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This article proposes a frequency-based structure and texture decomposition model in a Retinex-based framework for low-light image enhancement and noise suppression. First, we utilize the total variation-based noise estimation to decompose the observed image into low-frequency and high-frequency components. Second, we use a Gaussian kernel for noise suppression in the high-frequency layer. Third, we propose a frequency-based structure and texture decomposition method to achieve low-light enhancement. We extract texture and structure priors by using the high-frequency layer and a low-frequency layer, respectively. We present an optimization problem and solve it with the augmented Lagrange multiplier to generate a balance between structure and texture in the reflectance map. Our experimental results reveal that the proposed method can achieve superior performance in naturalness preservation and detail retention compared with state-of-the-art algorithms for low-light image enhancement. Our code is available on the following website. 1

Ministry of Science and Technology of China (grant nos. 2019YFE0124200 and 2018YFE0100800), National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 61874075), Baseline funding scheme of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Based on the multiomics analysis, this study is aimed at investigating the underlying mechanism of didymin against acute liver injury (ALI). The mice were administrated with didymin for 2 weeks, followed by injection with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus D-galactosamine (D-Gal) to induce ALI. The pathological examination revealed that didymin significantly ameliorated LPS/D-Gal-induced hepatic damage. Also, it markedly reduced proinflammatory cytokines release by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB pathway activation, alleviating inflammatory injury. A transcriptome analysis proved 2680 differently expressed genes (DEGs) between the model and didymin groups and suggested that the PI3K/Akt and metabolic pathways might be the most relevant targets. Meanwhile, the metabolome analysis revealed 67 differently expressed metabolites (DEMs) between the didymin and model groups that were mainly clustered into the glycerophospholipid metabolism, which was consistent with the transcriptome study. Importantly, a comprehensive analysis of both the omics indicated a strong correlation between the DEGs and DEMs, and an in-depth study demonstrated that didymin alleviated metabolic disorder and hepatocyte injury likely by inhibiting the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway through the regulation of PLA2G4B, LPCAT3, and CEPT1 expression. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that didymin can ameliorate LPS/D-Gal-induced ALI by inhibiting the glycerophospholipid metabolism and PI3K/Akt and TLR4/NF-κB pathways.

Mitochondria are inextricably linked to the development of diseases and cell metabolism disorders. Super-resolution imaging (SRI) is crucial in enhancing our understanding of mitochondrial ultrafine structures and functions. In addition to high-precision instruments, super-resolution microscopy relies heavily on fluorescent materials with unique photophysical properties. Small-molecule fluorogenic probes (SMFPs) have excellent properties that make them ideal for mitochondrial SRI. This paper summarizes recent advances in the field of SMFPs, with a focus on the chemical and spectroscopic properties required for mitochondrial SRI. Finally, we discuss future challenges in this field, including the design principles of SMFPs and nanoscopic techniques.

Implantable neural electrodes are important tools for interfacing with the neural system for recording and stimulation.

Charge recombination severely restricts the photocatalytic efficiencies of materials.

