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Abstract Background Acute myocardial infarction is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Myocardial ischemia reperfusion (MI/R) injury occurs immediately after the coronary reperfusion and aggravates myocardial ischemia. Whether the Wnt/β-Catenin pathway is involved in the protection against MI/R injury by DADLE has not been evaluated. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of DADLE against MI/R injury in a mouse model and to further explore the association between DADLE and the Wnt/β-Catenin pathway. Methods Forty-four mice were randomly allocated to four groups: Group Control (PBS Control), Group D 0.25 (DADLE 0.25 mg/kg), Group D 0.5 (DADLE 0.5 mg/kg), and Group Sham. In the control and DADLE groups, myocardial ischemia injury was induced by occluding the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) for 45 min. PBS and DADLE were administrated, respectively, 5 min before reperfusion. The sham group did not go through LAD occlusion. 24 h after reperfusion, functions of the left ventricle were assessed through echocardiography. Myocardial injury was evaluated using TTC double-staining and HE staining. Levels of myocardial enzymes, including CK-MB and LDH, in the serum were determined using ELISA kits. Expression of caspase-3, TCF4, Wnt3a, and β-Catenin was evaluated using the Western blot assay. Results The infarct area was significantly smaller in the DADLE groups than in the control group (P

Production prediction is crucial for the recovery of hydrocarbon resources. However, accurate and rapid production forecasting remains challenging for unconventional reservoirs due to the complexity of the percolation process and the scarcity of available data. To address this problem, a novel model combining a long short-term memory network (LSTM) and support vector regression (SVR) was proposed to forecast tight oil production. Three variables, the tubing head pressure, nozzle size, and water rate were utilized as the inputs of the presented machine-learning workflow to account for the influence of operational parameters. The time-series response of tight oil production was the output and was predicted by the optimized LSTM model. An SVR-based residual correction model was constructed and embedded with LSTM to increase the prediction accuracy. Case studies were carried out to verify the feasibility of the proposed method using data from two wells in the Ma-18 block of the Xinjiang oilfield. Decline curve analysis (DCA) methods, LSTM and artificial neural network (ANN) models were also applied in this study and compared with the LSTM-SVR model to prove its superiority. It was demonstrated that introducing residual correction with the newly proposed LSTM-SVR model can effectively improve prediction performance. The LSTM-SVR model of Well A produced the lowest prediction root mean square error (RMSE) of 5.42, while the RMSE of Arps, PLE Duong, ANN, and LSTM were 5.84, 6.65, 5.85, 8.16, and 7.70, respectively. The RMSE of Well B of LSTM-SVR model is 0.94, while the RMSE of ANN, and LSTM were 1.48, and 2.32.

Abstract Background Some solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) as early manifestations of lung cancer, it is difficult to determine its nature, which brings great trouble to clinical diagnosis and treatment. Radiomics can deeply explore the essence of images and provide clinical decision support for clinicians. The purpose of our study was to explore the effect of positron emission tomography (PET) with 2‐deoxy‐2‐[fluorine‐18] fluoro‐d‐glucose integrated with computed tomography (CT; 18F‐FDG‐PET/CT) combined with radiomics for predicting probability of malignancy of SPNs. Methods We retrospectively enrolled 190 patients with SPNs confirmed by pathology from January 2013 to December 2019 in our hospital. SPNs were benign in 69 patients and malignant in 121 patients. Patients were randomly divided into a training or testing group at a ratio of 7:3. Three‐dimensional regions of interest (ROIs) were manually outlined on PET and CT images, and radiomics features were extracted. Synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) method was used to balance benign and malignant samples to a ratio of 1:1. In the training group, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analyses and Spearman correlation analyses were used to select the strongest radiomics features. Three models including PET model, CT model, and joint model were constructed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curves were plotted to evaluate diagnostic efficiency, calibration degree, and clinical usefulness of all models in training and testing groups. Results The estimative effectiveness of the joint model was superior to the CT or PET model alone in the training and testing groups. For the joint model, CT model, and PET model, area under the ROC curve was 0.929, 0.819, 0.833 in the training group, and 0.844, 0.759, 0.748 in the testing group, respectively. Calibration and decision curves showed good fit and clinical usefulness for the joint model in both training and testing groups. Conclusion Radiomics models constructed by combining PET and CT radiomics features are valuable for distinguishing benign and malignant SPNs. The combined effect is superior to qualitative diagnoses with CT or PET radiomics models alone.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the way of teaching and learning in medicine. Conventional medical education has been fully transformed to open distance learning that includes the full utilization of various digital platforms. Thus, this study explored the impact of digital learning usage on learning motivation among medical students of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic period. A validated Students Motivation towards Science Learning (SMTSL) tool was used to assess the learning motivation of UKM undergraduate medical students throughout years 1 to 5. Digital learning during the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly higher compared to before the pandemic ( p

