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This study aimed to evaluate the association between the total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDL-C) ratio and the risk of osteoporosis in older adults. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from 7,465 individuals aged 60 and above from the 2005–2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The TC/HDL-C ratio was calculated and divided into quartiles. Osteoporosis was defined by self-reported physician diagnosis or dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements. Multivariable logistic regression models assessed the association between the TC/HDL-C ratio and osteoporosis prevalence. Restricted cubic splines were used to explore non-linear associations and threshold effects. Among the participants, 1,608 had osteoporosis. A higher TC/HDL-C ratio was inversely associated with osteoporosis (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.86–0.99, p = 0.02). The analysis revealed a U-shaped association (p for nonlinearity = 0.005) with a threshold at 4.66. Below this threshold, the TC/HDL-C ratio was negatively associated with osteoporosis (OR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.72–0.94, p = 0.010), while no significant association was observed above the threshold. In sex-specific analyses, a U-shaped relationship was found in women, with a threshold at 4.35 (p for nonlinearity = 0.0016), but no significant association was found in men. The TC/HDL-C ratio demonstrates a U-shaped association with osteoporosis risk in older adults, particularly in women. Further longitudinal studies are required to validate these findings and determine optimal lipid management strategies for osteoporosis prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid industrialization and urbanization in China have exacerbated air pollution, particularly PM2.5, posing significant threats to public health. This study focused on Lianyungang, an industrial city, to analyze the spatiotemporal variations in PM2.5 concentrations from 2000 to 2023 and identify the influencing factors. Utilizing high-resolution PM2.5 data from the ChinaHighPM2.5 dataset and ERA5 meteorological data, the study employed Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis to capture spatial variability and the Bayesian Estimator of Abrupt Change Seasonal and Trend (BEAST) to assess long-term trends and abrupt changes. The key findings include a marked seasonal pattern, with higher PM2.5 levels during the winter months and lower concentrations in the summer, primarily driven by temperature, humidity, and precipitation. A significant decline in PM2.5 levels was observed after 2014, following the implementation of pollution control measures. The study underscores the importance of continued environmental regulation and green technology adoption in mitigating air pollution in rapidly industrializing cities. This research provides a comprehensive analysis of PM2.5 trends and highlights the critical role of natural and human factors, contributing valuable insights for policymakers and researchers aiming to improve air quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated duct is an atmospheric structure characterized by abnormal refractive index gradients, which can significantly affect the performance of radar, communication, and other systems by capturing a portion of electromagnetic waves. The South China Sea (SCS) is a high-incidence area for elevated duct, so conducting detection and forecasts of the elevated duct in the SCS holds important scientific significance and practical value. This paper attempts to utilize remote sensing techniques for extracting elevated duct information. Based on GPS sounding data, a lapse rate formula (LRF) model and an empirical formula (EF) model for the estimation of the cloud top height of Stratocumulus were obtained, and then remote sensing retrieval methods of elevated duct were established based on the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) remote sensing data. The results of these two models were compared with results from the elevated duct remote sensing retrieval model developed by the United States Naval Postgraduate School. It is shown that the probability of elevated duct events was 79.1% when the presence of Stratocumulus identified using GPS sounding data, and the trapping layer bottom height of elevated duct well with the cloud top height of Stratocumulus, with a correlation coefficient of 0.79, a mean absolute error of 289 m, and a root mean square error of 598 m. Among the different retrieval models applied to MODIS satellite data, the LRF model emerged as the optimal remote sensing retrieval method for elevated duct in the SCS, showing a correlation coefficient of 0.51, a mean absolute error of 447 m, and a root mean square error of 658 m between the trapping layer bottom height and the cloud top height. Consequently, the encouraging validation results demonstrate that the LRF model proposed in this paper offers a novel method for diagnosing and calculating elevated ducts information over large-scale marine areas from remote sensing data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The prognostic value of interim 18F-FDG PET/CT (I-PET) for follicular lymphoma (FL) is controversial, and may be related to the lack of strict standards in terms of age, chemotherapy regimen, and evaluation criteria in previous studies. