Search

Background: Ailanthone (Ail) extracted from medicinal plants has played an anticancer role in multiple cancers, while there is no research about Ail in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Methods: In the present study, we performed CCK-8 and flow cytometry to assess the effect of Ail on cell viability, apoptosis and cycle. We also performed tandem mass tags (TMT)-labeled quantitative proteomic technology and bioinformatic analysis to identify the functional pathway and proteins of Ail in RCC. Results: The results showed Ail could inhibit cell viability and induce cell apoptosis. Proteomic profiling identified 1732 differentially expressed proteins in cells treated with Ail, compared to the negative control group. Gene ontology function annotation and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were performed to identified the involved biological processes, molecular function and pathway. Results of GSEA proved the enrichment of Deps in EZH2 targets. The comparison between Deps and EZH2 co-expressed genes revealed 44 overlapped genes and we identified 4 hub genes (CDC20, CEP55, TOP2A, and UBE2C) associated with RCC progression. The molecular docking study revealed a moderate to tight binding potential of Ail and EZH2, and western blotting showed EZH2 was suppressed after cells treated with Ail. Conclusion: Altogether, we identified the anticancer role of Ail in RCC, including inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. The results also screened the key proteins mediate the function of Ail, which have laid a theoretical foundation for elucidating the applications of Ail in clinical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biliary atresia (BA) is a rare fatal liver disease in children, and the aim of this study was to develop a method to diagnose BA early. Methods: We determined serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), the results of 13 liver tests, and the levels of 20 bile acids, and integrated computational models were constructed to diagnose BA. Results: Our findings demonstrated that MMP-7 expression levels, as well as the results of four liver tests and levels of ten bile acids, were significantly different between 86 BA and 59 non-BA patients (P < 0.05). The computational prediction model revealed that MMP-7 levels alone had a higher predictive accuracy [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) = 0.966, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.942, 0.989] than liver test results and bile acid levels. The AUC was 0.890 (95% CI 0.837, 0.943) for liver test results and 0.825 (95% CI 0.758, 0.892) for bile acid levels. Furthermore, bile levels had a higher contribution to enhancing the predictive accuracy of MMP-7 levels (AUC = 0.976, 95% CI 0.953, 1.000) than liver test results. The AUC was 0.983 (95% CI 0.962, 1.000) for MMP-7 levels combined with liver test results and bile acid levels. In addition, we found that MMP-7 levels were highly correlated with gamma-glutamyl transferase levels and the liver fibrosis score. Conclusion: The innovative integrated models based on a large number of indicators provide a noninvasive and cost-effective approach for accurately diagnosing BA in children. 2pi68mCipR_-oN3oQscoLo Video Abstract (MP4 142103 KB) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), a widely studied biodegradable material, has not effectively addressed the problem of plastic waste. Taking into consideration the cost-effectiveness, upcycling PBAT should take precedence over direct composting degradation. The present work adopts a chain breaking-crosslinking strategy, upcycling PBAT into dual covalent adaptable networks (CANs). During the chain-breaking stage, the ammonolysis between PBAT and polyethyleneimine (PEI) established the primary crosslinked network. Subsequently, styrene maleic anhydride copolymer (SMA) reacted with the hydroxyl group, culminating in the formation of dual covalent adaptable networks. In contrast to PBAT, the PBAT-dual-CANs exhibited a notable Young's modulus of 239 MPa, alongside an inherent resistance to creep and solvents. Owing to catalysis from neighboring carboxyl group and excess hydroxyl groups, the PBAT-dual-CANs exhibited fast stress relaxation. Additionally, they could be recycled through extrusion and hot-press reprocessing, while retaining their biodegradability. This straightforward strategy offers a solution for dealing with plastic waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful observation of gravitational waves has provided humanity with an additional method to explore the universe, particularly black holes. In this study, we utilize data from LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave observations to test the first law of black hole mechanics, employing two different approaches. We consider the secondary compact object as a perturbation to the primary black hole before the merger, and the remnant black hole as a stationary black hole after the merger. In the pre-merger and post-merger analysis, our results demonstrate consistency with the first law, with an error level of approximate 25% at a 68% credibility level for GW190403_051519. In the full inspiral-merger-ringdown analysis, our results show consistency with the first law of black hole mechanics, with an error level of about 6% at a 