PurposeTo investigate the ability of a PET/CT-based radiomics nomogram to predict occult lymph node metastasis in patients with clinical stage N0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Materials and methodsThis retrospective study included 228 patients with surgically confirmed NSCLC (training set, 159 patients; testing set, 69 patients). ITKsnap3.8.0 was used for image(CT and PET images) segmentation, AK version 3.2.0 was used for radiomics feature extraction, and Python3.7.0 was used for radiomics feature screening. A radiomics model for predicting occult lymph node metastasis was established using a logistic regression algorithm. A nomogram was constructed by combining radiomics scores with selected clinical predictors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to verify the performance of the radiomics model and nomogram in the training and testing sets.ResultsThe radiomics nomogram comprising six selected features achieved good prediction efficiency, including radiomics characteristics and tumor location information (central or peripheral), which demonstrated good calibration and discrimination ability in the training (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.884, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.826-0.941) and testing (AUC = 0.881, 95% CI: 0.8031-0.959) sets. Clinical decision curves demonstrated that the nomogram was clinically useful.ConclusionThe PET/CT-based radiomics nomogram is a noninvasive tool for predicting occult lymph node metastasis in NSCLC.

Imbalanced class has been a common problem encountered in the modeling process, and has attracted more and more attention from scholars. Biased classifiers, which limit the classifiers’ performance for minority classes, will be produced if the imbalanced ratio between the number of positive labels and negative labels is ignored. The synthetic minority over-sampling technique (SMOTE) is a very classic and popular over-sampling method, which is widely used to address this problem. However, SMOTE increases label noise and the training time during the over-sampling process. To improve the detection rate of minority classes while ensuring efficiency, we propose a cost-sensitive XGBoost (CS-XGB) for the imbalanced data problem. The CS-XGB method can reduce the classifiers’ preference for most classes without changing the distribution of the original data. 600000 Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) were collected to validate the CS-XGB method. We compare XGBoost (XGB), SMOTE+XGB and CS-XGB, and the experimental results confirm that the CS-XGB is robust and efficient for imbalanced cases.

Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at higher risk of getting severe COVID-19 infection. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the role of serum ferritin in predicting ICU admission and mortality among patients with SCD following COVID-19 infection. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, WHO COVID-19 database, ProQuest, and Cochrane Library for articles published between 1st December 2019 to 31st November 2021. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklists. Eleven articles (7 cohorts and 4 case series) were included in this review. Pooled mean serum ferritin level on admission was 1581.62 ng/mL while pooled proportion of ICU admission and mortality were 0.10 (95% CI 0.06; 0.16, prediction interval 0.04; 0.23, p = 0.29, I2 = 17%) and 0.07 (95% CI 0.05; 0.11, prediction interval 0.04; 0.12, p = 0.68, I2 = 0%) respectively. Meta-regression showed that serum ferritin did not predict for both ICU admission (regression coefficient = 0.0001, p = 0.3523) and mortality (regression coefficient = 0.0001, p = 0.4029). Our analyses showed that serum ferritin may not be a useful marker to predict the outcomes of COVID-19 infection among patients with SCD. More data are required to identify a reliable tool to identify patients with SCD who are at risk of getting severe COVID-19 infection.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=287792, PROSPERO Registration: CRD42021287792.

The integrin alpha(α)v beta(β)3 receptor is ubiquitous in malignant tumors and has a certain level of specificity for tumors. Technetium-99m hydrazinonicotinamide-dimeric cyclic arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid peptide with three polyethylene glycol spacers (99mTc-3PRGD2) can bind specifically to the integrin αvβ3 receptor with high selectivity and strong affinity. Thus, it can specifically mark tumors and regions with angiogenesis for tumor detection and be used in single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. This modality has good application value for diagnosing and treating tumor lesions, such as those in the lung, breast, esophagus, head, and neck. This review provides an overview of the current clinical research progress of 99mTc-3PRGD2 SPECT imaging for tumor lesions, including for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of tumors in different body parts, evaluation of related metastases, and evaluation of efficacy. In addition, the future clinical application prospects and possibilities of 99mTc-3PRGD2 SPECT imaging are further discussed.

