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Remote sensing image fusion is consistently used to turn raw images of different resolutions, sources, and modalities into accurate, complete, and spatiotemporally coherent images. It facilitates downstream applications such as pan sharpening, change detection, and classification. However, image fusion solutions are highly disparate to various remote sensing problems and are often narrowly defined in existing reviews as topical applications (e.g., pan sharpening). Theoretically, image fusion can be applied to any gridded data through pixel-level operations; thus, we expand its scope by comprehensively surveying relevant works. We develop a simple taxonomy for many-to-one and many-to-many image fusion, defining it as a mapping problem turning one or multiple images into another set based on desired coherence. Furthermore, we provide a meta-analysis to cover 10,420 peer-reviewed papers from the 1980s to 2023 studying various types of image fusion and their applications. Finally, we discuss image fusion's benefits and emerging challenges to provide open research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among cancer types, lung cancer has one of the highest mortality rates worldwide. Clinicians currently use magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography (CT) to diagnose lung cancer in patients. For lung cancer detection, improving the accuracy of diagnosis or detection through CT is a challenging task. Therefore, this study proposes a fusion-based convolutional fuzzy neural network (F-CFNN) that identifies and classifies CT images. The F-CFNN has a convolutional fuzzy neural network (CFNN) that uses two convolutional and two pooling layers to extract features and utilizes a fuzzy neural network to provide robust classification results. Furthermore, five fusion methods are used, namely global max pooling (GMP), global average pooling (GAP), channel global max pooling (CGMP), channel global average pooling (CGAP), and network mapping fusion (NMF). In the F-CFNN, parameter selection is generally conducted through trial-and-error; therefore, the Taguchi method is applied to identify the optimal parameter combination of the network. To validate the proposed method, the SPIE-AAPM public data set is used in this experiment. The experimental results indicate that the classification accuracy of the F-CFNN with NMF is 93.26%. In addition, after the Taguchi method is applied to identify the optimal parameter combination, the classification accuracy of the Taguchi-based F-CFNN with NMF is increased to 99.98%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cleavage of the linkage bonds among the C9 units in lignin molecules via selective oxidation method to obtain small-weight aromatic compounds is an important way to lignin valorisation. In this study, the cleavage pathways of bonds in a lignin model compound, GGE (guaiacylglycerol-β-guaiacyl ether), by the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in situ generated through electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in an aprotic ionic liquid ([BMIM]BF4) was investigated. The results indicated that when the main ROS was ·OOH, coniferyl alcohol, guaiacol and vanillin were detected as the degradation products which is supposed to be caused by β-O-4 bonds cleavage; Otherwise, when HO2 - was the main ROS, coniferyl alcohol could not be detected and the degradation reaction is believed to be trigerred by Cα-Cβ bonds cleavage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of aerosol dispersion characteristics in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has attracted extensive attention. Oxidation ditch (OD) is a commonly implemented process during biological wastewater treatment. This study assessed the component characteristics, source apportionment, and exposure risks of aerosols generated from a WWTP using the OD process (AWO). The results indicated that the aeration part of oxidation ditch (ODA) exhibited the highest concentrations and proportions of the respiratory fractions (RF) of bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus aureus , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Some pathogenic or opportunistic-pathogenic bacteria and carcinogenic metal(loid)s were detected in the AWO. The source apportionment results indicated that the outdoor wastewater treatment processes and ambient air contributed to the constitution of the AWO. The indoor aerosols were mainly constituted by composition of the wastewater treatment process such as the sludge dewatering room (SDR). The pathogenic or opportunistic-pathogenic bacteria with eight genera (Colinsella , Dermatophilus , Enterobactor , Erycherichia-Shigella , Ledionella , Selenomonas , Xanthobacter , and Veillonella) were largely attributed to wastewater or sludge. The risk assessment suggested that inhalation was the main exposure pathway for aerosols (including bacteria and metal(loid)s). Additionally, As indicated the highest non-carcinogenic risks. Furthermore, As, Cd, and Co were associated with high carcinogenic risks. The ODA and sludge dewatering room (SDR) indicated the highest carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of metal(loid)s, respectively. Thus, the AWO should be sufficiently