68% credibility level and 10% at a 95% credibility level for GW191219_163120. Additionally, we observe that the higher the mass ratio of the gravitational wave source, the more consistent our results are with the first law of black hole mechanics. Overall, our study sheds light on the nature of compact binary coalescence and their implications for black hole mechanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although land-use change driven by general economic factors has been discussed substantially, rarely has any work been done within the perspective of economic geography – considering the impact of economic spatial differences. This study applies the 3Ds (Density, Division and Distance) framework published by the World Bank to explore their impacts on urban land-use change – focusing on urban land and stand-alone industrial land. Employing the dynamic system-GMM (Generalized Method of Moments) model and a mediating effect model, we examine the direct and indirect effects of 3Ds on land-use change in cities with different income levels and in different regions. Our results find that deepening spatial differences facilitate the expansion of urban land and stand-alone industrial land use. Furthermore, the 3Ds has indirect effects on land use through the interactions between density and distance, as well as between division and distance. These impacts are divergent in cities with different income levels and region-specific. The main contribution of this paper is twofold. Theoretically, the study develops a new systematic framework to explain land-use change within the field of economic geography. Empirically, we examine the theoretical framework of spatial inequality by considering both direct and indirect effects. This study also has important policy implications for improving the economic value of land use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diaporthe is an important plant pathogenic genus, which also occurs as endophytes and saprobes. Many Diaporthe species that are morphologically similar proved to be genetically distinct. The current understanding of Diaporthe taxonomy by applying morphological characters, host associations and multi-gene phylogeny are problematic leading to overestimation/underestimation of species numbers of this significant fungal pathogenic genus. Currently, there are no definite boundaries for the accepted species. Hence, the present study aims to re-structure the genus Diaporthe, based on single gene phylogenies (ITS, tef, tub, cal and his), multi-gene phylogeny justified by applying GCPSR (Genealogical Concordance Phylogenetic Species Recognition) methodology as well as the coalescence-based models (PTP—Poisson Tree Processes and mPTP—multi-rate Poisson Tree Processes). Considering all available type isolates of Diaporthe, the genus is divided into seven sections while boundaries for 13 species and 15 species-complexes are proposed. To support this re-assessment of the genus, 82 Diaporthe isolates obtained from woody hosts in Guizhou Province in China were investigated and revealed the presence of two novel species and 17 previously known species. Synonymies are specified for 31 species based on molecular data and morphological studies. Dividing Diaporthe into several specific sections based on phylogenetic analyses can avoid the construction of lengthy phylogenetic trees of the entire genus in future taxonomic studies. In other words, when one conducts research related to the genus, only species from the appropriate section need to be selected for phylogenetic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Gerdjikov-Ivanov (GI) hierarchy is derived via recursion operator, in this article, we mainly investigate the third-order flow GI equation. In the framework of the Riemann-Hilbert method, the soliton matrices of the third-order flow GI equation with simple zeros and elementary high-order zeros of Riemann-Hilbert problem are constructed through the standard dressing process. Taking advantage of this result, some properties and asymptotic analysis of single soliton solution and two soliton solution are discussed, and the simple elastic interaction of two soliton are proved. Compared with soliton solution of the classical second-order flow, we find that the higher-order dispersion term affects the propagation velocity, propagation direction and amplitude of the soliton. Finally, by means of a certain limit technique, the high-order soliton solution matrix for the third-order flow GI equation is derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PVA hydrogel electrolyte holds significant promise in flexible supercapacitors owing to its high conductivity and foldability. However, the poor mechanical properties and low capacitance of pure PVA hydrogel electrolytes need to be further solved. Herein, phosphoric acid was employed to dissolve cellulose, which solution was used to directly mix with PVA, and formed physical crosslinking point in composite hydrogel through a freeze-thawing cycle. The interaction between PVA and cellulose molecules plays a critical role in forming the PVA-Cellulose composite hydrogel. When the cellulose content in the hydrogel is 5%, the prepared composite hydrogel (P-CE 5%) exhibited impressive tensile strength of 306 kPa and elongation at break of 1106%. After adding 8 mol/L LiCl, the assembled