Abstract Background The intervention of circHIPK3 in renal carcinoma (RC) has not been reported, and thus, the current study investigated the intervention and mechanism of circHIPK3 in RC. Methods The expression of circHIPK3 in RC tissues and cells was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Ribonuclease R (RNase R) resistance and distribution of circHIPK3 and HIPK3 were analyzed by RNase R digestion experiments and cytoplasm/nucleus separation experiments. CircHIPK3 was knocked down in ACHN and 769-P cells. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation assay, scratch assay, and Transwell assay were performed to detect cell proliferation and metastasis. CircInteractome, qRT-PCR and dual-luciferase reporter assay were used to predict the target miRNAs of circHIPK3. Furthermore, a series of rescue experiments were performed to analyze the regulatory relationship between circHIPK3 and miR-485-3p. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the expressions of apoptosis-associated markers were detected by Western blot and qRT-PCR. The regulatory relationship between circHIPK3 and miR-485-3p in vivo was explored by xenograft experiments, Western blot, qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (Ki-67). Results CircHIPK3 was mainly overexpressed in the cytoplasm of RC tissues and cells. Knocking down circHIPK3 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of RC cells. The expression of circHIPK3 was negatively related to that of its target gene miR-485-3p. Results of the rescue experiments showed that circHIPK3 overexpression could partially reverse the anti-carcinoma effect of miR-485-3p mimic. The specific mechanism of circHIPK3 was related to the effect of miR-485-3p on partially reversing the up-regulated expressions of Clever caspase-3, Bax, E-Cadherin and down-regulated expressions of Bcl-2, N-Cadherin and Vimentin. The results of in vivo experiments demonstrated that circHIPK3 promoted tumor growth and the expression of Ki-67 by down-regulating miR-485-3p. Conclusion CircHIPK3 promotes the proliferation and metastasis and inhibits the apoptosis of RC cells through competitively binding to miR-485-3p.

We theoretically investigate that mechanical quantum squeezing in a dissipative optomechanical system, driven by two driving tones, can be improved through quadratic dispersive coupling (QDC) which appears by adjusting a membrane in an appropriate position of an optical cavity. The analytical expressions are derived for revealing the intrinsic mechanism of the mechanical squeezing improvement. Remarkably, compared with the case without QDC, an optimal condition involved the QDC is found to considerably enhance the mechanical squeezing, without reducing the purity of the mechanical squeezed state which even increases at low temperature. We also show that, in this scheme, the mechanical squeezing is still improved by QDC and beyond 3 dB even though the temperature rises. This improvement effect can be reflected by the broader frequency band of the measurable squeezing output field from the cavity. This provides a new opportunity to explore high-precision measurements and quantum nature of macroscopic objects.

In the preparation of a superamphiphobic surface, the most basic method is to reduce the surface free energy of the interface. The C—F bond has a very low surface free energy, which can significantly change the wettability of the solid–liquid interface and make it a hydrophobic or oleophobic, or even superamphiphobic surface. Based on the analysis of a large number of research articles, the preparation and application progress in fluoropolymer emulsion were summarized. After that, some corresponding thoughts were put forward combined with our professional characteristics. According to recent research, the status of the fluoropolymer emulsion preparation system was analyzed. In addition, all related aspects of fluoropolymer emulsion were systematically classified in varying degrees. Furthermore, the interaction between fluoropolymer structure and properties, especially the interaction with nanomaterials, was also explored. The aim of this review is to try to attract more scholars’ attention to fluorocarbon interfacial materials. It is expected that it will make a certain theoretical and practical significance in the preparation and application of fluoropolymer.

