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Research on the potential association between life-ever gallstones and depressive symptoms is limited. This study aims to evaluate whether the presence of gallstone disease is associated with depressive symptoms. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-March 2020 cycles. The presence of depressive symptoms and gallstone disease was assessed using questionnaire responses. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) were calculated using a multivariate logistic regression model, with adjustments made for age, sex, race, body mass index, history of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, arthritis, and pulmonary disease across different models. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted to ensure the stability of the results. This study included 6201 adults aged 20 years and above, with 539(8.7%) experiencing depressive symptoms. After adjusting for age, sex, race, body mass index, CVD history, hypertension, arthritis, pulmonary disease, depressive symptoms were possibly associated with life-ever gallstones (OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.91–2.08).When depressive symptoms were categorized as mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe,life-ever gallstones was possibly associated with mild depressive symptoms (OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.81–1.56), moderate depressive symptoms (OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.89–2.12), moderately severe depressive symptoms (OR 1.93, 95% CI 0.93–3.99), and severe depressive symptoms (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.16–2.88).As a continuous variable, life-ever gallstones was associated with the PHQ-9 score (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.02–0.83). The results remained stable after multiple imputation for all missing data. This cross-sectional study demonstrates no significant association between life-ever gallstones and depressive symptoms in US adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selenium is an essential trace element closely related to human health; however, the relationship between blood selenium levels, diabetes, and heart failure remains inconclusive. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the relationship between blood selenium levels and the prevalence of diabetes as well as heart failure in American general adults aged 20 years or older. This study utilized data from four survey cycles from NHANES 2011–2020 pre. Blood selenium levels were considered as both a continuous variable and quartiles, and logistic regression was employed to investigate the associations between blood selenium levels with diabetes and heart failure. Nonlinear relationships were examined by restricted cubic spline regression. The analysis included a total of 16311 participants aged 20 years or older. After adjustment for all potential confounder, we found when the blood selenium levels increased by 10 ug/L, the average risk of diabetes increased by 4.2% (95% CI: 1.5%, 7.0%), and the average risk of heart failure decreased by 5.0% (95% CI: 0.1%, 9.8%). In addition, compared with the lowest reference group, blood selenium levels were significantly positively associated with risk of diabetes in participants in the fourth quartile (OR=1.458, 95% CI: 1.173, 1.812), while significantly negatively associated with the risk of heart failure in participants in the second, third and fourth quartiles (Q2, OR=0.677, 95% CI: 0.471, 0.974) (Q3, OR=0.609, 95% CI: 0.426, 0.870) (Q4, OR=0.653, 95% CI: 0.443, 0.961). There was a nonlinear and reverse L-shaped association between blood selenium and diabetes, while a negative dose-response association between blood selenium and heart failure. Furthermore, the association between blood selenium levels and heart failure was more pronounced in participants with poor glycemic control, rather than diabetic patients. High blood selenium levels may be positively related to diabetes, while low blood selenium levels may be associated to heart failure. Appropriate blood selenium levels may help prevent diabetes and heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, extreme weather events associated with atmospheric blocking in the northern extratropics have become more frequent. This study has revealed the impacts of the stratospheric polar vortex on the blockings over the North Atlantic sector, using both reanalysis data and large-ensemble experiments performed by general circulation model. It is found that a weak stratospheric polar vortex (WPV) can cause more blockings to be generated over Greenland and move more westward than normal, while a strong stratospheric polar vortex (SPV) can cause more blockings to be generated over the south of Greenland and Western Europe. The stratospheric polar vortex could influence blocking anomalies by modulating both synoptic-scale eddy and planetary wave activities. Under WPV conditions, the generation of synoptic-scale eddies is suppressed due to decreased upper-troposphere background baroclinicity, which is favorable for positive geopotential height anomalies and more blockings over Greenland. Additionally, WPV can suppress the planetary wave train that is accompanied with lower pressure center over Greenland, further contributing to the positive geopotential height anomalies and more blockings over Greenland. The abovementioned processes under SPV conditions are nearly opposite to those under WPV conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total least squares estimation based on Gauss–Newton method in nonlinear errors-in-variables (NEIV) model will encounter the problems of convergence, correctness and accuracy of solution related to the selected initial parameter values. In this contribution, a new total least squares estimator is introduced to solve NEIV model. This method is an extension of the homotopy nonlinear weighted least square (HNWLS) method, which is used in