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of I-PET in adult FL patients treated with R-CHOP. Methods: I-PET was performed in 30 adult FL patients after treatment with 3–5 cycles of R-CHOP. PET/CT images were assessed using the Deauville 5-point scale (D-5PS) criteria. Baseline PET/CT (B-PET) was performed in 24 of the patients with FL before treatment. The PET/CT image parameters, such as the SUVmax, TLG, and tMTV, were recorded. The prognostic values of sex, age, grade, Ann Arbor stage, LDH level, and I-PET were evaluated. Results: Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression showed that sex, age, grade, Ann Arbor stage, LDH, and I-PET using the D-5PS criteria could not predict the PFS of adult patients with FL treated with R-CHOP (P>0.05). ROC curve analysis evaluated the predictive values of SUVmax, TLG, and tMTV in B-PET and I-PET and showed that none of them was predictive of PFS in adult FL patients (P>0.05). However, the variation in SUVmax (∆SUVmax) was predictive of PFS in adult FL patients (AUC=0.83, P=0.040), and the cutoff threshold was 4.85. Conclusions: I-PET using the D-5PS criteria cannot predict the PFS of adult FL patients treated with R-CHOP. However, the ∆SUVmax between B-PET and I-PET is applicable for the prognosis of adult patients with FL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer gel plugging is an effective technique for gas mobility control in flue gas flooding reservoirs. However, the performance of polymer gels is extremely susceptible to the injected flue gas. A reinforced chromium acetate/partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) gel, using thiourea as the oxygen scavenger and nano-SiO2 as the stabilizer, was formulated. The related properties were evaluated systematically, including gelation time, gel strength, and long-term stability. The results indicated that the degradation of polymers was effectively suppressed by oxygen scavengers and nano-SiO2. The gel strength would be increased by 40% and the gel kept desirable stability after aging for 180 days at elevated flue gas pressures. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis and Cryo-scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM) revealed that nano-SiO2 was adsorbed on polymer chains by hydrogen bonding, which improved the homogeneity of gel structure and thus enhanced the gel strength. Besides, the compression resistance of gels was studied by creep and creep recovery tests. The failure stress of gel with the addition of thiourea and nanoparticles could reach up to 35 Pa. The gel retained a robust structure despite extensive deformation. Moreover, the flow experiment indicated that the plugging rate of reinforced gel still maintained up to 93% after flue gas flooding. It is concluded that the reinforced gel is applicable for flue gas flooding reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer gels are potential plugging agents for gas mobility control in flue gas flooding reservoirs. However, the influence of flue gas on performances of polymer gels have not been clearly clarified so far. In this study, the effect mechanism of flue gas on chromium acetate/partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) gel system has been elucidated in detail. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and polymer rheological tests demonstrated that CO2 composed in flue gas altered the HPAM configuration by the decrease of hydrodynamic radius (Rh) and polymer viscosity. Moreover, CO2 delayed the chromium acetate cyclic trimer dissociating into linear trimer and retarded the cross-linking process, which weakened the gelation performance and gel strength. The O2 composed in flue gas led to polymer degradation and seriously impaired the gel long-term stability. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed that the breakage of Cr-O bond and the disruption of gel network structure were induced by the comprehensive effect of O2 and CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer gel plugging is an effective method for gas mobility control in flue gas flooding reservoirs. However, the effect and mechanism of flue gas on the performance of polymer gels have rarely been reported. In this study, a polymer gel was prepared by cross-linking hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) and resorcinol/ hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) to illuminate the influencing mechanism of flue gas composition on gel. The gel rheological testing results showed that flue gas promoted gelation performance, whereas it seriously threatened gel long-term stability, especially at high pressure conditions. The influence of CO2 on the polymer gel had the characteristic of multiplicity. The hydrodynamic radius (Rh) and the initial viscosity of HPAM solution decreased in the presence of CO2. Nonetheless, the dissolved CO2 expedited the decomposition rate of HMTA into formaldehyde, which promoted the cross-linking process of the HPAM, leading to a shorter gelation time. Oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) tests and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis indicated that O2 played a leading role in the oxidative degradation of HPAM compared to CO2 and threatened the gel long-term stability at elevated gas pressures. To address the adverse effects caused by flue gas, it is highly desirable to develop polymer gels by adding oxygen scavengers or strengthening additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To validate a total-body PET-guided deep progressive learning reconstruction method (DPR) for low-dose 18F-FDG PET imaging. Methods: List-mode data from the retrospective study (n = 26) were rebinned into short-duration scans and reconstructed with DPR. The standard uptake value (SUV) and tumor-to-liver ratio (TLR) in lesions and coefficient of variation (COV) in the liver in the DPR images were compared to the reference (OSEM images with full-duration data). In the prospective study, another 41 patients were injected with 1/3 of the activity based on the retrospective results. The DPR images (DPR_1/3(p)) were generated and compared with the reference (OSEM images with extended acquisition time). The SUV and COV were evaluated in three selected organs: liver, blood pool and muscle. Quantitative analyses were performed with lesion SUV and TLR, furthermore on small lesions (≤ 10 mm in diameter). Additionally, a 5-point Likert scale visual analysis was performed on the following perspectives: contrast, noise and diagnostic