This systematic review aimed to provide an overview of the clinical profile and outcome of COVID-19 infection in patients with hemoglobinopathy. The rate of COVID-19 mortality and its predictors were also identified. A systematic search was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines in five electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, WHO COVID-19 database) for articles published between 1st December 2019 to 31st October 2020. All articles with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases with underlying hemoglobinopathy were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklists. Thirty-one articles with data on 246 patients with hemoglobinopathy were included in this review. In general, clinical manifestations of COVID-19 infection among patients with hemoglobinopathy were similar to the general population. Vaso-occlusive crisis occurred in 55.6% of sickle cell disease patients with COVID-19 infection. Mortality from COVID-19 infection among patients with hemoglobinopathy was 6.9%. After adjusting for age, gender, types of hemoglobinopathy and oxygen supplementation, respiratory (adj OR = 89.63, 95% CI 2.514–3195.537, p = 0.014) and cardiovascular (adj OR = 35.20, 95% CI 1.291–959.526, p = 0.035) comorbidities were significant predictors of mortality. Patients with hemoglobinopathy had a higher mortality rate from COVID-19 infection compared to the general population. Those with coexisting cardiovascular or respiratory comorbidities require closer monitoring during the course of illness. More data are needed to allow a better understanding on the clinical impact of COVID-19 infections among patients with hemoglobinopathy.Clinical Trial Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020218200.

Background: The novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) disease has spread quickly throughout China and around the world, endangering human health and life. Individuals' perceptions and attitudes as well as related health education measures may affect disease progression and prognosis during the COVID-19 outbreak. To promote and implement health education, research must focus on the perceptions and attitudes towards COVID-19 among Chinese people. The present study aimed to examine the profiles and predictive factors of the perceptions and attitudes towards COVID-19 in a sample of Chinese people.Methods: A sample of 2,663 Chinese people comprising medical staff and members of the general public completed an online survey on Wenjuanxing. The survey measured demographic variables (e.g., gender, age, education level, and place of residence) and perceptions and attitudes towards COVID-19.Results: Two profiles of perceptions and attitudes towards COVID-19 (positive and negative perceptions and attitudes) were identified in the sample. Place of residence during the COVID-19 pandemic and first response to COVID-19 were found to be independent predictive factors for COVID-19 related perceptions and attitudes.Conclusion: In addition to drug therapy and mental health services, the perceptions and attitudes of Chinese people towards COVID-19 should be considered when promoting health education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oxidative stress-related conditions associated with lung cells, specifically lung cancer, often lead to a poor prognosis. We hypothesized that platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) can play a role in reversing oxidative stress in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 epithelial lung cell lines. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was used to induce oxidative stress in cells, and the ability of PtNPs to lower the oxidative stress in the H2O2 treated epithelial lung cell line was determined. The differential capacity of PtNPs to remove H2O2 was studied through cell viability, nanoparticle uptake, DNA damage, ROS production, and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase). Results indicated that a higher concentration of PtNPs exhibited a higher antioxidant capacity and was able to reduce DNA damage and quench ROS production in the presence of 350 µM H2O2. All antioxidant enzymes’ activities also increased in the PtNPs treatment. Our data suggested that PtNPs could be a promising antioxidant in the treatment of lung cancer.

Data on use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in hospitalized patients are limited. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the use of mAbs for early treatment of unvaccinated hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. All inpatients at our center were screened on 27 October 2021. Primary outcome was in-hospital deterioration as defined by a composite of oxygen requirement, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, or mortality within 28 days of admission. Ninety-four out of 410 COVID-19 inpatients were included in the final analysis, of whom 19 (20.2%) received early treatment with sotrovimab. The median age was 73 years (IQR 61–83), and 35 (37.2%) were female. Although the treatment group was significantly older and had more comorbidities, there was a lower proportion of progression to oxygen requirement (31.6% vs. 54.7%), ICU admission (10.5% vs. 24.0%), or mortality (5.3% vs. 13.3%). Kaplan–Meier curves showed a significant difference in time to in-hospital deterioration (log-rank test, p = 0.043). Cox proportional hazards model for in-hospital deterioration showed that sotrovimab treatment was protective (hazard ratio, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.17–0.99; p = 0.047) after adjustment for baseline ISARIC deterioration score. Our findings support the use of sotrovimab for early treatment in hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 at a high risk of disease progression.

