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The hazy weather is currently one of the most common atmospheric environments. It is an urgent problem to realize clear imaging in hazy environment. Orthogonal polarization dehazing is one of the classical dehazing techniques attracting a widespread attention from research workers. However, while using this method, the extinction ratio (ER) parameter of the polarizer was neglected leading to poor dehazing. Therefore, we have introduced the ER of polarizers into the orthogonal polarization dehazing technique in this paper. In the process of sky region division, this study proposes to use HSV, RGB and Lab colour channels to create a comprehensive mask to select the sky region. And the morphological corrosion operation is utilized to increase the region connectivity for better sky region division. Based on subjective visualization, it can be found that the dehazing effect is significantly enhanced with the introduction of ER. The dehazing effect was evaluated based on four parameters of contrast (C0), peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity index measure (SSIM) and information entropy (En). It is further demonstrated the necessity of introducing ER. The experimental results show that the ER can make the dehazing effect of the orthogonal polarization dehazing technique improved, which is valuable for the engineering application of image processing in hazy environment. The experimental results proved to be encouraging. The main highlights of this work are the following three points: The NDC parameter of the polarizer is a crucial factor that many researchers tend to overlook when utilizing polarizers for detection in the polarization dehazing process. This study aims to address this oversight by incorporating polarizers for detection and introducing the NDC parameter to rectify images at varying polarization angles. Consequently, the polarization dehazing operation yields superior results compared to those achieved without NDC polarization dehazing technology. The separation of the sky area from the non-sky area is achieved through the utilization of a multi-channel mask. This model employs multi-channel processing, specifically the HSV colour channel, RGB colour channel, and Lab colour channel. By generating an appropriate mask to delineate the sky area and the non-sky area, merging the three masks into a comprehensive mask, and subsequently applying morphological etching on the comprehensive mask to enhance the connectivity of the sky area, it is observed that the effectiveness of separating the sky area from the non-sky area is significantly improved. The amalgamation of image restoration and image enhancement is a critical process. Once the polarization dehazing operation is accomplished, we proceed with an image enhancement operation on the restored image. To regulate the filtering level, we employ the standard deviation of the Gaussian function. Furthermore, we utilize the Laplacian operator to intensify the edges of the current channel. By adjusting the parameters, we can control the intensity and scope of the enhancement effect, thereby achieving edge enhancement and augmenting the details of the image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) was controversially associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This meta-analysis aimed at evaluating the association between RBP4 level and T2DM risk. MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched to identify relevant studies up to 3 December 2022. Random effects model was used to pool multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Publication bias was estimated by Funnel plot and Egger's test, it was considered to be significant when P < 0.05. Eight studies including 8087 participants were finally included. Compared to those with the lowest level, subjects with the highest level of RBP4 have a higher risk of T2DM (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.16–1.78, P < 0.001, I2 = 86.9%). No publication bias among the included studies was found (t = 0.94, P = 0.377). This meta-analysis indicated that high RBP4 level was associated with increasing risk of T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) has a significant opposite potential on environmental protection and improvement for its low CO2 emission during the processing procedure. Performance of RAC may lower than natural aggregate concrete (NAC) mixed from traditional materials, thus various measures are optimized for enhancing the property of RAC to an acceptable level. Researches show that the use of polypropylene (PP) fibers, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers and basalt fibers (BF) can obviously increase the flexural and split-tensile strength of RAC, and has little effect on the durability of RAC. Some theories are developed by micro-structure analysis on RAC, yet more facts need to be studied and verified in future researches. An important route is to disclose the mechanism of uniform distribution of fibers and nano-materials during RAC mixing and reduce the negative impact of agglomeration of such added materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Gynecological Endocrinology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