We report the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on urological surgeries and hospital policies at two hospitals in Japan and Taiwan.We retrospectively surveyed the number of surgeries every 3 months in the Urology Department of Kobe University Hospital (KUH), Kobe, Japan before (January 2019-March 2020) and after (April 2020-September 2021) the COVID-19 outbreak, and in the Urology Department of Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University (SHH-TMU), Taiwan before (January 2021-March 2021) and after (April 2021-September 2021) the outbreak, and compared the averages and types of surgery.In Kobe, COVID-19 patients were stratified such that other regional hospitals gave priority to treating COVID-19 while KUH gave priority to treating non-COVID-19 patients. In KUH, the number of surgeries did not change significantly, 237.2 ± 29.6 versus 246.3 ± 20.8 (p = 0.453). In Taiwan COVID-19 patients increased sharply in May 2021, and teaching hospitals in Taiwan were obliged to provide 20% of their total beds for COVID-19 patients. At SHH-TMU, there was a 33.3% drop in the number of surgeries during April-June 2021 compared to the pre-pandemic average. However, no significant changes were observed, 423.4 ± 68.4 versus 373 ± 91.0 (p = 0.298), because of the subsequent success in controlling the COVID-19 infection.The comparison of infection control measures between the two countries revealed that while both KUH and SHH-TMU successfully maintained the number of surgeries, the reasons for this were different for each.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics, X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging manifestations, and treatment efficacy of idiopathic chondrolysis of the hip. Methods: Ten patients with idiopathic chondrolysis of the hip treated at our hospital from September 2013 to April 2022 were collected, and their clinical features, X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging manifestations, and treatment outcomes were analyzed. Results: Their main clinical features included single hip pain, claudication gait, and pelvic tilt, without specific clinical symptoms and signs. Laboratory tests such as blood analysis, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, autoimmune test, coagulation function, interferon release test for tuberculosis infection, and tuberculosis antibody test were normal. In the late stage, the imaging shows degeneration or ankylosis of the joint. The disease progresses rapidly, and joint degeneration can occur in adolescence without effective treatment. Herein, seven patients were treated with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor receptor–antibody type II fusion protein. Among them, four (according to Camarnat magnetic resonance imaging classification, three were Stage I and one was Stage II) showed improved symptoms and function, while two (Stage III) had progressed. One patient (Stage I) who received recombinant human tumor necrosis factor receptor had no significant relief of symptoms, for whom anterior capsular release surgery significantly improved the hip joint motion. Of the four patients who underwent hip release surgery, three showed progression. Conclusion: Idiopathic chondrolysis of the hip has no specific clinical and laboratory tests and a high misdiagnosis rate. Thus, early magnetic resonance imaging is a critical reference for diagnosis. We recommend that patients with magnetic resonance imaging Stage II or earlier be actively treated with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor receptor and start treatment as early as possible. In the third stage, the treatment effect is mediocre, and the narrowed hip space is difficult to change.

Endothelial apoptosis is the core pathological change in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease (CAD). Determining the molecular mechanisms underlying endothelial apoptosis is important. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is a crucial transcription factor for controlling apoptosis. Our previous study demonstrated that the -94 ATTG ins/del mutant in the promoter of NFKB1 gene (rs28362491) is a risk factor for CAD. In the present study, we found that NFKB1 rs28362491 polymorphism was positively associated with increased major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) in CAD patients. After adjusting for confounding factors including age, smoking, hypertension, glucose, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the mutant DD genotype was an independent predictor of MACCEs ( OR = 2.578 , 95 % CI = 1.64 –4.05, P = 0.003 ). The in vitro study showed that mutant human umbilical vein endothelial cells (DD-mutant HUVECs) were more susceptible to high-glucose/palmitate-induced apoptosis, which was accompanied by decreased p50 expression and increased expression of cleaved caspase-3, Cytochrome c, and phospho-p65 ( P < 0.05 ). The mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly lower, while increasing levels of mtROS and more opening of the mPTP were observed in DD-mutant HUVECs ( P < 0.05 ). Furthermore, the percentage of cells with fragmented or spherical mitochondria was significantly higher in DD-mutant HUVECs than in wild-type cells (genotype II HUVECs) ( P < 0.05 ). In addition, after stimulation with high glucose/palmitate, the NFKB1 gene mutant significantly increased the expression of Drp1, which indicated that the NFKB1 gene mutant affected the expression of mitochondrial morphology-related proteins, leading to excessive mitochondrial fission. In conclusion, the mutant DD genotype of the NFKB1 gene was an independent predictor of worse long-term prognosis for CAD patients. DD-mutant HUVECs exhibited abnormal activation of the NF-κB pathway and increased Drp1 expression, which caused excessive mitochondrial fission and dysfunction, ultimately leading to increased apoptosis.

