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Background: In clinical practice, psoriasis is a prevalent chronic inflammatory cutaneous disease featured with the development of red plaque with silvery scales, which considerably affects cutaneous health and quality of life of those afflicted. Objective: This research aimed to examine the association between the body roundness index (BRI) and psoriasis, using data sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods: Our study used a cross-sectional design, including 8,479 adults, of whom 234 were diagnosed with psoriasis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between BRI and psoriasis, with stepwise adjustments for covariables. Results: Results from multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated a significant positive relationship between BRI and the risk of developing psoriasis; specifically, after comprehensive adjustment for covariables, per 1 unit increase in BRI was linked to an 11% rise in psoriasis risk (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.05–1.17). Furthermore, psoriasis patients exhibited higher average BRI compared to non-psoriasis patients and a greater prevalence of comorbidities such as hypertension and smoking. Conclusion: These findings suggest that higher BRI is positively correlated with the risk of psoriasis in the adult population in the US. BRI could potentially act as a practical anthropometric index for more accurately predicting the risk of developing psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Adequate maternal thyroid hormone is vital for fetal neurodevelopment. Abnormal thyroid function can cause developmental defects in offspring from spontaneous pregnancies; however, research in assisted reproduction is lacking. Objectives This work aimed to investigate the association between thyroid disorders and offspring neurodevelopment from assisted reproduction. Methods In this prospective and longitudinal birth cohort study (Jiangsu, China), we included 729 women who had their thyroid function tested before an assisted reproductive technology cycle and delivered liveborn babies between November 2015 and June 2020. Maternal thyroid function was assessed by measuring thyroid antibodies, free thyroxine, and serum thyrotropin. The third edition Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development screening test (Bayley-III screening test) was used to assess infant neurodevelopment. Results In multivariable-corrected linear regression analysis, infants of women with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) demonstrated a significantly lower receptive communication score (β = −.63; 95% CI, −1.12 to −0.14; P =.013), with stratified analysis showing a significant association among female offspring (β = −.87; 95% CI, −1.59 to −0.15; P =.018) but a null association among male offspring (β = −.44; 95% CI, −1.03 to 0.15; P =.145). No significant differences were found in the assisted pregnancy population with normal thyroid function and positive antibodies according to the diagnostic cutoffs applied to normal pregnant women. Conclusion SCH in assisted pregnancies correlates with lower communication scores in 1-year-olds, especially in girls. We recommend medication for SCH throughout, regardless of thyroid autoantibody status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several recent studies reported the potential adverse effects of titanium exposure on glucose homeostasis among the non-pregnant population, but the association of titanium exposure with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is scarce. Methods: The present study of 1,449 pregnant women was conducted within the Jiangsu Birth Cohort (JBC) study in China. Urine samples were collected in the early pregnancy, and urinary titanium concentration and non-targeted metabolomics were measured. Poisson regression estimated the association of titanium exposure in the early pregnancy with subsequent risk of GDM. Multiple linear regression screened for titanium-related urine metabolites. Mediation analyses assessed the mediating effects of candidate metabolites and pathways. Results: As parameterized in tertiles, titanium showed positive dose–response relationship with GDM risk (P for trend = 0.008), with women at the highest tertile of titanium exposure having 30% increased risk of GDM [relative risk (RR) = 1.30 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.61)] when compared to those exposure at the first tertile level. Meanwhile, we identified the titanium-related metabolites involved in four amino acid metabolic pathways. Notably, the perturbation of the aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis and alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism mediated 27.1% and 31.0%, respectively, of the relative effect of titanium exposure on GDM. Specifically, three titanium-related metabolites, choline, creatine and L-alanine, demonstrated predominant mediation effects on the association between titanium exposure and GDM risk. Conclusions: In this prospective study, we uniquely identified a correlation between early pregnancy titanium exposure and increased GDM risk. We unveiled novel insights into how perturbations in amino acid metabolism may mediate the link between titanium exposure and GDM. Notably, choline, creatine, and L-alanine emerged as key mediators influencing this association. Our findings imply that elevated titanium exposure in early pregnancy can lead to amino acid dysmetabolism, thereby elevating GDM risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Radon, a potent carcinogen, is a significant catalyst for lung cancer development. However, the molecular mechanisms triggering radon-induced lung cancer remain elusive. Methods Utilizing a radon exposure concentration of 20,000 Bq/m3 for 20 min/session, malignant transformation was induced in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). Results Radon-exposed cells derived from passage 25 (BEAS-2B-Rn) exhibited enhanced proliferation and increased colony formation. Analysis of differential gene expression (DEG) through transcription factors revealed 663 up-regulated and 894 down-regulated genes in radon-exposed cells. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed significant alterations in the malignant transformation pathway of cells, including those related to cancer and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. A PPI network analysis indicated a significant association of oncogenes, such as CCND1, KIT, and GATA3, with lung cancer among differentially expressed genes. In addition, the stability of the housekeeping gene was determined through RT-qPCR analysis, which also confirmed the results of transcriptome analysis. Conclusions The results suggest that transcription factors may play a pivotal role in conferring a survival advantage to radon-exposed cells. This is achieved by malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells into lung carcinogenesis cell phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a complex interaction between national land space and transportation. China is accelerating its strategy of building a strong transportation country and territorial spatial planning, which requires evaluating and strengthening the coordination relationship between transport and land space to promote development. Taking the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration in China as an example, this study analyze the high-speed transportation construction and land space development process, evaluates the coupling and coordination degree between high-speed transportation and land space, as well as the "development-protection" situation in the years 2000, 2010, and 2020 by means of the coupling and coordination model, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and GIS analysis. The result shows: (1) high-speed transportation construction and territorial space development have been active for a long time, and most of the cities have maintained a high level of increase in these two indicators. In terms of protection indicators, Tangshan and other coastal cities have been lagging behind for a long time without any improvement trend. (2) The coupling and coordination level between high-speed transportation and development is high, with slight weakening over time, with an average annual decrease of less than 0.09%. The change in the coupling coordination level with protection shows the wave dynamics of 'low-middle-low'. (3) In the future, high-speed transportation will have a significant impact on land space in the country for a long time. In this regard, it is suggested to: (1) promote the construction of high-speed transportation for network, systematic, and serial development; (2) accelerate the extension of the high-speed transportation advantages of the existing growth poles of Beijing and Tianjin; and (3) develop Shijiazhuang and Langfang as the new growth poles. This study will promote the integration of transportation and urban planning, which will contribute to the development of high-quality synergistic urban agglomerations around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to probe the diagnostic value of transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound (TV-CDU) parameters in cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) and CSP sub-types, and the relevant factors affecting patients' surgical effects. Methods: Seventy-five CSP patients (all requested termination of pregnancy) were selected as the observation group, and 75 normal pregnant women with a history of cesarean section were selected as the control group. All the study subjects underwent TV-CDU and their cesarean scar muscle (CSM) thickness, minimum sagittal muscle thickness and resistance index (RI) of blood flow in the anterior wall of the lower uterine segment were calculated. The diagnostic value of CSM, minimum sagittal muscle thickness, and RI for CSP and CSP sub-types was analyzed. The patients in the observation group were grouped into the effective group and the ineffective group according to whether the surgical treatment was effective or not, and the independent factors affecting CSP efficacy were analyzed. Results: The observation group had lower CSM, minimum sagittal muscle thickness and RI than the control group. CSM, RI, and minimum sagittal thickness in patients with type II CSP were lower than those in patients with type I, and these indicators in patients with type III were lower than those in patients with type II. The area under the curve (AUC) of CSM, RI and minimum sagittal muscle thickness in combination for CSP diagnosis and the AUC for CSP sub-types were higher than those of each indicator alone. Gestational sac size and CSM were independent factors affecting CSP treatment. Conclusion: Changes in TV-CDU parameters facilitates CSP diagnosis after cesarean section. CSM, minimum sagittal muscle thickness changes, and RI in combination possesses high value for CSP diagnosis and CSP sub-types. Gestational sac size and CSM are independent factors affecting CSP treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroelectric field effect transistors (Fe-FETs) offer promising candidates for neuromorphic computing. However, it is still challenging to achieve a light-tunable field effect, which limits the function of photo-synapse. In this work, a ferroelectric semiconductor floating-gate transistor (FSF-FET) is proposed based on MoS2/h-BN/α-In2Se3 van der Waals heterojunctions (vdWHs), in which the two-dimensional ferroelectric semiconducting α-In2Se3 and dielectric h-BN serve as the trapped layer of charges and prevent layer, respectively. The excellent memory performances are exhibited, including a high programming/erasing ratio of over 107, a large memory window ratio of 74.69%, and good non-volatility. Moreover, the FSF-FETs also possess the light-tunable synapse behaviors, including the high paired-pulse facilitation of 236% and an obvious transition from short-term plasticity to long-term plasticity. The high recognition rate of 93.9% is achieved with dual-mode modulation of light and electrical pulses. The ferroelectric semiconductor floating-gate design opens up a strategy to realize the light-tunable field effect of Fe-FETs for photo-synapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camellia oleifera is a crop of high economic value, yet it is particularly susceptible to various diseases and pests that significantly reduce its yield and quality. Consequently, the precise segmentation and classification of diseased Camellia leaves are vital for managing pests and diseases effectively. Deep learning exhibits significant advantages in the segmentation of plant diseases and pests, particularly in complex image processing and automated feature extraction. However, when employing single-modal models to segment Camellia oleifera diseases, three critical challenges arise: (A) lesions may closely resemble the colors of the complex background; (B) small sections of diseased leaves