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Diagnosing early lumbar spondylolisthesis is challenging for many doctors because of the lack of obvious symptoms. Using deep learning (DL) models to improve the accuracy of X-ray diagnoses can effectively reduce missed and misdiagnoses in clinical practice. This study aimed to use a two-stage deep learning model, the Res-SE-Net model with the YOLOv8 algorithm, to facilitate efficient and reliable diagnosis of early lumbar spondylolisthesis based on lateral X-ray image identification. A total of 2424 lumbar lateral radiographs of patients treated in the Beijing Tongren Hospital between January 2021 and September 2023 were obtained. The data were labeled and mutually identified by 3 orthopedic surgeons after reshuffling in a random order and divided into a training set, validation set, and test set in a ratio of 7:2:1. We trained 2 models for automatic detection of spondylolisthesis. YOLOv8 model was used to detect the position of lumbar spondylolisthesis, and the Res-SE-Net classification method was designed to classify the clipped area and determine whether it was lumbar spondylolisthesis. The model performance was evaluated using a test set and an external dataset from Beijing Haidian Hospital. Finally, we compared model validation results with professional clinicians' evaluation. The model achieved promising results, with a high diagnostic accuracy of 92.3%, precision of 93.5%, and recall of 93.1% for spondylolisthesis detection on the test set, the area under the curve (AUC) value was 0.934. Our two-stage deep learning model provides doctors with a reference basis for the better diagnosis and treatment of early lumbar spondylolisthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) as pollutants can have adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems; however, their effects on the full life history of microalgae need to be further explored and thoroughly examined. In this study, we investigated influence of polystyrene (PS) plastics with different concentrations (10/50/100 mg/L) and particle sizes (0.1/0.5/1 μm) on the full life history of Chlorella ; their potential environmental risks were also analyzed. The results showed that PS (0.1um) had the strongest inhibitory effect on Chlorella growth (Max (inhibition) 68.42%), PS (0.5/1um) can not only promote (Max (promotion) 55.48% and 55.05%) but also prolong cell growth; PS has various effects on photosynthetic efficiency of Chlorella. PS (0.1um) can significantly promote F v /F m , inhibit RC/ABS , F 0 /F v , DIo/RC , and both inhibit and promote rETRmax , but effect of PS (0.5/1μm) is generally consistent with that of control group; PS affects the morphological structure and interaction of Chlorella significantly, and can squeeze and aggregate cells. Zeta potential fluctuated greatly in the initial stage of experiment, and was stable as Relative conductivity in the later stage. About 65.5% of PS (0.1um) can enter cell, which has potential risk of entering the food chain; Statistics on long and short-term impacts showed significant differences in growth and photosynthesis efficiencies, as well as in interactions; the potential environmental risk index (PERI) indicates that class II (slightly polluted) has the highest percentage (64.72%), and that the concentration and composition of MPs are important influences on potential environmental risk. Overall, the long-term impacts of PS were diverse, but Chlorella also showed good resilience. Meanwhile, we found that most of the previous short-term studies may be one-sided and incomplete, the real impacts of MPs may be overestimated. Our research could provide scientific support for assessing the risks posed by MPs. [Display omitted] • The effect of PS on the full life history of Chlorella was investigated. • Studies on the short-term effects of PS on microalgae are one-sided. • The actual effects of MPs on microalgae are smaller than in previous research. • Short-term studies overestimate environmental risk of MPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible Li-ion batteries have shown great promise in powering wearable electronic devices due to their high energy/power densities and long cycling time. However, coordinating the promising electrochemical performance and flexibility for different applications is still a big challenge. Herein, we report a highly conductive graphene-modified mesoporous anatase TiO 2 (M-TiO 2 -GS) hierarchical film electrode for flexible Li-ion battery anode via a two-step vacuum filtration method. In such a hierarchical film electrode, the down-layer composed of bare graphene component provides ideal mechanical flexibility and electronic conductivity, and the hybrid top-layer composed of both graphene and active M-TiO 2 guarantees effective Li+ and electrons transport pathways and acts as the active layer for energy storage. The designed M-TiO 2 -GS film electrode delivers a reversible capacity of 205 and 76 mAh g−1 at rates of 0.5C and 20C, respectively, and high capacity retention of ∼70.5% after 3500 cycles at 5C. When packed in flexible cells, the M-TiO 2 -GS electrode can also maintain a highly reversible capacity and outstanding cycling stability in both flating and benting conditions. This work may provide a promising anode candidate for the next-generation flexible LIBs and the developed two-step filtration method can be readily applied to other flexible electrodes. Less defective graphene nanosheets with relatively high conductivity have been employed to fabricate a free-standing flexible M-TiO 2 -GS anode for LIBs through a two-step vacuum filtration method. Layer-by-layer assembled GS networks connected with M-TiO 2 cakes provides criss-crossed fast electrons transport paths and available ions diffusion channels, leading to great Li+ storage behavior. Image 1 • Highlights to Electrochimica Acta . • A graphene-modified TiO 2 hierarchical flexible film electrode is designed. • The designed film electrode has optimized electrochemical kinetic properties. • The electrode shows excellent performance in both free and bending conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute exposure to hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) poses a significant threat to life, and the lung is one of the primary target organs of H 2 S. However, the mechanisms involved in H 2 S-induced acute pulmonary edema are poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the effects of H 2 S on the expression of water channel aquaporin 5 (AQP5) and to elucidate the signaling pathways involved in AQP5 regulation. In an in vivo study, C57BL6 mice were exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of inhaled H 2 S, and histological injury of the lungs and ultrastructure injury of the epithelial cells were evaluated. With real-time PCR and western blot assays, we found that H 2 S exposure contributed to a significant decrease in AQP5 expression both in murine lung tissue and the A549 cell line, and the ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways were demonstrated to be implicated in AQP5 regulation. Therefore, adjusting AQP5 protein levels could be considered a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of APE induced by H 2 S and other hazardous gases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D nanomaterials have attracted intensive attention in the area of compact energy storage owing to their large packing densities. However, the highly tortuous and lengthy channels in conventional 2D nanomaterial electrodes cause sluggish ion diffusion kinetics and seriously reduce the capacity. Herein, we report a simple method adopting diamond wire saw cutting technology to construct a compact vertically aligned TiO 2 -graphene nanosheet electrode (VATiO 2 -G) with a large thickness of 130 μm. The vertical alignment not only provides short and less tortuous ion transport pathways to facilitate ion diffusion kinetics, but also improves the electronic conductivity to promote electron transport across the electrode. Accordingly, the VATiO 2 -G anode for lithium-ion batteries simultaneously exhibits high volumetric and areal capacities of 243 mA h cm−3 and 3.16 mA h cm−2 at 2.8 mA cm−2, respectively. This work exploits a general method to attain vertically aligned architecture in dense and thick 2D nanomaterial electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for high mass-loaded, long-cycle-life and high-rate electrodes for sodium-ion batteries is an enormous challenge. Here, a free-standing hierarchical sponge composed of the upper-layer Graphene@TiO 2 composites and under-layer graphene (G@TiO 2 /G) was prepared as a sodium-ion anode. Thereinto, layer-by-layer graphene sheets not only construct robust framework but also guarantee fast electron transport paths, and the interconnected macroporous structure facilitates rapid ion transport. Moreover, the ultrasmall TiO 2 nanodots offer the short diffusion path and fast pseudocapacitive sodium storage capability. Therefore, such G@TiO 2 /G electrode exhibits an ultralong cycle life (retaining 101 mA h g−1 after 20,000 cycles at 2 A g−1), a superior capacity (260 mA h g−1 at 0.05 A g−1) and a high rate capability (53 mA h g−1 at 10 A g−1) under a mass loading of 2.5 mg cm−2. Impressively, the excellent cycling stability (retaining 1.37 mA h cm−2 after 300 cycles at 0.1 A g−1) and high areal capacity (2.27 mA h cm−2 at 0.53 mA cm−2) are also achieved even at a high mass loading of 10.5 mg cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defect engineering on transition metal dichalcogenides has been regarded as an effective method to improve electrochemical properties in terms of generating active sites and enhancing the intrinsic conductivity. This study reports a new high-performance electrochemical supercapacitor made of reduced CoNi 2 S 4 (r-CoNi 2 S 4 ) nanosheets, which are synthesized via a facile moderate-reduction process. The sulfur-deficient r-CoNi 2 S 4 nanosheets exhibit significantly enhanced conductivity which is induced by abundant sulfur vacancies formed in the reduction reaction. Compared with the pristine CoNi 2 S 4 nanosheets, the r-CoNi 2 S 4 nanosheets are characterized with a higher specific capacity (1117C g −1 at current density of 2 A g −1 ) as well as excellent rate capability and stable cycling performance. First-principle analysis confirms that the sulfur vacancies originating from the reduction lead to improve hybridization between the Ni and Co d states and the S p states close to the fermi level, and consequently enhance conductivity with the CoNi 2 S 4 nanostructure. Moreover, an ultrahigh energy density of 55.4 Wh kg −1 at the power density of 8 kW kg −1 is obtained in an asymmetric supercapacitor configuration, and 80% capacitance of the supercapacitor remains even after 10000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wear is the primary cause of damage to the bushing area of the Variable Stator Vane (VSV) mechanism. This paper presents an approach for predicting the wear-damage behavior of the bushing region to enhance the long-term effectiveness and safety of the VSV mechanism. The approach is based on an energy dissipation model and innovatively combines the FRIC COEF and UMESHMTION subroutines embedded in finite element software to perform wear simulations. The new approach takes into account the variation of the friction coefficient with normal load and sliding velocity and applies it to the wear simulation. The friction and wear models used in the simulations are based on the fitting of real experimental data. The simulation results are then compared with the wear results based on the Archard model. The results demonstrate that the new approach is more effective in simulating the wear of the bushing material. The study revealed that the contact stress between the upper and lower specimens decreases as wear behavior develops. Additionally, the wear on the surface disperses the distribution of the contact stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lithiated Nafion (Li+-Nafion) thin coating on lithium (Li) metal anode has been evidenced to be capable of inhibiting Li dendrite growth. However, shortcomings of Li metal such as poor stability in air and high reactivity with water bring