Because more and more solid waste is generated, in particular, in cities, the management of solid waste disposal has become a global challenge. A solution is to find an effective way to sort solid waste materials and recycle them into reusable products. In this article, we propose to use a material recognition method with vision-guided tactile to form a robotic system for waste sorting. The vision guidance module integrates an object detector and an affordance network together. It allows the robot to not only detect the desired containers and packaging from an assortment of the waste but also obtain a configuration to grasp the target and actively collect its tactile data. By classifying the object with the tactile data, the robot can sort containers and packaging into their respective categories according to the type of material. Our experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed robotic waste sorting system in sorting containers and packaging various types of materials.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNA) are regulatory small noncoding RNAs, which play a key role in many cancers. It has been found that miR-331-3p is involved in the development and progression of various cancers, but there are few reports in osteosarcoma. Methods: The public GEO database was used to analyze the survival difference of miR-331-3p in OS organizations. The level of cell proliferation assay was assessed by CCK-8 and colony formation. Tanswell and Wound-healing detect the transfer and invasion ability of miR-331-3p in OS. TargetScan, miRDBmiR, TarBase, and dual luciferase reporter gene assays were used to determine SOCS1 as a targeted regulator. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of protein levels. A mouse model of subcutaneously transplantable tumors is used to evaluate the proliferation of OS in vivo.Results: The low expression of miR-331-3p is negatively correlated with the overall survival of OS patients. Overexpression of miR-331-3p significantly inhibited cell proliferation, metastasis and invasion. miR-331-3p affects the occurrence and development of osteosarcoma by targeting the SOCS1/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.Conclusion: miR-331-3p reduces the expression of SOCS1 by combining with its 3'UTR, thereby activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway to regulate the progression of OS.

2D materials have intriguing quantum phenomena that are distinctively different from their bulk counterparts. Recently, epitaxially synthesized wafer-scale 2D metals, composed of elemental atoms, are attracting attention not only for their potential applications but also for exotic quantum effects such as superconductivity. By mapping momentum-resolved electronic states using time-resolved and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), we reveal that monolayer Ag confined between bilayer graphene and SiC is a large gap (> 1 eV) 2D semiconductor, consistent with GW-corrected density functional theory. The measured valence band dispersion matches the DFT-GW quasiparticle band. However, the conduction band dispersion shows an anomalously large effective mass of 2.4 m0. Possible mechanisms for this large enhancement in the apparent mass are discussed.

As network multimedia technology has advanced rapidly, video communication has made enormous strides and has been used in many educational industries. The use of educational video communication is a simple, effective, and convenient method of communication. A fast and energy-efficient blockchain clustering algorithm is proposed to pick the desired cluster head in software-defined networking (SDN). This research suggests using an adaptive resource allocation method and secure communication networks to improve the quality of instructional video transmission. To better educational management resources (EMR), this research suggests using a particle swarm algorithm (PSA). Using the PSA-EMR, an extended particle swarm optimization model suggests a low-complexity solution for adaptive central and distributed resource allocation in communication networks. The method improves the productivity and accuracy of the teaching team. Finally, a cost-effective digital framework for collecting and transmitting high-quality instructional content was developed to conclude the research.

Defects play significant roles in spin-current-related physical processes in intrinsic ferromagnetic semiconductors (FMSs), which hold great promise for spintronics applications. However, current defect calculation methods cannot be used to investigate charged defects in FMSs due to the spin polarization of both the charged defect states and ionized carriers, which is not well treated in current defect calculation methods. In order to solve this problem, we propose a spin-distinguishable charge correction (SDCC) method that uses spin-polarized band edge charge density instead of spin-unpolarized uniform background charge density as the compensating charge for charged defects. We apply our method to study the defect properties of CrI3 monolayer and find it can be doped n-type under the Cr-rich growth condition but difficult to be doped p-type. The SDCC method proposed here is generally suitable for all FMSs, which will be useful for the studies of defect properties of magnetic semiconductors.