overlap; (C) the presence of multiple diseases on a single leaf. These factors considerably hinder segmentation accuracy. A novel multimodal model, CNN–Transformer Dual U-shaped Network (CTDUNet), based on a CNN–Transformer architecture, has been proposed to integrate image and text information. This model first utilizes text data to address the shortcomings of single-modal image features, enhancing its ability to distinguish lesions from environmental characteristics, even under conditions where they closely resemble one another. Additionally, we introduce Coordinate Space Attention (CSA), which focuses on the positional relationships between targets, thereby improving the segmentation of overlapping leaf edges. Furthermore, cross-attention (CA) is employed to align image and text features effectively, preserving local information and enhancing the perception and differentiation of various diseases. The CTDUNet model was evaluated on a self-made multimodal dataset compared against several models, including DeeplabV3+, UNet, PSPNet, Segformer, HrNet, and Language meets Vision Transformer (LViT). The experimental results demonstrate that CTDUNet achieved an mean Intersection over Union (mIoU) of 86.14%, surpassing both multimodal models and the best single-modal model by 3.91% and 5.84%, respectively. Additionally, CTDUNet exhibits high balance in the multi-class segmentation of Camellia oleifera diseases and pests. These results indicate the successful application of fused image and text multimodal information in the segmentation of Camellia disease, achieving outstanding performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the strong heterogeneity of evaporite-carbonate symbolic system, based on core and logging data, this paper clarifies microfacies types of Arab Formation in B Oilfield of Abu Dhabi, and analyzes the reservoir characteristics of various microfacies and the main controlling factors of high-quality reservoirs. Twelve microfacies types (MF1--MF12) can be identified in the Arab Formation. Microfacies types and associations indicate that it is a sedimentary system of Sabha tidal flat-lagoon-barrier beach under the background of limited-evaporation. Microfacies control reservoir quality. MF2 and MF9--MF12 have thicker pore throats, better connectivity, and higher porosity and permeability, making them favorable microfacies types for reservoir development. MF2 and MF10 develop dolomite reservoirs, with the reservoir space mainly composed of intergranular pores, residual intergranular pores and intragranular dissolution pores. Grainstone reservoirs are developed in MF9, MF11 and MF12, with the reservoir space dominated by intergranular (dissolution) pores, mold pores and intragranular dissolution pores. The seismic change of relative sea level causes orderly stacking of sedimentary facies belts in longitudinal direction. The difference of microfacies types and diagenesis between different sedimentary facies belts and within the same sedimentary facies belt is the fundamental reason for the strong heterogeneity of the Arab Formation reservoir. The barrier beach and supratidal are favorable facies belts for the development of high-quality reservoirs. The primary intergranular pores of high-quality reservoirs in the barrier beach facies are well maintained and superimposed with significant early exposure and dissolution, resulting in the generation of secondary pores and the further improvement of pore structure. The development of high-quality reservoirs in the supratidal is controlled by early dolomitization and penecontemporaneous dissolution. Dolomitization improves pore structure, which is conducive to early pore preservation. The early dissolution of dispersed anhydrite produces a large number of secondary pores, significantly improving reservoir physical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a novel MRI technology to image certain compounds at extremely low concentrations. Long acquisition time to measure signals at a set of offset frequencies of the Z-spectra and to repeat measurements to reduce noise pose significant challenges to its applications. This study explores correlations of CEST MR images along the spatial and Z-spectral dimensions to improve MR image quality and robustness of magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) asymmetry estimation via a joint k- ω reconstruction model. The model was formulated as an optimization problem with respect to MR images at all frequencies ω , while incorporating regularizations along the spatial and spectral dimensions. The solution was subject to a self-consistency condition that the Z-spectrum of each pixel follows a multi-peak data fitting model corresponding to different CEST pools. The optimization problem was solved using the alternating direction method of multipliers. The proposed joint reconstruction method was evaluated on a simulated CEST MRI phantom and semi-experimentally on choline and iopamidol phantoms with added Gaussian noise of various levels. Results demonstrated that the joint reconstruction method was more tolerable to noise and reduction in number of offset frequencies by improving signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the reconstructed images and reducing uncertainty in MTR asymmetry estimation. In the choline and iopamidol phantom cases with 10.5% noise in the measurement data, our method achieved an averaged SNR of 31.0 dB and 32.2 dB compared to the SNR of 24.7 dB and 24.4 dB in the conventional reconstruction approach. It reduced uncertainty of the MTR asymmetry estimation over all regions of interest by 54.4% and 43.7%, from 1.71 and 2.38 to 0.78 and 1.71, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a study conducted to investigate the humoral immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine in patients with psoriasis who are receiving biologics and small molecule medications. The study found that patients treated with different medications had similar levels of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) after receiving the vaccine. Additionally, the study showed that a 3-dose vaccine regimen was more effective in inducing NAbs production compared to a 2-dose regimen. However, some patients experienced a decrease in NAb titers after the booster-dose vaccination, possibly due to a longer interval between doses or poor compliance. The study acknowledges limitations such as a small sample size and the absence of healthy individuals as controls. [Extracted from the article]