supercapacitor with composite hydrogel (P-CE-L8) electrolyte exhibited a high area capacitance of 217 mF cm−2. Moreover, the incorporation of phosphoric acid and LiCl also conferred excellent frost resistance to the hydrogel electrolyte, as indicated by a capacitance retention rate of 92% after returning to room temperature from low temperature. Notably, the hydrogel exhibited remarkable self-healing capabilities, with its specific capacitance reaching 95% after wound healing. Therefore, this PVA-cellulose hydrogel electrolyte emerges as a promising candidate for the application in the energy storage device assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper differentiation of corneal epithelial cells (CECs) from limbal stem/progenitor cells (LSCs) is required for maintenance of ocular homeostasis and clear vision. Here, using a single-cell transcriptomic atlas, we delineate the comprehensive and refined molecular regulatory dynamics during human CEC development and differentiation. We find that RORA is a CEC-specific molecular switch that initiates and drives LSCs to differentiate into mature CECs by activating PITX1. RORA dictates CEC differentiation by establishing CEC-specific enhancers and chromatin interactions between CEC gene promoters and distal regulatory elements. Conversely, RORA silences LSC-specific promoters and disrupts promoter-anchored chromatin loops to turn off LSC genes. Collectively, our work provides detailed and comprehensive insights into the transcriptional dynamics and RORA-mediated epigenetic remodeling underlying human corneal epithelial differentiation.Ocular homeostasis and vision depend on the differentiation of limbal stem/progenitor cells into corneal epithelial cells. Here, the authors report transcriptional dynamics and RORA-mediated epigenetic remodeling underlying the differentiation of human corneal epithelium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high recurrence rate of renal uric acid stone (UAS) poses a significant challenge for urologists, and potassium sodium hydrogen citrate (PSHC) has been proven to be an effective oral dissolution drug. However, no studies have investigated the impact of PSHC on gut microbiota and its metabolites during stone dissolution therapy. We prospectively recruited 37 UAS patients and 40 healthy subjects, of which 12 patients completed a 3-month pharmacological intervention. Fasting vein blood was extracted and mid-stream urine was retained for biochemical testing. Fecal samples were collected for 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) content determination. UAS patients exhibited comorbidities such as obesity, hypertension, gout, and dyslipidemia. The richness and diversity of the gut microbiota were significantly decreased in UAS patients, Bacteroides and Fusobacterium were dominant genera while Subdoligranulum and Bifidobacterium were poorly enriched. After PSHC intervention, there was a significant reduction in stone size accompanied by decreased serum uric acid and increased urinary pH levels. The abundance of pathogenic bacterium Fusobacterium was significantly downregulated following the intervention, whereas there was an upregulation observed in SCFA-producing bacteria Lachnoclostridium and Parasutterella, leading to a significant elevation in butyric acid content. Functions related to fatty acid synthesis and amino acid metabolism within the microbiota showed upregulation following PSHC intervention. The correlation analysis revealed a positive association between stone pathogenic bacteria abundance and clinical factors for stone formation, while a negative correlation with SCFAs contents. Our preliminary study revealed that alterations in gut microbiota and metabolites were the crucial physiological adaptation to PSHC intervention. Targeted regulation of microbiota and SCFA holds promise for enhancing drug therapy efficacy and preventing stone recurrence. Key points: • Bacteroides and Fusobacterium were identified as dominant genera for UAS patients • After PSHC intervention, Fusobacterium decreased and butyric acid content increased • The microbiota increased capacity for fatty acid synthesis after PSHC intervention [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large number of loose piles formed by mountain hazards are highly susceptible to hydraulic erosion under rainfall conditions. The use of ecological substrate materials for erosion control and ecological restoration of gravel soil slopes has become a current research hotspot and the study difficulty. The post-earthquake slump accumulation gravel soil in Jiuzhaigou was selected as the research object, and the self-developed modified glutinous rice-based material was used to reinforce the gravel soil. The variable slope flume erosion test and rainfall simulation test were carried out to study the water erosion resistance of the material reconstructed soil under the influence of runoff erosion and raindrop splash erosion. The results show that: As the material content reached 12.5%, the reconstructed soil did not disintegrate after 24 hours of immersion, the internal friction angle was increased by 42.26%, and the cohesion was increased by 235.5%, which played a significant reinforcement effect. In the process of slope erosion, the soil rill erodibility parameter Kr was only 3‰ of the gravel soil