Linear local tangent space alignment (LLTSA) is a classical dimensionality reduction method based on manifold. However, LLTSA and all its variants only consider the one-way mapping from high-dimensional space to low-dimensional space. The projected low-dimensional data may not accurately and effectively “represent” the original samples. This paper proposes a novel LLTSA method based on the linear autoencoder called LLTSA-AE (LLTSA with Autoencoder). The proposed LLTSA-AE is divided into two stages. The conventional process of LLTSA is viewed as the encoding stage, and the additional and important decoding stage is used to reconstruct the original data. Thus, LLTSA-AE makes the low-dimensional embedding data “represent” the original data more accurately and effectively. LLTSA-AE gets the recognition rates of 85.10, 67.45, 75.40 and 86.67% on handwritten Alphadigits, FERET, Georgia Tech. and Yale datasets, which are 9.4, 14.03, 7.35 and 12.39% higher than that of the original LLTSA respectively. Compared with some improved methods of LLTSA, it also obtains better performance. For example, on Handwritten Alphadigits dataset, compared with ALLTSA, OLLTSA, PLLTSA and WLLTSA, the recognition rates of LLTSA-AE are improved by 4.77, 3.96, 7.8 and 8.6% respectively. It shows that LLTSA-AE is an effective dimensionality reduction method.

Accuracy, a key indicator of pathogen detection technology, is compromised by carryover contamination in the amplicon sequencing workflow. Taking the detection of SARS-CoV-2 as case, this study presents a new carryover contamination-controlled amplicon sequencing workflow.

Background: Diarrhea remains a leading cause of childhood illness throughout the world and is caused by various species of ecologically sensitive pathogens. The emerging Planetary Health movement emphasizes the interdependence of human health with natural systems, and much of its focus has been on infectious diseases and their interactions with environmental and human processes. Meanwhile, the era of big data has engendered a public appetite for interactive web-based dashboards for infectious diseases. However, enteric infectious diseases have been largely overlooked by these developments. Methods: The Planetary Child Health and Enterics Observatory (Plan-EO) is a new initiative that builds on existing partnerships between epidemiologists, climatologists, bioinformaticians, and hydrologists as well as investigators in numerous low- and middle-income countries. Its objective is to provide the research and stakeholder community with an evidence base for the geographical targeting of enteropathogen-specific child health interventions such as novel vaccines. The initiative will produce, curate, and disseminate spatial data products relating to the distribution of enteric pathogens and their environmental and sociodemographic determinants. Discussion: As climate change accelerates there is an urgent need for etiology-specific estimates of diarrheal disease burden at high spatiotemporal resolution. Plan-EO aims to address key challenges and knowledge gaps by making rigorously obtained, generalizable disease burden estimates freely available and accessible to the research and stakeholder communities. Pre-processed environmental and EO-derived spatial data products will be housed, continually updated, and made publicly available to the research and stakeholder communities both within the webpage itself and for download. These inputs can then be used to identify and target priority populations living in transmission hotspots and for decision-making, scenario-planning, and disease burden projection. Study registration: PROSPERO protocol #CRD42023384709

Spintronics-based microwave devices, such as oscillators and detectors, have been the subject of intensive investigation in recent years owing to the potential reductions in size and power consumption. However, only a few concepts for spintronic amplifiers have been proposed, typically requiring complex device configurations or material stacks. Here, we demonstrate a spintronic amplifier based on two-terminal magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) produced with CMOS-compatible material stacks that have already been used for spin-transfer torque memories. We achieve a record gain (|S11 | > 2) for input power on the order of nW (

Session-based recommendation (SBR) emphasizes mining user interests to predict the next click based on recent interactions within sessions. Most current SBR methods suffer from insufficient interactive information problems and fail to distinguish session representations with high similarities, which can neglect the inherent features within sessions. To fill the gap, we propose a triplet mining enhanced graph neural networks (TME-GNN) approach to enhance the recommendation systems by mining structural and inherent information. Technically, we first generate anchor, positive and negative embeddings based on the given session and set a triplet mining task to improve the recommendation task with subtle features by pushing positive pairs close and pulling negative pairs away. Second, to robust the model, we employ a self-supervised auxiliary task by adding dynamic perturbations to the embedding space. We conduct extensive experiments to demonstrate the superiority of our method against other state-of-the-art algorithms. Our implementations are available on the following site https://github.com/Info4Rec/TME-GNN .