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QRS detection is a crucial task for ECG signal analysis, which is the preliminary and essential step to further recognition and diagnosis. This paper proposes a U-Net based method for QRS detection. The method consists of three steps including preprocessing, U-Net model, and density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise(DBSCAN). The normalization is carried out using the Z-score method in preprocessing. In this study, location prediction is conducted by the U-Net model. Subsequently, the U-Net outputs are thresholded and clustered by DBSCAN. Finally, the middle points of the cluster are regards as the R-peak of the QRS complex. We demonstrate that the proposed method achieving high accuracy on ECG signals from the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database(MITDB). The experimental results show an average sensitivity of 99.98 %, positive predictivity of 99.95 %, accuracy of 99.93 %, and F1-score of 99.97 %. Compared with other existing methods, the overall performance is comparable and even better in terms of accuracy and F1-score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of bimetallic nickel cobalt sulfides with hierarchical micro/nano architectures were fabricated via a facile synthesis strategy of bimetallic micro/nano structure precursor construction-anion exchange via solvothermal method. Among the nickel cobalt sulfides with different Ni/Co contents, the coral-like Ni1.01Co1.99S4 (Ni/Co, 1/2) delivers ultrafast and stable Na-ion storage performance (350 mAh·g−1 after 1,000 cycles at 1 A·g−1 and 355 mAh·g−1 at 5 A·g−1). The remarkable electrochemical properties can be attributed to the enhanced conductivity by co-existence of bimetallic components, the unique coral-like micro/nanostructure, which could prevent structural collapse and self-aggregation of nanoparticles, and the easily accessibility of electrolyte, and fast Na+ diffusion upon cycling. Detailed kinetics studies by a galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) reveal the dynamic change of Na+ diffusion upon cycling, and quantitative kinetic analysis indicates the high contribution of pseudocapacitive behavior during charge-discharge processes. Moreover, the ex-situ characterization analysis results further verify the Na-ion storage mechanism based on conversion reaction. This study is expected to provide a feasible design strategy for the bimetallic sulfides materials toward high performance sodium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is a global epidemic that is caused by excessive energy intake or inefficient energy expenditure. Brown or beige fat dissipates energy as heat through non-shivering thermogenesis by their high density of mitochondria. However, how the mitochondrial stress-induced signal is coupled to the cellular thermogenic program remains elusive. Here, we show that mitochondrial DNA escape-induced activation of the cGAS-STING pathway negatively regulates thermogenesis in fat-specific DsbA-L knockout mice, a model of adipose tissue mitochondrial stress. Conversely, fat-specific overexpression of DsbA-L or knockout of STING protects mice against high-fat diet-induced obesity. Mechanistically, activation of the cGAS-STING pathway in adipocytes activated phosphodiesterase PDE3B/PDE4, leading to decreased cAMP levels and PKA signaling, thus reduced thermogenesis. Our study demonstrates that mitochondrial stress-activated cGAS-STING pathway functions as a sentinel signal that suppresses thermogenesis in adipose tissue. Targeting adipose cGAS-STING pathway may thus be a potential therapeutic strategy to counteract overnutrition-induced obesity and its associated metabolic diseases. Juli Bai et al. demonstrate that overexpression of DsbA-L or knockout of STING in adipocytes protects mice against high-fat diet-induced obesity. They find that inhibition of the cGAS-STING pathway in adipocytes activates thermogenesis. This study presents the cGAS-STING pathway as a potential target for anti-obesity therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant Cryptochromes (CRYs) are photolyase-like flavoproteins that have been reported in all evolutionary lineages. As UV-A/blue light photoreceptors, CRYs play a vital role in plant growth and development. In the present study, a total of 94 CRY1 and 68 CRY2 candidate genes were retrieved from 58 and 50 plant genomes, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that CRY genes could be divided into three groups (dicotyledons, monocots, and spore plants). A comprehensive review of the CRY gene family suggests that the CRY genes are relatively conservative and stable during evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adipose tissue undergoes thermogenic remodeling in response to thermal stress and metabolic cues, playing a crucial role in regulating energy expenditure and metabolic homeostasis. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is associated with adipose dysfunction in obesity and metabolic disease. It remains unclear, however, if ER stress-signaling in adipocytes mechanistically mediates dysregulation of thermogenic fat. Here we show that inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α), a key ER stress sensor and signal transducer, acts in both white and beige adipocytes to impede beige fat activation. Ablation of adipocyte IRE1α promotes browning/beiging of subcutaneous white adipose tissue following cold exposure or β3-adrenergic stimulation. Loss of IRE1α alleviates diet-induced obesity and augments the anti-obesity effect of pharmacologic β3-adrenergic stimulation. Notably, IRE1α suppresses stimulated lipolysis and degrades Ppargc1a messenger RNA through its RNase activity to downregulate the thermogenic gene program. Hence, blocking IRE1α bears therapeutic potential in unlocking adipocytes' thermogenic capacity to combat obesity and metabolic disorders., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)