control group, the critical shear force τ increased by 272%, and the soil erosion resistance was significantly improved. In the process of rainfall and rainfall on the slope, the runoff intensity of the reconstructed soil was stable, and the ability to resist runoff erosion and raindrop splash erosion was enhanced. The maximum value of soil loss rate on different slope slopes is 0.02–0.10 g·m−2s−1, which is significantly lower than that of the control group and has better erosion reduction effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies an optimization problem of antenna placement for multiple heading angles of the target in a distributed multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar system. An improved method to calculate the system's coverage area in light of the changing target heading is presented. The antenna placement optimization problem is mathematically modelled as a sequential decision problem for compatibility with reinforcement learning solutions. A reinforcement learning agent is established, which uses the long short-term memory (LSTM)-based proximal policy optimization (PPO) method as the core algorithm to solve the antenna placement problem. Finally, the experimental findings demonstrate that the method can enhance the coverage area of antenna placement and thus has reference value for providing new ideas for the antenna placement optimization of distributed MIMO radar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) survival rates continue to improve, but the risk of developing a second primary malignancy (SPM) has also increased. The most common type of SPM observed after CRC is lung cancer. In this study, we explored the prognostic factors and clinical management decisions of patients with second primary lung cancer after colorectal cancer (SPLC-CRC). We identified the data of 1637 patients with SPLC-CRC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2004 and 2015. Cox regression modeling was used to construct a nomogram for predicting the prognosis of SPLC-CRC patients. The Fine–Gray competing risk model was used to determine the association between factors and cancer-specific mortality. After this, survival analyses were performed to assess the benefit of each treatment method on overall survival (OS). According to a multivariate analysis, age, gender, surgery, and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for the first primary malignancy (FPM), whereas age, primary site, TNM stage, tumor size, and treatment were independent prognostic factors for the second primary malignancy (SPM). For the training cohort column chart as well as the validation cohort column chart, using the concordance index of OS, 0.7611 and 0.7605 were calculated. A Fine–Gray competing risk model and survival analysis showed that there is a significant correlation between the treatment of FPM and the improvement in SPM survival rates, FPM-diagnosed patients who undergo surgery in different pathological stages exhibit higher overall survival rates, Patients in stages II, III, and IV benefit from combined surgery and chemotherapy. SPM surgery (P < 0.001, HR = 0.230, 95%CI 0.032–0.426) was a protective factor for lung cancer-specific mortality. Patients with local, regional, and even distant metastases may benefit more from SPM surgery (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). In patients who did not undergo SPM surgery, radiotherapy (P < 0.001) and chemotherapy (P = 0.008) improved OS. Treatment strategy for the first tumor affects the prognosis of the second tumor significantly. SPLC-CRC is treated primarily with surgery, regardless of whether the patient has metastases, as surgery may improve outcomes. In the event that a patient is unable to undergo surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy should be considered. Treatment decisions for SPLC-CRC patients may be influenced by these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To effectively analyze the working state of the air circulation system of the aircraft at high altitude, it is necessary to conduct simulation analysis on the ground. In this paper, a simulated annealing-grasshopper optimization algorithmtion algorithm support vector machine is proposed to establish the overall simulation model of the circulation system of the aircraft and to conduct fault injection analysis. By introducing the support vector machine to classify the results of the system and applying of grasshopper algorithm to optimize the support vector machine with methods such as simulated annealing and position migration, the optimal parameter values can be obtained. The results indicate that the simulation system can effectively simulate the temperature changes of the aircraft in various operating states; the optimized support vector machine can effectively distinguish the fault types of the aircraft component outlet; meanwhile, the system convergence is accelerated to avoid falling into the local optimal problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the severe environmental pollution the paper-making process often causes, the rewritten paper has emerged as a key research area to replace traditional paper. However, it is challenging to achieve application control and maximize resource utilization in various occasions when using the recently reported photochromic