For the high-precision seismic imaging of complex structures on irregular topographies, this study proposes a Chebyshev spectral-element reverse time migration (CSE-RTM) method coupled with the implicit Newmark time integral method. The approach is first applied to a numerical example to consider factors affecting numerical accuracy, such as the time step and the pattern of subdivision of the computational domain. The results show that the smaller the time step is, the higher the numerical accuracy is and that numerical accuracy improves when the grid nodes tend to be distributed uniformly in the computational domain. The spectral element method combines the advantages of the stronger boundary-related adaptability of the finite element method with the high accuracy and fast convergence of the spectral method. This method is applied to reverse time migration imaging, and tests of the model show that its accuracy of imaging is higher than that of the conventional finite-difference reverse time migration method in case of complex structures in areas with irregular topography. To improve the efficiency of parallel computing of the CSE-RTM, an iterative algorithm is proposed to solve the hierarchical equilibrium sparse linear equations (HELPs) for it based on the idea of the degrees of cohesion of freedom and local relaxation. This algorithm has the advantage that the efficiency of parallel computation does not decrease with an increasing number of processors while the number of iterations required for convergence is controlled. Owing to the fast convergence of the spectral method on a sparse grid coupled with the parallel computational scheme of HELPs, the efficiency of calculation of the CSE-RTM is significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two intravenous (IV) iron formulations, ferric derisomaltose (FDI) and iron sucrose (IS), are currently available for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in China. Clinical studies have demonstrated that FDI has an improved efficacy and safety profile versus IS, while requiring fewer infusions to correct iron deficits. Based on these findings, the present study evaluated the costs and benefits of FDI and IS for the treatment of IDA, from a healthcare system and societal perspective in China. A patient-level model was developed to project time to hematological response and incidence of cardiovascular adverse events and hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) associated with FDI and IS over 5 years. Costs included iron acquisition, administration, and adverse event/HSR treatment costs, based on published studies, fee schedules, and a physician survey. Health state utilities associated with adverse events, HSRs, and the number of infusions were obtained from the literature and a time trade-off survey. From a healthcare system perspective, FDI was associated with incremental costs of RMB 1,934 (purchasing power parity USD 462) and incremental quality-adjusted life expectancy of 0.078 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) versus IS, yielding an incremental cost-utility ratio of RMB 24,901 (USD 5,949) in the base case scenario. From a societal perspective, FDI was associated with reduced total costs and therefore dominant versus IS. Limitations included the absence of clinical data specific to China and insufficient data to model persistence with treatment. This was the first cost-utility analysis comparing FDI and IS for the treatment of IDA in China. Based on a patient-level model, FDI was found to improve quality of life and reduce administration and adverse events costs relative to IS. Using the 2020 Chinese gross domestic product per capita of RMB 72,447 (USD 17,307) as a cost-effectiveness threshold, FDI would be considered cost-effective in China. Ferric derisomaltose (FDI) was approved in February 2021 for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in China and allows for fast iron correction in one visit with a good safety profile. The current standard of care in China is iron sucrose (IS). Clinical and economic decision-making can benefit from having longer-term projections on the benefits and costs of new medications relative to the current standard of care, which is why we conducted the first cost-utility analysis of FDI and IS for China. We developed a patient-level model that captured the effects of the iron formulations on IDA, in addition to incidences of adverse events and hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) associated with either formulation. Costs of the iron formulations, their administration, and of treatments for adverse events and HSR were modeled alongside the quality of life effects of IDA, adverse events, HSRs, and iron infusions. We used published clinical data and Chinese cost data to inform our model. Our results show that FDI was associated with higher quality-adjusted life expectancy than IS, regardless of the perspective of the analysis, and higher total costs from the healthcare system perspective. From a societal perspective, FDI was associated with lower costs due to reduced travel and waiting time and smaller productivity losses given there were fewer appointments. These results imply that FDI is likely good value for money