the nonlinear Gauss–Markov model where only the dependent variables contain random errors. The new estimator is called homotopy nonlinear weighted total least squares (HNWTLS), because it adopts weighted total least squares adjustment criterion and homotopy method to estimate nonlinear model parameters. The homotopy function of HNWTLS is constructed by using the normal equation of weighted total least squares adjustment criterion. By taking the error vector of independent variables as a parameter vector, the NEIV model is transformed into a classical nonlinear adjustment model. Then, according to the conclusion of HNWLS, the calculation formula of HNWTLS is derived, and the corresponding calculation algorithm is developed accordingly, where the standard Euler prediction and Newton correction method are introduced into it to tracks the homotopy curves. Finally, three examples to demonstrate the advantage and efficiency of HNWTLS estimator are given and some conclusions are drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease in which pulmonary arterial (PA) endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction is associated with unrepaired DNA damage. BMPR2 is the most common genetic cause of PAH. We report that human PAEC with reduced BMPR2 have persistent DNA damage in room air after hypoxia (reoxygenation), as do mice with EC-specific deletion of Bmpr2 (EC-Bmpr2-/-) and persistent pulmonary hypertension. Similar findings are observed in PAEC with loss of the DNA damage sensor ATM, and in mice with Atm deleted in EC (EC-Atm-/-). Gene expression analysis of EC-Atm-/- and EC-Bmpr2-/- lung EC reveals reduced Foxf1, a transcription factor with selectivity for lung EC. Reducing FOXF1 in control PAEC induces DNA damage and impaired angiogenesis whereas transfection of FOXF1 in PAH PAEC repairs DNA damage and restores angiogenesis. Lung EC targeted delivery of Foxf1 to reoxygenated EC-Bmpr2-/- mice repairs DNA damage, induces angiogenesis and reverses pulmonary hypertension. It is unknown whether unrepaired DNA damage in lung endothelial cells causes persistent pulmonary arterial hypertension. Here, the authors combine oxidative stress with impaired BMPR2 signaling to link a reduction in FOXF1 to unrepaired DNA damage and impaired regeneration of normal endothelium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have suggested that deep Arctic warming, extending from the surface to the upper troposphere, could trigger mid-latitude atmospheric circulation changes, while shallow Arctic warming, confined in the lowermost troposphere, induces comparatively weak remote responses. The causes of Arctic mid-to-upper tropospheric warming are less clear compared with near-surface warming. Here, we demonstrate a new dynamical mechanism responsible for the polar mid-to-upper tropospheric warming associated with Arctic sea-ice loss, using both reanalysis and model simulations. The Barents-Kara sea-ice loss enhances the upward propagating waves, leading to the wave convergence anomalies in the sub-polar lower stratosphere and upper troposphere. The consequent eddy feedback leads to clockwise residual overturning anomalies in the sub-polar upper and middle troposphere, accompanied by anomalous descent and consequent adiabatic warming in the Arctic mid-to-upper troposphere. The essential role of stratosphere-troposphere coupling for deep Arctic warming induced by sea-ice loss is confirmed by model simulations with stratospheric variability suppressed, in which only the Arctic lower troposphere is warmed in response to sea-ice loss. Our results suggest that a considerable part of the observed Arctic mid-to-upper warming is caused by a dynamical response to sea-ice loss, in which stratosphere-troposphere coupling plays a major role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectral clustering is a popular clustering algorithm, which has a large number of applications in image segmentation tasks. However, its applicability becomes difficult for high-resolution images due to high computational complexity. In this paper, we first propose a novel Fast Spectral Clustering algorithm based on quad-tree decomposition. The algorithm focuses on the spectral clustering at the superpixel level and its time complexity is O (n log n) + O (m) + O (m 3 2 ) , its space complexity is O(m), where n and m represent the number of pixels and superpixels in an image, respectively. Then we propose Multiscale Fast Spectral Clustering by improving Fast Spectral Clustering, which is a bottom-up method based on the quad-tree and the related hierarchical structure. In this method, according to the hierarchical structure generated by the quad-tree, treating the child node's segmentation result as the superpixel of the parent node, the child nodes at the fine level can be merged into the parent nodes at the coarse level. The time complexity of Multiscale Fast Spectral Clustering is O (n log n) and its space complexity is O(m). Extensive experiments on both the Weizmann and BSDS500 segmentation datasets demonstrate that Multiscale Fast Spectral Clustering outperforms Normalized cut, a classical spectral clustering method, in terms of lower computational complexity and memory cost, with comparable clustering accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the cracked chevron notched Brazilian disc method, the I-type fracture toughness of Longmaxi Formation shale is measured and the influence of different factors on the fracture toughness of the shales are also discussed. The results show that the fracture toughness of the cores drilled parallel to the bedding ranges from 0.4744 to 0.8752 MPa m0.5 and that of the cores drilled perpendicular to the bedding ranges from 0.4259 to 0.6159 MPa m0.5, which means that the fracture toughness of shale is significantly anisotropy. The clay minerals in the shales have a positive effect on shale fracture toughness while the brittle minerals in shale play a negative role on shale fracture toughness. Being