researched and monitored to mitigate their harmful effects on human health, particularly with regard to the health of the site workers. Image 1 • Study of aerosols from wastewater treatment plant using oxidation ditch (AWO). • Systematic investigation of characteristics, sources, and exposure risks of AWO. • Highest non-carcinogenic risks detected at sludge dewatering room. • Highest carcinogenic risks detected at the oxidation ditch. • Thirty-eight bacterial genera and some metal(loid)s identified in the AWO. Sludge dewatering room and Oxidation ditch indicated the highest non- and carcinogenic risks in a wastewater treatment plants using oxidation ditch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antibiotic-resistant pollution in size-segregated bioaerosols from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is of increasing concern due to its public health risks, but an elaborate review is still lacking. This work overviewed the profile, mobility, pathogenic hosts, source, and risks of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in size-segregated bioaerosols from WWTPs. The dominant ARG type in size-segregated bioaerosols from WWTPs was multidrug resistance genes. Treatment units that equipped with mechanical facilities and aeration devices, such as grilles, grit chambers, biochemical reaction tanks, and sludge treatment units, were the primary sources of bioaerosol antibiotic resistome in WWTPs. Higher enrichment of antibiotic resistome in particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of <2.5 μm, was found along the upwind-downwind-WWTPs gradient. Only a small portion of ARGs in inhalable bioaerosols from WWTPs were flanked by mobile genetic elements. The pathogens with multiple drug resistance had been found in size-segregated bioaerosols from WWTPs. Different ARGs or antibiotic resistant bacteria have different aerosolization potential associated with bioaerosols from various treatment processes. The validation of pathogenic antibiotic resistance bacteria, deeper investigation of ARG mobility, emission mechanism of antibiotic resistome, and development of treatment technologies, should be systematically considered in future. [Display omitted] • Antibiotic resistome in size-segregated bioaerosols from WWTPs was overviewed. • Mobility and pathogenic hosts in WWTP bioaerosols were discussed. • Wastewater or sludge was the major source for ARGs and ARB in WWTP bioaerosols. • Resistome risk of size-segregated bioaerosols from WWTPs was presented. • Expectations of antibiotic resistance in WWTP bioaerosols were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The characteristics of bioaerosol emissions from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have attracted extensive attention. The anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (A2O) process, which uses the activated sludge approach to wastewater treatment, is the most widely used process in WWTPs. Concentration, size distribution, population, and exposure risk from bacteria and fungi in bioaerosols of WWTPs using the A2O process were studied in this work. The results showed that the maximum concentration of airborne bacteria (1.00 × 104 Colony Forming Units per cubic meter (CFU m−3)) and fungi (1.44 ×104 CFU m−3) occurred from the facility's aerobic tank, in summer. As one of the main factors affecting bioaerosol exposure risk, particle size distribution was related to season. The study found that particles larger than 3.3 µm in diameter were detected mainly in spring and summer, while particles less than 3.3 µm were detected mainly in autumn and winter, whether bacterial aerosol or fungal aerosol. In addition, pathogenic bacteria were observed in bioaerosols from WWTPs, with 18 of the 65 species of bacteria detected found to be potentially or opportunistically pathogenic, such as Chryseobacterium , Stenotrophomonas , Alcaligenes, Micrococcus, Pantoea, Enterobacter and Escherichia-Shigella. The presence of these pathogens further increased the exposure risk from bioaerosols. The results of an inhalation risk assessment for airborne bacteria and fungi indicated that potential adverse health risks for adults mainly occurred in spring, summer, and autumn. On this basis, it was concluded that WWTP operators should set up effective bioaerosol controls as soon as possible to protect the health of workers, and of residents near the plant. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • Microbial concentration, size, population and risk of bioaerosol were detected. • Aerobic tank is main source of bioaerosols in wastewater treatment plant outdoor. • The highest detection concentration of bioaerosol occurred in summer. • Pathogenic bacteria accounted for 28% of the bacteria detected in bioaerosol. • WWTP bioaerosol has a certain inhalation risk for workers and nearby residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the "sharp" regression discontinuity design (RD), all units scoring on one side of a designated score on an assignment variable receive treatment, whereas those scoring on the other side become controls. Thus the continuous assignment variable and binary treatment indicator are measured on the same scale. Because each must be in the impact model, the resulting multi-collinearity reduces the efficiency of the