papers, which have low fading efficiency and poor regeneration effect. In this study, a composite film made of sodium alginate (SA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with ammonium molybdate serving as the photochromic component was prepared. The film had mechanical properties similar to paper, good resolution, and visible color after 50 days. With a magnification of 20 times, the distinct borders were still discernible. Through water-soluble-regeneration of the damaged film, the photochromic film can be faded, regenerated and reused, which has a lengthy storage time for information. The film quality and resolution do not considerably degrade after ten cycles of the "information writing—dissolution (fading)—regenerative writing" closed-loop process, exhibiting excellent recycling performance and high recovery rate. Hence, the photochromic film presents a refreshing approach to the design of rewriteable paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-level rail-cum-road steel box girder is a relatively new form of bridge superstructure that accommodates railway and highway in the same level. The wind flow pattern over the bridge deck is quite complex and a new issue of aerodynamic interference between vehicles also rise up. This paper conducted an in-depth investigation on the aerodynamic characteristics of vehicles on a single-level rail-cum-road bridge as well as the aerodynamic interference among vehicles. The results reveal that the bridge deck makes the aerodynamic coefficients of vehicles on windward lanes vary a lot with respect to vehicle location and vehicle type, while it also well protects the train and leeward road vehicles from large wind load. Among all the vehicles, the van gets several of the largest aerodynamic coefficients and is considered as a critical vehicle. In terms of the vehicles' interference, the upstream truck trailer brings significant aerodynamic variation for the overtaking vehicle, but its inadequate shelter effect yields fluctuation in the variation. An upstream truck trailer brings significant rise for the aerodynamic load of the train, larger distance between the train and the truck trailer will bring larger increase on the train's aerodynamic load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the requirement of autonomous navigation capability of the underwater unmanned vehicle (UUV), a novel bionic method for underwater navigation based on polarization pattern within Snell's window is proposed. Inspired by creatures, polarization navigation is a satellite-free navigation scheme and has great potential to be used in the water. However, because of the complex underwater environment, whether UUV polarization navigation can be realized is doubtful. To illustrate the feasibility of underwater polarization navigation, we firstly establish the model of underwater polarization patterns to prove the stability and predictability of the underwater polarization pattern within Snell's window. Then, we carry out static and dynamic experiments of underwater heading determination based on developed polarization information detection equipment. Finally, we obtain underwater polarization patterns and conduct the tracking experiment at different water depths. The experimental results of the underwater polarization patterns are consistent with the simulation, which proves the correctness of the proposed model. At the water depth of 5 m, the average angle and position error of the tracking experiment are 14.3508° and 4.0812 m, respectively. It is illustrated that underwater polarization navigation is realizable and the precision can meet the real-time navigation requirements of UUV. This study promotes the improvement of underwater navigation ability and the development of marine equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The correlation among gut microbiota, biochemical features, and dietary patterns in recurrent stone formers has been inadequately investigated in the Chinese population. Forty-two patients with calcium oxalate stones (CaOxS group), including 34 recurrent stone formers (RS group), and 40 nonstone healthy subjects (NS group) from Changshu Hospital Affiliated with Soochow University, were prospectively recruited. Food frequency questionnaires were completed by participants, fasting vein blood was extracted, 24-h urine was collected for biochemical detection, and fecal samples were gathered for 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing. BMI; serum levels of triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), magnesium, and creatinine; and urine levels of magnesium in stone formers were significantly different from those of controls, and RS patients showed significantly low serum phosphate and high urine phosphate levels. Celery, bamboo shoots, and pickled food were the favored foods of local stone formers. Patients with recurrent stones had altered microbiota composition, with Escherichia, Fusobacterium, and Epulopiscium being the predominant pathogenic genera. The gut microbiota in RS patients had stronger functions in fatty acid and amino acid degradation but weaker functions in their biosynthesis. The pathogenic genera were positively correlated with BMI; serum levels of TGs and creatinine; urine levels of calcium, phosphate, and uric acid (UA); and celery, bamboo shoots, and pickled