through high temperature processes, the microstructures of the shales are damaged, resulting in lower fracture toughness. Due to the hydration of shales, the interaction between the shale and the water leads to the decrease in the fracture toughness. The increase in the immersion pressure also cause the fracture toughness to decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) gene single nucleotide polymorphism (rs5742612) has been associated with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in several studies with limited sample size and inconsistent outcomes. So we perform this meta-analysis to assess the precise association between IGF1 gene single nucleotide polymorphism (rs5742612) and AIS.Methods: We systematically searched Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library up to January 19, 2016 to obtain relevant studies using our research strategy. Four articles all belonging to case-control studies were included in our meta-analysis.Results: A total of four studies containing 763 cases and 559 controls satisfied the inclusion criteria after judgment by two reviewers. No significant associations were detected between IGF1 gene single nucleotide polymorphism (rs5742612) and AIS (T vs. C, OR = 1.10, 95 % CI 0.91-1.34, p = 0.32; TT vs. CC: OR = 1.28, 95 % CI 0.82-2.02, p = 0.28; TC vs. CC: OR = 1.29, 95 % CI 0.82-2.06, p = 0.27; TT/TC vs. CC: OR = 1.28, 95 % CI 0.83-1.98, p = 0.27; TT vs.Tc/cc: OR = 1.06, 95 % CI 0.82-1.36, p = 0.66).Conclusions: IGF1 gene single nucleotide polymorphism (rs5742612) is not significant associated with susceptibility to AIS in either Asian or Caucasian populations. However, IGF1 gene rs5742612 may be associated with severity of AIS. Further studies with larger sample size and different population groups involving the relationship are required to confirm the potential association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel cellulose-based porous adsorbent with high adsorption capacity for methylene blue (MB) was prepared by free radical polymerization methods. The obtained polymer grafting rate and dye removal efficiency are as high as 338.64 % and 97.74 %, respectively, when the dosage of monomer is 4.5 g, the polymerization condition is 3 h at 70 °C. The cellulose-based adsorbent showed high mechanical properties and good flexibility. The Langmuir isotherm model revealed that the maximum theoretical adsorption capacity of this material for methylene blue was 1734.816 mg g-1 at pH 9.0 at 313 K, which is higher than the values observed for other adsorbents. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the cellulose-based adsorbent exhibits a typical well-defined porous and interconnected three-dimensional framework structure, which is benefits to dye adsorption. The adsorption kinetics (pseudo first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intraparticle diffusion models) was also studied, and the pseudo-second-order model fitted MB adsorption better than the pseudo-first-order and intraparticle diffusion models at different initial dye concentrations (500-3000 mg l ). The novel polyacrylic acid-grafted quaternized cellulose (PAA- g-QC) adsorbent is thus potentially useful for the treatment of dye-contaminated wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese words and phrases often appear in various types of form tables, and many of them have a small vocabulary. To segment and recognize Chinese words and phrases is a challenging task because they contain an uncertain number of characters and might be cursively written, and segmentation might produce crack or noise characters. In this paper, we propose to combine a holistic method and a segmentation-based method for recognizing the Chinese day and month item on Chinese checks. The holistic method takes all the characters as a single unit and recognizes the unit without segmentation. The segmentation-based method segments a word into the predicted number of characters and then recognizes them. First, it uses projection and structure analysis to find as many candidate segmentation lines as possible. Then, it exploits a predicted word length to reduce the segmentation lines. Finally, it uses recognition scores to select the optimal recognition result. The encouraging experimental results show that our method is feasible and powerful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the background of global warming, the impact of Arctic sea-ice loss on mid-latitude weather and climate in the Northern Hemisphere has attracted widespread attention. Here, using both observations and model simulations, the influence of early-winter Barents-Kara Seas (BKS) sea-ice loss on the winter surface air temperatures in China and the underlying mechanisms are investigated. The results showed that BKS sea-ice loss could induce cooling anomalies over Northeast China, North China, Central China, and Northwest China during winter, with significant increases in both the number of extreme cold days and the intensity of extreme low temperatures over these regions. Furthermore, the respective roles of tropospheric pathway and stratospheric pathway are investigated. For the tropospheric pathway, an eastward propagating wave train stimulated by sea-ice loss induces negative geopotential height anomalies over the western Pacific, favorable for the transport of cold airmass into China. In terms of the stratospheric pathway, sea-ice loss leads to the extension of stratospheric polar vortex edge toward North China by modulating upward propagating planetary waves, further enhancing the tropospheric cooling there. The quantitative analysis indicates that the impact of stratospheric pathway on surface cooling over Northeast China associated with BKS sea-ice loss is more important than that over other regions in China. These results could improve our understanding of the potential linkage between Arctic sea-ice loss and winter weather extremes over China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]