for the healthcare system and indeed cost-saving for society relative to IS, which has so far been the most widely used IV iron treatment in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the outcomes of antihuman T lymphocyte globulin (ATG-F) and porcine antihuman lymphocyte globulin (p-ALG) as part of a conditioning regimen in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for severe aplastic anemia (SAA). we performed a retrospective analysis, evaluating the outcome of patients with SAA who received ATG-F based conditioning (n = 26) with those receiving p-ALG conditioning (n = 34). The median time to neutrophil engraftment was 11 days (range, 8 − 38) and 11 days (range, 9 − 24) in the p-ALG and ATG-F groups (P = 0.857); the median platelet engraftment time was 15 (range, 9 − 330) days and 13 (range, 10 − 56) days (P = 0.155). There were no significant differences in grades II − IV acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), grades III − IV aGVHD, chronic GVHD (cGVHD), and the moderate-severe cGVHD between the ATG-F and p-ALG groups (P>0.05). Patients in the ATG-F group functioned significantly better on role-physical (P = 0.006), general health (P = 0.029), and physical component summary (P = 0.009). The estimated overall survival and failure free survival rates at 5 years were 88.5% ± 6.3% vs. 82.4% ± 6.5% (P = 0.515), 84.6% ± 7.1% vs. 79.4% ± 6.9%, respectively (P = 0.579). The infection rates were 61.53% and 47.05%, respectively (P = 0.265). As part of the conditioning regimen, p-ALG achieved a similar efficacy as ATG-F without increasing the incidence of transplantation complications in SAA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new and practical method for the preparation of high molecular weight polycinnamamides has been developed through a heterogeneous palladium-catalyzed Heck coupling polycondensation of bis(acrylamide)s with aromatic diiodides. The polymerization proceeded smoothly in DMF at 100 °C in the presence of a magnetic nanoparticles-anchored bidentate phosphine-palladium(II) acetate complex [Fe3O4@SiO2-2P-Pd(OAc)2] and tributylamine, yielding a series of polycinnamamides with inherent viscosities up to 0.89 dL/g and a low level of palladium residue (below 10 ppm). The polycinnamamides obtained were quite soluble in dipolar aprotic solvents and had glass transition temperatures ranging from 221 to 269 °C and 10% weight loss temperatures ranging from 437 to 458 °C in nitrogen. These polymers could afford transparent and tough films by solution-casting with tensile strengths of 59.6–82.8 MPa, tensile moduli of 1.78–2.12 GPa, and elongations at break of 7.5–12.5%. The Fe3O4@SiO2-2P-Pd(OAc)2 catalyst can be conveniently separated from the polymer and recovered by simply using an external magnetic field, and recycled at least eight times without apparent decrease in catalytic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beijing, as the capital of China, suffers severe subsidence caused by groundwater withdrawal. In this paper, the SBAS-InSAR technique was used to detect surface deformations in the Beijing plain. 47 scenes Envisat ASAR images obtained during June 2003 to August 2010, and 24 Radarsat-2 images obtained during November 2010 to December 2013 were employed to retrieve vertical deformation characteristic over this area. The deformation magnitude, evolution process and spatial distribution of representative targets that occurred during 11 years were retrieved. The vertical surface displacement rates during two periods were validated via leveling observations, which have an RMSE =1.15mm/a, which indicates that the two types of subsidence matched very well. The interferometric results revealed that the subsidence during the two periods show similar special distributions and have an uneven spatial-temporal trend. The scope and deformation rates of funnels continuously increased with from 2003 to 2013. Meanwhile, multiple expressways and urban ring roads spanned the subsidence funnel with sharp deformation rate, and showed different subsidence properties along their paths. Additionally, the spatial and temporal correlation analyses between the deformation measurements and the dynamic variation of groundwater pumping was also performed to explore the response relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building on the concepts of cohesion degree and local relaxation, we propose an integrated hierarchical equilibrium parallel finite-element reverse time migration (HEP-FE-RTM) algorithm, which is a fine-grained central processing unit (CPU) parallel computation method in two-level host-sub-processors mode. A single master process is responsible for data reading and controlling the progress of the calculation, while each subordinate process deals with a part of the depth domain space. This algorithm is able to achieve single source forward-modelling and inversion calculation using more than 2000 CPUs. On the premise of controlling iteration times for convergence, sub-module/processors only communicate with their adjacent counterparts and the host processor, so the level of data exchange is proportional to cohesion degree. This HEP-FE-RTM algorithm has the distinct advantage that parallel efficiency does not decrease as the