confidence. Results: In the retrospective study, the DPR with one-third duration can maintain the image quality as the reference. In the prospective study, good agreement among the SUVs was observed in all selected organs. The quantitative results showed that there was no significant difference in COV between the DPR_1/3(p) group and the reference, while the visual analysis showed no significant differences in image contrast, noise and diagnostic confidence. The lesion SUVs and TLRs in the DPR_1/3(p) group were significantly enhanced compared with the reference, even for small lesions. Conclusions: The proposed DPR method can reduce the administered activity of 18F-FDG by up to 2/3 in a real-world deployment while maintaining image quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was to investigate the synthesis and biological evaluation of [99mTc]Tc-labeled Buthus martensii Karsch Chlorotoxin ([99mTc]Tc-BmK CT) as a radiopharmaceutical for glioma single photon computed emission tomography (SPECT) imaging. The results showed that BmK CT peptide modified with a hexahistidine tag displayed good cytocompatibility in vitro, and could be efficiently radiolabeled with 99mTc via [99mTc]Tc-tricarbonyl chemistry. The [99mTc]Tc-BmK CT showed satisfactory radiochemical purity and stability in vitro, and could be developed as a probe for targeted SPECT imaging of glioma cells in vitro and in a tumor-bearing mouse model. Our data indicated that the synthesized [99mTc]Tc-BmK CT might be developed as a promising imaging agent for glioma diagnostic application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of studies show the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of scorpion venoms and toxins in cancer, including malignant glioma that represents the most fatal primary brain tumors. Chlorotoxin (CTX) and a CTX-like peptide Buthus martensii Karsch chlorotoxin (BmK CT) derived from scorpion venoms, have been identified as glioma-specific agents for imaging and therapy. In this study, we designed and manufactured a new BmK CT derivative (BmK CT-D) according to the amino acid sequences of native CTX and BmK CT and investigated the possibility of 99mTc-labeled BmK CT-D as a single-positron emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging agent for glioma diagnosis. The data indicated that the BmK CT-D peptide had good cytocompatibility, improved cellular uptake compared to BmK CT, and could be readily radiolabeled by 99mTc via99mTc-tricarbonyl chemistry with high radiochemical yield and stability in vitro. Moreover, the formed 99mTc-BmK CT-D was able to be used as a probe for SPECT imaging of glioma cells in vitro and in tumor-bearing mice in vivo, indicating that the designed peptide is a promising targeting agent for tumor imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PET/CT has been identified as one of the routine methods for the assessment of multiple myeloma (MM) bone marrow infiltration. In the routine method of performing PET/CT, the 18F-Fludeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) uptake in this disease is often used in the assessment of this condition, however CT diagnosis is not currently commonly used. The aim of the present study was to investigate the importance of CT in PET/CT for assessing diffuse infiltration (DI) of bone marrow in MM. MRI was used as a control in the present study, which is the gold standard for assessing DI of bone marrow and is divided into 3 levels: Mild, moderate and severe DI. Subsequently, a total of four combinations of PET and CT results were listed using the enumeration method for the evaluation of DI in the bone marrow. These combinations were respectively compared with the three levels of MR imaging to screen the most consistent method. The concordances of the new method and routine 18F-FDG PET/CT for the assessment of DI with MR imaging were compared using the McNemar test, respectively. The results of the DI assessment from the two methods were verified by performing Durie-Salmon (D-S) PLUS staging. Compared with MR imaging, the results were as follows: PET and CT exhibited negative results, suggesting mild DI; one of them was positive, suggesting moderate DI; and two were positive, suggesting severe DI. The results of concordance between two methods (new and routine) and MR imaging are indicated as follows: For the new method, McNemar test, P=0.513 and Kappa=0.745; for the routine 18F-FDG PET/CT method, McNemar test, P=0.03 and Kappa=0.547. Re-performance of D-S PLUS staging presented the following results: New method, McNemar test, P=0.317 and Kappa=0.93; for the routine method, McNemar test, P=0.223 and Kappa=0.811. These findings indicated that the CT component of PET/CT could improve the concordance with MRI results in the assessment of DI, and the same results were obtained when D-S PLUS staging was performed. The CT in PET/CT can enhance diagnostic accuracy in the assessment of DI by reducing the false negatives when compared with the routine 18F-FDG method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking severe typhoon Kalmaegi (2014) as an example, which is chosen due to its good availability of observations from mulitplatforms, the application ability of different wind field models and wave boundary layer model (WBLM) are investigated simultaneously in WAVEWATCH III model (WW3). First, based on the comparisons between measurements of two in situ buoys and model results, a better-quality wind forcing from WRF's output stands out slightly compared with other two constructed wind fields during the time segment of "During-TY". Second, the comparisons of simulated results by using different drag coefficient schemes between WBLM and the original parameterisation formula in ST2 package are further implemented. The good performance of drag coefficient C d from WBLM under high-wind conditions, which is embedded into ST2 wind-input source function, is also verified by several data set of field observations. As a result, on