food intake. The abundance of Escherichia and Fusobacterium and the levels of serum magnesium and creatinine were the most relevant factors associated with stone recurrence and could be validated as biomarkers of recurrence. Our research provides a novel prevention strategy for the recurrence of renal calcium oxalate stones in the Han Chinese population of southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyglycolide (PGA) fibers applied as surgical sutures strongly depend on their microstructure. The structural evolution of PGA nascent fibers during single low-temperature stretching and segmented high-temperature stretching was analyzed based on a combination of in situ WAXD/SAXS and DSC measurements. The results indicated that the hot stretching was conducive to the crystal perfection and the local fragmentation and recrystallization of the lamellar crystals may occur under stress induction. The single low-temperature stretching of PGA nascent fibers could be divided into three stages: the stretching of amorphous regions, stretch-induced crystallization and the stretching of crystalline regions. The elongation at break of the fibers can be substantially increased by adopting a segmented stretching method, and the high-temperature stretching can also significantly increase the crystallinity and orientation. The amorphous orientation peak appearing in the low-temperature stretching was gradually converted to crystallization peak during the heating process, which greatly improved the crystallinity and orientation of the fibers. High-temperature stretching compared with low-temperature stretching was more favorable for crystal perfection and structural evolution, where lamellar crystals underwent stress-induced fragmentation recrystallization to transform to fibrous crystals as the strain increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's urbanization process, premised on the belief that migration contributes to economic growth, has entailed extensive population movement. However, the overall effects of population migration on regional sustainable development goals (SDGs) remain unclear. China's achievement of SDGs hinges on the sustainable development of Tibet, which is economically less developed and ecologically fragile. We established county-level SDG indicators for Tibet using pixel-level maps and statistical data on diverse socioeconomic and environmental topics: GDP, population density, health, employment, agricultural productivity, ecosystem services, and vegetative cover. Our underlying assumption was that regional differences in economic development and Tibet's eco-migration policy have induced extensive domestic migration. Moreover, we assumed that migration affects the achievement of SDGs directly and indirectly through its economic impacts. Accordingly, we developed and tested a conceptual framework using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results revealed that from 2000 to 2015, there was progress toward achievement of all of the selected SDGs, with Tibet achieving an average increased score of 11.0. The hypothesized SEM explained the total SDG score and those of SDGs 1, 2, 6, 11, and 15. Population migration accounted for 16% of the variation in SDG scores. Migration had direct negative impacts and indirect positive impacts on the total SDG score via its effect on economic development. Specifically, population migration had stronger positive effect on out-migration counties than on in-migration counties, with higher SDG scores for the former associated with public services and ecological systems. To reverse the negative impacts of migration on certain in-migration counties, we recommend pursuit of high-quality urbanization, entailing the provision of more educational and medical facilities, livelihood resources, and off-farm jobs for migrant settlers. Promoting grass-based animal husbandry in rural areas could increase rural employment and ameliorate the side effects of migration on the SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To predict the International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification (INPC) in neuroblastoma using a computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics approach. Methods: We enrolled 297 patients with neuroblastoma retrospectively and divided them into a training group (n = 208) and a testing group (n = 89). To balance the classes in the training group, a Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique was applied. A logistic regression radiomics model based on the radiomics features after dimensionality reduction was then constructed and validated in both the training and testing groups. To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the radiomics model, the receiver operating characteristic curve and calibration curve were utilized. Moreover, the decision curve analysis to assess the net benefits of the radiomics model at different high-risk thresholds was employed. Results: Seventeen radiomics features were used to construct radiomics model. In the training group, radiomics model achieved an area under the curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.851 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.805–0.897), 0.770, 0.694, and 0.847, respectively. In the testing group, radiomics model achieved an