RD design. However, untreated comparison data can be added along the assignment variable, and a comparative regression discontinuity design (CRD) is then created. When the untreated data come from a non-equivalent comparison group, we call this CRD-CG. Assuming linear functional forms, we show that power in CRD-CG is (a) greater than in basic RD; (b) less sensitive to the location of the cutoff and the distribution of the assignment variable; and that (c) fewer treated units are needed in the basic RD component within the CRD-CG so that savings can result from having fewer treated cases. The theory we develop is used to make numerical predictions about the efficiency of basic RD and CRD-CG relative to each other and to a randomized control trial. Data from the National Head Start Impact study are used to test these predictions. The obtained estimates are closer to the predicted parameters for CRD-CG than for basic RD and are generally quite close to the parameter predictions, supporting the emerging argument that CRD should be the design of choice in many applications for which basic RD is now used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different from most current commercial nuclear power plants, the High-Temperature gas-cooled Reactor Pebble-bed Module (HTR-PM) power plant consists of two reactor modules connected to a common steam turbine system that will bring a special coupling effect between the two reactor modules. An engineering simulator of the HTR-PM plant was developed by embedding the THERMIX/BLAST code into the vPower simulation platform. Two sets of nuclear steam supply systems of HTR-PM, including two reactors, two steam generators, two helium blowers, and the helium flow ducts, were simulated by two THERMIX/BLAST code modules, respectively. The entire secondary loop system was simulated using intrinsic models of the vPower simulation platform. The vPower platform connects and synchronizes the two THERMIX/BLAST modules, as well as the simulation module for the secondary loop system. The engineering simulator was applied to simulate the behavior of HTR-PM under steady-state operation, startup and shutdown processes, and accident conditions. The coupling effect during the condition conversion process and the thermal characteristics under accident conditions of HTR-PM were analyzed by the engineering simulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress resulting from accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is involved in cell death associated with neurological disorders such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease and traumatic brain injury. Antioxidant compounds that improve endogenous antioxidant defenses have been proposed for neural protection. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential protective effects of total saponin in leaves of Panax notoginseng (LPNS) on oxidative stress and cell death in brain cells in vitro. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay indicated that LPNS (5µg/ml) reduced H2O2-induced cell death in primary rat cortical astrocytes (23±8% reduction in LDH release vs. control). Similar protection was found in oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation induced SH-SY5Y (a human neuroblastoma cell line) cell damage (78±7% reduction vs. control). The protective effects of LPNS in astrocytes were associated with attenuation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. These effects involved activation of Nrf2 (nuclear translocation) and upregulation of downstream antioxidant systems including heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and glutathione S-transferase pi 1 (GSTP1). These results demonstrate for the first time that LPNS has antioxidative effects which may be neuroprotective in neurological disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a destructive disease with very poor prognosis and no effective treatment. Autophagy is a dynamic cellular process involved in various physiological processes and diseases including cancer that degrades cytoplasmic proteins and organelles. The role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of OSCC is not yet understood. Microtubule-associated protein light chains 3 (LC3) is a reliable autophagosome markers for monitoring autophagy. In the present study, LC3 expression was determined in a cohort of 90 OSCC samples by immunohistochemistry. The results were correlated with clinical and pathological characteristics of patients. High LC3 expression (N = 57; 63.3%) correlated with stage (P < .0001), tumor size (P < .0001), and lymph node involvement (P = .0003) and with an increased risk of death (P < .0001; hazard ratio, 3.59) in a univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis adjusted for grade, stage, and alcohol, betel, and tobacco consumption, high LC3 expression retained statistical significance with regard to survival (P = .0043; hazard ratio, 2.99). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve also showed that high LC3 expression was significantly associated with poor overall survival (P = .0001). Elevated LC3 expression, which corresponds to increased level of autophagy activity, is a frequent event and an indicator of poor prognosis in human OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]