This paper studies the lithofacies, sedimentary facies, depositional models and reservoir architecture of the rudist-bearing Sar-3 zone of Cretaceous Sarvak in the Southwest of Iran by utilizing coring, thin section, XRD data of five coring wells and 3D seismic data. Research results include the following: According to lithofacies features and their association, the rudist-mound and tidal flat are the main microfacies in the Sar-3 depositional time. By investigating the regional tectonic setting and seismic interpretation, a depositional model was built for the Sar-3 zone, which highlights four key points: 1) The distribution of the rudist-buildup is controlled by the paleo-high. 2) The build-up outside of the wide colonize stage but reached the wave-base level in a short time by regression and formation uplift, and was destroyed by the high energy current, then forming the moundy allochthonous deposition after being dispersed and redeposited. 3) The tidal flat develops widely in the upper Sar-3, and the deposition thickness depends on the paleo-structure. The tidal channel develops in the valley and fringe of the Paleo-structure. 4) The exposure within the leaching effect by the meteoric water of the top of Sar-3 is the main controlling factor of the reservoir vertical architecture. The Sar-3 zone featured as the dualistic architecture consists of two regions: the lower is the rudist reef limestone reservoir and the upper is the tidal condense limestone interlayer. The thickness of each is controlled by the paleo-structure. The Paleo-high zone is the preferential development zone. Based on reservoir characteristics of the different zones, a targeted development strategy has been proposed. Keeping the trajectory in the middle of the oil-layer in the paleo-high, and in the paleo-low, make the trajectory crossing the oil-zone and then keep it in the lower.

Background: The p53:miR-34a:E2F positive feed-forward loop and the p53:miR-605:Mdm2 positive feed-back loop have been identified to be crucial oncogenesis/tumor suppressor-regulating signaling pathways. In this study, we sought to examine the hypothesis that neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is a better approach with improved prognosis and outcomes after laparoscopical radical hysterectomy (LRH) on patients with cervical cancer and to elucidate the potential roles of the p53:miR-34a:E2F1 and the p53:miR-605:Mdm2 signaling pathways in this therapy. Methods: Twenty-one patients with stage IIB cervical cancer were recruited to this study and they were randomly divided into two groups: LRH (n=10) and NAC+LRH (n=11) groups. The NAC+LRH group consisted of 4 cycles of cisplatin, paclitaxel and carboplatin. Complication rates and NAC outcomes (tumor size changes, 2-year disease-free survival rate, and 2-year overall survival rate) were compared between the two groups. Expression of p53, Mdm2, E2F1, miR-34a, and miR-605 at mRNA and protein levels from the tumor tissues was analyzed. Results: We observed that the diameter of tumors following chemotherapy was substantially smaller in the NAC+LRH patients than in LRH patients. No recurrence or metastasis after surgery was observed in the NAC+LRH patients, whereas 2 out of 10 LRH patients had recurrences and 1 had metastasis. The 2-year disease-free and overall survival rates were apparently higher in the NAC+LRH group than in the LRH group. Furthermore, molecular biology analyses revealed that the protein and mRNA levels of p53 were both markedly increased in patients who received NAC than those who did not, and oppositely, the levels of E2F1 and Mdm2 were significantly lower in the NAC+LRH patients than in the LRH patients. The levels of miR-34a and miR-605 were considerably higher with NAC relative to without NAC. Among the three anti-cancer drugs included in NAC, cisplatin was found to be the main component that caused increases in p53 protein levels, miR-34a and miR-605 miRNA levels, and decreases in Mdm2 and E2F1 protein levels. Furthermore, ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 or TAB1 siRNA mitigated these changes induced by cisplatin. Conclusion: These findings not only indicate NAC as a rational approach for better treatment of cervical cancer with improved therapeutic outcomes, due partly to the ability of cisplatin to promote the p53:miR-34a:E2F1 positive feed-forward loop and the p53:miR-605:Mdm2 positive feedback loop.

