 composites for hydrogen production were prepared by mechanical ball milling. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses were used to characterize the composition and morphology of the composites. Moreover, the hydrogen production performance of the composites was systematically investigated at room temperature. The experiment results indicated that the addition of SnCl2 significantly enhanced the hydrolysis properties of Al–Ga–In ternary alloys. The Al-3%Ga-3%In-5%SnCl2 composite exhibited the optimal hydrogen production performance with a maximum hydrogen production of 1190 ml g−1 and a maximum generation rate of 1110 ml min−1 g−1 at 25 °C. Furthermore, we studied the effect of milling time, initial water temperature, and water quality on the final hydrogen production performance.

The problem of cognitive impairment resulting from diabetes is gaining more acceptance and attention. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus have been proved to be associated with reduced performance on numerous domains of cognitive function. Although the exact mechanisms of cognitive impairments in diabetes have not been completely understood, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance seem to play significant roles. And other possible risk factors such as hypoglycemia, insulin deficiency, vascular risk factors, hyperactive HPA axis, depression, and altered neurotransmitters will also be examined. In the meanwhile, this review analyzed the role of the active ingredient of Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of diabetes cognitive impairments.