inconvenience in the coating preparation. To address this issue, a highly uniform Li+-Nafion thin layer coated commercial polypropylene (PP) separator is fabricated via an ultrasonic spray method. In cells, the Li+-Nafion thin coating faces and contacts with Li metal anode to act as an artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer of the anode. The addition of N,N-Dimethylformamide in sprayed aqueous Li+-Nafion solution is crucial for the highly uniform deposition of Li+-Nafion thin coating with a thickness of 0.8 μm due to the improved wettability of the sprayed Li+-Niafion solution with the PP separator. The uniform Li+-Nafion thin coating significantly increases the Li+ transference number (t Li+) of the PP separator from 0.34 to 0.76. The improved t Li+ and the high uniformity of the Li+-Nafion thin coating enable the coated PP separator to suppress Li dendrite growth, and consequently to promote the cycle performance of lithium-sulfur cells. This work proposes an implantation approach for artificial SEI layers employed in Li metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanotube (CNTs) based composite materials are popular in various fields. However, traditional strategies for the electric conductivity modulation of CNTs is complicated and improper in large-scale applications. Herein, a novel CNTs-based hollow microsphere is prepared through facile spray drying and one-step pyrolysis. This unique interpenetration microsphere conductive network is constructed by nitrogen-doped CNTs embedded with Co nanoparticles (Co–N–C), which is compactly entangled by commercial CNTs. By the strong charge polarization and electron redistribution on the surface of Co–N–C, the monohybrids exhibit excellent bifunctional applications. The Co–N–C/CNTsHS shows excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance including the high half-wave potential (0.87V), outstanding stability and methanol tolerance. Benefited from the improved dielectric property of Co–N–C, the Co–N–C/CNTsHS exhibits superior microwave absorption (MA) performance, with a maximum reflection loss of −60.2 dB and the bandwidth of 5.1 GHz at a thickness of only 2.5 mm. The enhanced performance can be attributed to three dimension (3D) hollow mesoporous conductive networks, which accelerate electron transfer and modulate charge distribution of Co–N–C. This work puts forward a new idea of charge modulation of CNTs and lays a foundation for the preparation of excellent bifunctional materials. A new strategy of conductive modulation of CNTs is developed to construct porous hollow composite microsphere, which is composed of Co–N–C and commercial CNTs. The composite exhibits excellent bifunctional performance of ORR and MA. This work may lay the foundation electrical conductivity of CNTs and open the door for the preparation of outstanding bifunctional materials. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic diskectomy has been a major treatment for lumbar disk herniation. However, damage to exiting nerve roots is one of the most severe complications in this surgery. In this paper, the relationship of the exiting nerve root and the superior articular process in Kambin's triangle of the lumbar intervertebral foramen was assessed using cadavers and computed tomography (CT) imaging. The anatomic relationship between the exiting nerve root and the superior articular process in Kambin's triangle of the intervertebral foramen was investigated on 6 cadavers. The distance between the exiting nerve and the superior articular process of the L1-2 to L5-S1 intervertebral foramina was measured using multiplane reconstruction. The bone-nerve space between the exiting nerve root and the superior articular process in Kambin's triangle was quite narrow both in cadaver and CT imaging study. The distance of the L5-S1 intervertebral foramen was the greatest, which was no more than 5.77 ± 0.56 mm. The distances increased gradually from the tip to the root, and the distances between the root and the tip were 0.91 ± 0.31 to 1.86 ± 0.57 mm, which took on a trapezoid shape that was relatively narrow at the proximal end and wider at the distal end. The bone-nerve space between the exiting nerve root and the superior articular process in Kambin's triangle of the lumbar intervertebral foramen was exceedingly narrow. It is necessary to perform a foraminoplasty to enlarge the working space and decrease the possibility of injury to the exiting nerve root. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The depot-specific differences in lipidome of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) reflect heterogeneity of white adipose tissue (WAT), which plays a central role in its distinct response to outside stimuli. However, the detailed lipidome of depot-specific WAT is largely unknown, especially the minor constitutes including phospholipid and sphingolipid. To investigate this field, we applied a high-coverage targeted lipidomics approach of VAT and SAT in male C57BL/6J mice to compare the basal level of their lipid profiles. Applying microarray and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, we analyzed the transcriptome of twodepot-specific WAT and verified the differences in individual genes. In total, 342 lipid species from 19 lipid classes were identified. Our results showed the composition of TAG and FFA were different in length of chain and saturation. Interestingly, low abundance phospholipid, sphingolipid and cardiolipin were significantly higher in SAT. Lipid correlation network analysis vindicated that TAG and phospholipid formed distinct subnet and had more connections with other lipid species. Enriched ontology analysis of gene screened from LIPID MAPS and microarray suggested the differences were mainly involved in lipid metabolism, insulin resistance and inflammatory response. Our comprehensive lipidomics and transcriptomics analyses revealed differences in lipid composition and lipid metabolism of two depot-specific WAT, which would offer new insights into the investigation of heterogeneity of visceral and subcutaneous white adipose tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]