Polytype stability is very important for high quality SiC single crystal growth. However, the growth conditions for the 4H, 6H and 15R polytypes are similar, and the mechanism of polytype stability is not clear. The kinetics aspects, such as surface-step nucleation, are important. The kinetic Monte Carlo method is a common tool to study surface kinetics in crystal growth. However, the present lattice models for kinetic Monte Carlo simulations cannot solve the problem of the competitive growth of two or more lattice structures. In this study, a competitive lattice model was developed for kinetic Monte Carlo simulation of the competition growth of the 4H and 6H polytypes of SiC. The site positions are fixed at the perfect crystal lattice positions without any adjustment of the site positions. Surface steps on seeds and large ratios of diffusion/deposition have positive effects on the 4H polytype stability. The 3D polytype distribution in a physical vapor transport method grown SiC ingot showed that the facet preserved the 4H polytype even if the 6H polytype dominated the growth surface. The theoretical and experimental results of polytype growth in SiC suggest that retaining the step growth mode is an important factor to maintain a stable single 4H polytype during SiC growth.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the way of teaching and learning in medicine. Conventional medical education has been fully transformed to open distance learning that includes the full utilization of various digital platforms. Thus, this study explored the impact of digital learning usage on learning motivation among medical students of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic period. A validated Students Motivation towards Science Learning (SMTSL) tool was used to assess the learning motivation of UKM undergraduate medical students throughout years 1 to 5. Digital learning during the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly higher compared to before the pandemic (p < 0.05) but there was no significant difference (p = 0.872) in learning motivation. The use of digital learning among clinical students was significantly higher during the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to preclinical students (p < 0.05). There was a moderately strong correlation (r = 0.512) between digital learning and learning motivation. Hence, digital learning should be utilized as an additional driving factor to increase learning motivation, especially during this current pandemic.

This paper presents an efficient transform-domain architecture and corresponding mode decision algorithms for transcoding intra-coded video from MPEG-2 to H.264/AVC. Low complexity is achieved in several ways. First, our architecture employs direct conversion of the transform coefficients, which eliminates the need for the inverse discrete cosine transform (DCT) and forward H.264/AVC transform. Then, within this transform-domain architecture, we perform macroblock-based mode decisions based on H.264/AVC transform coefficients, which is possible using a novel method of calculating distortion in the transform domain. The proposed method for distortion calculation could be used to make rate-distortion optimized mode decisions with lower complexity. Compared to the pixel-domain architecture with rate-distortion optimized mode decision, simulation results show that there is a negligible loss in quality incurred by the direct conversion of transform coefficients and the proposed transform-domain mode decision algorithms, while complexity is significantly reduced. To further reduce the complexity, we also propose two fast mode decision algorithms. The first algorithm ranks modes based on a simple cost function in the transform domain, then computes the rate-distortion optimal mode from a reduced set of ranked modes. The second algorithm exploits temporal correlations in the mode decision between temporally adjacent frames. Simulation results show that these algorithms provide additional computational savings over the proposed transform-domain architecture while maintaining virtually the same coding efficiency.