number of processors increases. In two-level host-sub-processors mode, more than 2000 processors are used and one billion unknowns are solved. By combining the finite-element implicit dynamic Newmark integral scheme, this approach achieves a prestack reverse time migration (RTM) with high expansion. Making full use of the characteristics of high accuracy and strong boundary adaptability of the finite-element method, through the optimisation of finite-element solving, the HEP-FE-RTM algorithm improved the efficiency of parallel computing and achieved RTM implementation using finite element. Model tests show that this method has a significant effect on both imaging efficiency and accuracy. Building on the concepts of cohesion degree and local relaxation, we propose an integrated hierarchical equilibrium parallel finite-element reverse time migration (HEP-FE-RTM) algorithm, which has the distinct advantage in that parallel efficiency does not decrease as the number of processors increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Tabernaemontana divaricate is a vulnerable species of Apocynaceae with significant medicinal values. In this study, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of T. divaricate was determined through the Illumina NovaSeq platform. The circular molecular genome was157,954 bp in length with two inverted repeats (IRa and IRb) regions of 25,769 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 88,246 bp, and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,170 bp. It contained 131 genes, including 86 protein-coding, 37 tRNA, and eight rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that T. divaricata exhibited the closest relationship with Catharanthus roseus and Rauvolfia serpentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

17β-estradiol (E2)-signaling is widely considered to be mediated through the transcription-regulating intracellular estrogen receptor (iER). In this study, using the cell-impermeable E2-BSA, we investigated the nongenomic effects of E2 on the IL-6 production, MAPK and transcription factor activation following LPS stimulation in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs). It was found that E2 normalized LPS-induced IL-6 production in BMMs. Although the increase in IL-6 production induced by LPS was also attenuated by E2-BSA treatment, the capacity of BMMs to produce the IL-6 cytokine remained higher than the control. In addition, the iER blocker, ICI 182780, did not abolish the total effects of E2 on LPS-stimulated IL-6 production capacity in BMMs. Furthermore, E2 and E2-BSA attenuated the LPS activation of p38 but not that of ERK1/2 and JNK. The p38 inhibitor, SB 203580, significantly reduced the LPS-induced IL-6 production. Moreover, E2 and E2-BSA inhibited LPS-induced activation of NF-κB. This inhibitory effect was associated with decreases in nuclear p65 protein levels. Taken together, these results indicate that E2 has an inhibitory effect on LPS-induced IL-6 production in BMMs through inhibition of p38 MAPK phosphorylation, and blockade of NF-κB activation. These effects are mediated at least in part via a nongenomic pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, China has undertaken a significant institutional reform of its admission system in elite higher education (namely, Independent Freshman Admission, IFA), adopting a multistage selection strategy characterized by recommendation and interviews as an alternative channel of admission to the national college entrance examination (gaokao). Using IFA administrative data from Peking University, we reveal the mechanism of educational inequality through criterion transformations from standard test scores to comprehensive evaluations on competence. Significant associations were found between students' socioeconomic status origins, prior academic credentials, and whether they passed the selection process. This study contributes a unique and representative case of Chinese elite universities explaining why privileged groups maintained their advantages in this reform as well as in a rapidly expanded system of higher education. It also provides a better understanding of social stratification and elite reproduction in contemporary China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mixed surfactant system of bis (2-ethylhexyl) sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) and α-phosphatidylcholine (lecithin)forms a rigid gel-like mesophase in the presence of equal volumes of water and a hydrocarbon (isooctane). Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) results indicate that these structures undergo transitions from columnar hexagonal geometries to lamellar geometries depending on the water content and/or the temperature. The system is used to synthesize nanostructured ceramics (silica) in the aqueous microphase. Interpenetrating networks of poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate) and poly(styrene) are also synthesized using the aqueous microphase to support the water soluble monomer (hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and the organic microphase (styrene). SANS results indicate that the template structure is maintained during materials synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]