the basis of the observations from buoy-based and radar altimeter measurements (RAs), the values of significant wave height ( H s ) from simulation with WBLM are weaker at high sea state areas ( H s > 6 m ) compared with that from the ST2 scheme, which coincide with the general knowledge that the amount of momentum exchange at the air-sea interface plays a vital role in the development of typhoon waves. Limited by less frequently sampled collocated measurements under high-wind conditions, the effectiveness of improvement for typhoon waves simulation using WBLM in WW3 requires more validation cases in future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gliomas, the most prevalent type of brain tumor in adults, are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Recent studies on I labeled scorpion toxins suggest they can be developed as tumor-specific agents for glioma diagnosis and treatment. This study investigated the potential of I labeled Buthus martensii Karsch chlorotoxin (I-BmK CT) as a new approach for targeted imaging and therapy of glioma. The results showed that I can be successfully linked to BmK CT with satisfactory radiochemical purity and stability and that I-BmK CT markedly inhibited glioma cell growth in a dose and time dependent manner, with significant accumulation in glioma cells in vitro. Persistent intratumoral radioiodine retention and specific accumulation of I-BmK CT were observed in C6 glioma tumor, which was clearly visualized by SPECT imaging. Both intratumoral and intravenous injections of I-BmK CT could result in significant tumor inhibition efficacy and prolonging the lifetime of tumor-bearing mice. Based on these promising results, it is concluded that I-BmK CT has the potential to be explored as a novel tool for SPECT imaging and radionuclide therapy of glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the predictive value of interim 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with DLBCL treated with R-CHOP chemotherapy. Methods. We searched for articles published in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley, Scopus, and Ovid database from inception to March 2014. Articles related to interim PET/CT in patients with DLBCL treated with R-CHOP chemotherapy were selected. PFS with or without OS was chosen as the endpoint to evaluate the prognostic significance of interim PET/CT. Results. Six studies with a total of 605 cases were included. The sensitivity of interim PET/CT ranged from 21.2% to 89.7%, and the pooled sensitivity was 52.4%. The specificity of interim PET/CT ranged from 37.4% to 90.7%, and the pooled specificity was 67.8%. The pooled positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio were 1.780 and 0.706, respectively. The explained AUC was 0.6978 and the Q* was 0.6519. Conclusions. The sensitivity and specificity of interim PET/CT in predicting the outcome of DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP chemotherapy were not satisfactory (52.4% and 67.8%, resp.). To improve this, some more work should be done to unify the response criteria and some more research to assess the prognostic value of interim PET/CT with semiquantitative analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the predictive value of [18F]fluoro-2-deoxy- d-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for clinical outcome such as progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) prior to and after autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). FDG-PET/computed tomography (CT) was performed in 39 consecutive patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL scheduled for ASCT. The median follow-up of surviving patients was 3 years (range 19-66 months). Both pre- and post-ASCT, FDG-PET findings were strongly correlated with PFS and OS ( p < 0.005). The 2-year PFS estimates for FDG-negative versus -positive patients were 84.8% vs. 36.8% (pre-) and 81.1% vs. 13.3% (post-). The 2-year OS estimates in these groups were 95.5% vs. 68.3% (pre-) and 92.7% vs. 57.1% (post-). Patients were classified into three groups according to FDG-PET results before and after ASCT. The median PFS was significantly lower in the +/+ group (13.0 months) as compared with the +/− group (31.0 months, p = 0.021) and the −/− group ( p = 0.000). The regression model showed that the predictive value of FDG-PET before ASCT owed its significance to a very high hazard ratio between patients with positive and negative imaging ( p < 0.01). FDG-PET prior to and following ASCT in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL contains prognostic information on long-term clinical outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a three-dimensional storm surge model was developed based on the Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) by the hindcasts of four typhoon-induced storm surges (Chan-hom, Mireille, Herb, and Winnie). After model validation, a series of sensitivity experiments were conducted to explore the effects of key parameters in the wind and pressure field (forward speed, radius of maximum wind (RMW), inflow angle, and central pressure), typhoon path, wind intensity, and topography on the storm surge and surge asymmetry between sea level rise (positive surge) and fall (negative surge) along the southeastern coast of China (SCC). The model results show that lower central pressure and larger RMW could lead to stronger surge asymmetry. A larger inflow angle results in a stronger surge asymmetry. In addition, the path of Chan-hom is the most dangerous path type for the Zhoushan Archipelago area, and that of Winnie follows next. The model results also indicate that the non-linear interaction between wind field and pressure field tends to weaken the peak surge elevation. The effect of topography on storm surges indicates that the peak surge elevation and its occurrence time, as well as the surge asymmetry, increase with a decreasing slope along the SCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]