BACKGROUND: Giant salamander protein peptide is a peptide with rich functional properties. Giant salamander protein peptide KGEYNK (KK‐6) is a peptide with both antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties. The antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory mechanisms of KK‐6 are still unclear. When we studied the functional mechanism of KK‐6, we found that the antioxidant property of KK‐6 has a synergistic and promoting effect on anti‐inflammatory properties. RESULTS: KK‐6 enhances cellular resistance to LPS via the MAPK/NF‐κB signaling pathway, leading to increased levels of inflammatory factors: interleukin‐1β (764.81 ng mL−1), interleukin‐6 (1.06 ng mL−1) and tumor necrosis factor‐α (4440.45 ng mL−1). KK‐6 demonstrates potent antioxidant properties by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway, resulting in elevated levels of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase: 0.03 μg mL−1; superoxide dismutase: 0.589 μg mL−1) and a reduction in the concentration of the oxidative product malondialdehyde (967.05 μg mL−1). CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the great potential of KK‐6, a peptide extracted from giant salamander protein, as a remedy for intestinal inflammation. Through its dual role as an antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory agent, KK‐6 offers a promising avenue for alleviating inflammation‐related damage and oxidative stress. This study lays the foundation for further exploration of giant salamander products and highlights their importance in health and novel food development. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL) has a unique treatment principle. However, the optimal combination of drugs along with radiotherapy (RT) is unknown. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Objectives: We screened multiple drug combinations to identify the most efficacious therapeutic combinations. Methods: We reviewed 3105 patients who received 40 chemotherapy regimens with different combinations of 9 drug classes and/or RT. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to screen efficacious single drugs and identify optimal combinations for overall survival (OS). Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and multivariable analyses were used to compare survival between treatment regimens. Results: Screening and validation revealed RT, asparaginase (ASP), and gemcitabine (GEM) to be the most efficacious single modality/drug. RT remained an important component of first-line treatment, whereas ASP was a fundamental drug of non-anthracycline (ANT)-based regimens. Addition of RT to non-ANT-based or ASP/GEM-based regimens, or addition of an ASP-drug into ANT-based or GEM/platinum-based regimens, improved 5-year OS significantly. Use of ASP/GEM-based regimens was associated with significantly higher 5-year OS (79.9%) compared with ASP/ANT-based (69.2%, p = 0.001), ASP/methotrexate-based (63.5%, p = 0.011), or ASP/not otherwise specified-based (63.2%, p < 0.001) regimens. The survival benefit of ASP/GEM-based regimens over other ASP-based regimens was substantial across risk-stratified and advanced-stage subgroups. The survival benefits of a combination of RT, ASP, and GEM were consistent after adjustment for confounding factors by IPTW. Conclusion: These results suggest that combining ASP/GEM with RT for ENKTCL is an efficacious and feasible therapeutic option and provides a rationale and strategy for developing combination therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: It is well known that there are significant differences in the prevalence of chronic pain between males and females. Human and animal imaging studies have shown that chronic pain profoundly alters the structure and function of brain regions. However, there is limited research on the sex-specific mechanisms underlying the brain plasticity and adaptive changes associated with chronic pain. In this article, we conducted a multimodal study to evaluate how nerve injury-induced chronic pain affects the brain. Methods: Male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with spared nerve injury (SNI) model underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) (male sham group: n = 18; male SNI group: n = 18; female sham group: n = 20; female SNI group: n = 18) and magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) (male sham group: n = 23; male SNI group: n = 21; female sham group: n = 20; female SNI group: n = 21) scanning. ICA method, Fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF), immunofluorescence staining, and graph theory analysis was utilized to extract the rs-fMRI changes of brain regions of each group. Results: Using SNI model, which promotes long-lasting mechanical allodynia, we found that neuropathic pain deeply modified the intrinsic organization of the brain functional network in male and female rats (main effect of operation: F = 298.449, P < 0.001). 64 independent components (ICs) in the brain were divided and assigned to 16 systems. In male rats, we observed significant alterations in the microstructure of the hippocampal cornu ammonis 1 and cornu ammonis 2 (CA1/CA2) region, as indicated by increased mean diffusivity (MD) (CA1_L: P = 0.02; CA1_R: P = 0.031; CA2_L: P = 0.035; CA2_R: P = 0.015) and radial diffusivity (RD) (CA1_L: P = 0.028; CA1_R: P = 0.033; CA2_L: P = 0.037; CA2_R: P = 0.038) values, along with enhanced activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) expression. Conversely, in female rats, we found significant increases in the fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (fALFF) value within the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) (F = 5.419, P = 0.023), accompanied by elevated c-Fos signal (F = 6.269, P = 0.031). Furthermore, graph theory analysis revealed notable differences in the small-world network of the hippocampal system in female rats, characterized by reduced small-world attributes and increased inter-nodal transmission efficiency. Discussion: Our study indicates sex differences in structural and functional alterations in the hippocampal system in rats under chronic pain conditions. The results suggest that the hippocampus system plays an important role in the different mechanisms of chronic pain in different sexes. These findings provide reliable insights to explore the complex mechanisms underlying sex differences in chronic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a case involving a 71-year-old male with tubulocystic renal cell carcinoma (TRCC), which is a rare entity of renal neoplasm. The patient was admitted for a cystic nodule on the middle pole of the right kidney by urological ultrasound during physical examination. The nodule presented with hyperechoic on conventional ultrasonic and the enhancing intensity of thicken cystic wall at the peak phase in contrast-enhanced ultrasound was similar to that of the renal parenchyma. Findings from computed tomography angiography exhibited heterogeneously contrast enhancing tumor, and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated hypointense on T1- weighted images (WI) and hyperintense on T2WI. Histologically, the spongy surface was composed of the typical tubular and multiloculated cystic components lined by a single layer of epithelial cells. The final pathological diagnosis was TRCC. The uneventful laparoscopic right radical nephrectomy was conducted. The patient was followed up for 12 months after discharge and no signs of local or distant metastasis were found. In conclusion, TRCC should be accurately diagnosed on the basis of comprehensive radiological and histological findings to ensure a timely surgery and better prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: During swallowing, the tongue generates the primary propulsive forces that transport material through the oral cavity toward the pharynx. Previous literature suggests that higher tongue pressure amplitudes are generated for extremely thick liquids compared with thin liquids. The purpose of this study was to collect detailed information about the modulation of tongue pressure amplitude and timing across the range from thin to moderately thick liquids. Method: Tongue pressure patterns were measured in 38 healthy adults (aged under 60 years) during swallowing with 4 levels of progressively thicker liquid consistency (International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative, Levels 0 = "thin," 1= "slightly thick," 2= "mildly thick," and 3 = "moderately thick"). Stimuli with matching gravity flow (measured using the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative Flow Test; Cichero et al., 2017; Hanson, 2016) were prepared both with/without barium (20% weight per volume concentration) and thickened with starch and xanthan gum thickeners. Results: After controlling for variations in sip volume, thicker liquids were found to elicit significantly higher amplitudes of peak tongue pressure and a pattern of higher (i.e., steeper) pressure rise and decay slopes (change in pressure per unit time). Explorations across stimuli with similar flow but prepared with different thickeners and with/without barium revealed very few differences in tongue pressure, with the exception of significantly higher pressure amplitudes and rise slopes for nonbarium, starch-thickened slightly and mildly thick liquids. Conclusions: There was no evidence that the addition of barium led to systematic differences in tongue pressure parameters across liquids with closely matched gravity flow. Additionally, no significant differences in tongue pressure parameters were found across thickening agents.

In eukaryotes, histone acetylation and deacetylation play an important role in the regulation of gene expression. Histone acetylation levels are reversibly regulated by histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). Increasing evidence highlights histone acetylation plays essential roles in the regulation of gene expression in plant response to environmental stress. In this review, we discussed the recent advance of histone acetylation in the regulation of abiotic stress responses including temperature, light, salt and drought stress. This information will contribute to our understanding of how plants adapt to environmental changes. As the mechanisms of epigenetic regulation are conserved in many plants, research in this field has potential applications in improvement of agricultural productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between types of disc displacement (DD) diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the risk (presence or absence) and severity of condylar erosion (CE) graded using cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) in adult Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) patients. Methods: A total of 353 TMD patients (283 females, 70 males) underwent MRI scans to categorise DD as normal (NA), anterior displacement with reduction (ADDR), or anterior displacement without reduction (ADDNR). CE severity was graded on a scale of 0–3 (absence, mild, moderate or severe) using CBCT. To establish the plausibility and cut‐off points for CE diagnosis, the severity of CE was then further divided into three classifications: Grade 0 versus 1 + 2 + 3; Grades 0 + 1 versus 2 + 3; Grades 0 + 1 + 2 versus 3. Logistic regression analysis was performed, adjusting for age, gender and joint correlation. Results: ADDNR significantly increased the risk of CE compared with NA (OR = 10.04, 95% CI: [6.41, 15.73]) and showed a significant increase in CE severity across all classifications (ORs = 10.04–18.95). The effects of ADDNR were significant in both genders (p <.001) and had a greater impact in females. ADDR was predominantly associated with mild CE. Conclusions: ADDNR significantly increased the risk and severity of CE independent of gender when compared to NA, whereas ADDR was mainly associated with mild CE. Slight cortical discontinuity may represent a subclinical diagnosis requiring further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

P- and SV-wave dispersion and attenuation have been extensively investigated in saturated poroelastic media with aligned fractures. However, there are few existing models that incorporate the multiple wave attenuation mechanisms from the microscopic scale to the macroscopic scale. Hence, in this work, we developed a unified model to incorporate the wave attenuation mechanisms at different scales, which includes the microscopic squirt flow between the microcracks and pores, the mesoscopic wave-induced fluid flow between fractures and background (FB-WIFF), and the macroscopic Biot's global flow and elastic scattering (ES) from the fractures. Using Tang's modified Biot's theory and the mixed-boundary conditions, we derived the exact frequency-dependent solutions of the scattering problem for a single penny-shaped fracture with oblique incident P- and SV-waves. We then developed theoretical models for a set of aligned fractures and randomly oriented fractures using the Foldy approximation. The results indicated that microcrack squirt flow considerably influences the dispersion and attenuation of P- and SV-wave velocities. The coupling effects of microcrack squirt flow with the FB-WIFF and ES of fractures cause much higher velocity dispersion and attenuation for P waves than for SV waves. Randomly oriented fractures substantially reduce the attenuation caused by the FB-WIFF and ES, particularly for the ES attenuation of SV waves. Through a comparison with existing models in the limiting cases and previous experimental measurements, we validated our model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]