AUC, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.816 (95% CI 0.725–0.906), 0.787, 0.793, and 0.778, respectively. The calibration curve indicated that the radiomics model was well fitted in both the training and testing groups (p > 0.05). Decision curve analysis further confirmed that the radiomics model performed well at different high-risk thresholds. Conclusion: Radiomics analysis of contrast-enhanced CT demonstrates favorable diagnostic capabilities in distinguishing the INPC subgroups of neuroblastoma. Critical relevance statement: Radiomics features of contrast-enhanced CT images correlate with the International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification (INPC) of neuroblastoma. Key points: Radiomics features derived from contrast-enhanced CT images are strongly associated with the INPC subgroups of neuroblastoma. Radiomics analysis of contrast-enhanced CT images can effectively distinguish between unfavorable and favorable histology of neuroblastoma. The decision curve analysis has validated the clinical utility of the radiomics model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miscible disordered block copolymers (BCPs) are rarely studied due to the limits in self-assembly into ordered microstructures. Herein, we proposed a facile method for the transformation of disordered miscible BCPs to comb-like BCPs with well-ordered microphase separation structures via blending with amphiphilic surfactants. In this work, poly(4-vinyl pyridine-b-hydroxybutylacrylate) (P4VP-b-P4HBA) was applied as a model of miscible disordered BCPs and the microphase separation was induced via blending with surfactants of dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) and 3-pentadecylphenol (PDP). The ordered microstructures including spherical and cylindrical morphologies were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) investigation. These ordered microstructures thermal sensitive, in which ordered and disordered transformation (ODT) was observed in the blend of P4VP-b-P4HBA and PDP whereas it disappeared in the blend of P4VP-b-P4HBA and DBSA. The results show that the thermal stability of the ordered microstructures are strongly depends on the interactions between the miscible BCPs and surfactants, which investigated by in situ SAXS and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The combination of miscible BCPs and surfactant creates a feasible strategy to fabricate ordered nanostructures, which could be employed to develop complicated nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shape control of mesoporous carbon microparticles (MCMPs) is of critical importance; in particular, asymmetric shapes that can yield unique properties have attracted significant attention. However, the tailored synthesis of asymmetric MCMPs with ordered structures remains challenging. Herein, we report a facile route to prepare asymmetric MCMPs by neutral interface-guided 3D-confined self-assembly (3D-CSA) of block copolymer/homopolymer (BCP/hP) blends, followed by a self-templated selective direct carbonization strategy. BCP/hP Janus microparticles with ordered hierarchical mesostructures were prepared with emulsion solvent evaporation-induced 3D-CSA. The continuous phase of BCP domains was then crosslinked. Composite asymmetric MCMPs are successfully generated after selective carbonization of the crosslinked continuous phase. This method allows tuning the shape of MCMPs easily by varying the blending ratio of BCP/hP. The composite asymmetric MCMPs combine the advantages of asymmetric shape, ordered structure, high specific surface area, chemical inertness and thermal stability and could provide great possibilities for applications in catalysis, drug delivery, energy conversion and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Combined treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) plus anti-PD-1 antibodies showed high anti-tumor efficacy and made conversion resection possible for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, long-term survival has not been reported. Methods: A cohort of consecutive patients who received combined TKI/anti-PD-1 antibodies as first-line treatment for initially unresectable HCC at the authors' hospital between August 2018 and September 2020 was eligible for this study. Patients who were responding to systemic therapy and met the criteria for hepatectomy underwent liver resection with curative intention. The study also investigated the association of clinical factors with successful conversion resection and postoperative recurrence. Results: The study enrolled 101 patients including 24 patients (23.8 %) who underwent R0 resection a median of 3.9 months (interquartile range: 2.5–5.9 months) after initiation of systemic therapy. Patients with an Eastern cooperative oncology group performance status of 0, fewer intrahepatic tumors, or a radiographic response to systemic therapy were more likely to be able to receive curative resection. After a median follow-up period of 21.5 months, hepatectomy was independently associated with a favorable overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.050; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.007–0.365; P = 0.003). For the 24 patients who underwent surgery, the 12-month recurrence-free survival and overall survival rates were respectively 75% and 95.8%. Achieving a pathologic complete response (n = 10) to systemic therapy was associated with a favorable recurrence-free survival after resection, with a trend toward significance (HR, 0.345; 95% CI, 0.067–1.785; P = 0.187). Conclusions: Selected patients with initially unresectable HCC can undergo hepatectomy after systemic therapy with combined TKI/anti-PD-1 antibodies. In this study, conversion resection was associated with a favorable prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Drug combinations are commonly used in pain management, which can produce potent analgesic effects with reduced dosage and adverse effects. Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the anti-nociceptive effects and adverse effects of new combinations of flupirtine (a Kv7 potassium channel opener) and antihistamines (promethazine, fexofenadine) on acute and chronic pain in mice, and the possible mechanisms behind the synergistic analgesic effects were preliminarily investigated. Methods: In acetic acid writhing test, carrageenan-induced inflammatory pain model, and paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain model, the interaction indexes (γ) between flupirtine and antihistamines were determined by isobolographic analysis. Furthermore, the Kv7 channel blocker XE991 was used to determine whether the effects of single agents and drug combinations on paclitaxel- and carrageenan-induced mechanical allodynia were mediated by Kv7 channels. Finally, hepatotoxicity markers, liver histopathology, and the rotarod test were used to investigate the adverse effects of drugs in combination doses. Results: The interaction indexes of flupirtine-promethazine and flupirtine-fexofenadine in all the above three pain models were lower than 1. The analgesic effects of flupirtine (13 mg/kg), promethazine (5 mg/kg), fexofenadine (20 mg/kg), and their combinations were antagonized significantly by XE991 (3 mg/kg). And the adverse effects of flupirtine and antihistamines in combination doses were not significantly different from the vehicle group. Conclusions: Flupirtine and antihistamines produced synergistic analgesic effects in all the above pain models. The analgesic effects of antihistamines were partially mediated by Kv7/M channels, and the activation of Kv7/M channels may be partly responsible for the synergistic analgesic effects between flupirtine and antihistamines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the aim to exhibit the advantages of catalytic accelerator in enhancing the selective hydrolysis of cellulose to sugar, cellulose is hydrolyzed in low acid aqueous system with catalytic accelerator. And then sugar products are extracted and fermented by yeast. By the assistance of catalytic accelerator, cellulose conversion rate and total reducing sugar yield are 95.7% and 90.9%. And the glucose yield is as high as 73.6%. The sugar products with high glucose content can be easily extracted from cellulose hydrolysate. Low toxicity of the sugar products to yeast is found during yeast fermentation. The glucose in cellulose hydrolysate can be fully consumed after 12 h. A highly actual ethanol yield is exhibited, which is equal to the actual yield level of standard glucose solution. The important role of catalytic accelerator in aqueous hydrolytic system to produce fermentable sugar is clearly reflected. Furthermore, a simple but effective way is established to efficient utilization of cellulose as an applicable carbon source for the conversion of more value-added chemicals and materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: Glycosylation from an anthocyanidin 3-O-glucosyltransferase Ps3GT (PsUGT78A27) facilitates the accumulation of pelargonidin 3-O-glucoside, which defines the vivid red flower color and occurs only in specific peony tree cultivars. Although tree peony cultivars of Chinese and Japanese both originated from China, vivid red color is only found in flowers of Japanese cultivars but not of Chinese cultivar groups. In this study, a Japanese tree peony cultivar ‘Taiyoh’ with vivid red petals and a Chinese tree peony cultivar ‘Hu Hong’ with reddish pink petals were chosen as the experimental materials. Flavonoids profiling indicated that pelargonidin 3-O-glucoside (Pg3G) detected only in Japanese cultivar contributed to vivid red color of tree peony petals, while pelargonidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside (Pg3G5G) found in both of Japanese and Chinese cultivars was responsible for pink flower color. Through the integration of full-length transcriptome sequencing and in vitro enzymatic activity analysis, two anthocyanin glucosyltransferase genes PsUGT78A27 and PsUGT75L45 were isolated from the petals of tree peony, and their encoding products exhibited enzymatic activities of pelargonidin 3-O-glucosyltransferase and anthocyanin 5-O-glucosyltransferase, respectively. Further quantitative real-time PCR revealed that PsUGT78A27 displayed high expression in petals of both cultivars and PsUGT75L45 was expressed at high levels in cultivar ‘Hu Hong’ only. Using a gene gun technique, the GFP fusion proteins of PsUGT78A27 and PsUGT75L45 were visualized to be cytoplasmic and nuclear localization in the epidermal cells of tree peony petals, and the glucosylation function of PsUGT78A27 and PsUGT75L45 to alter petal color of tree peony and herbaceous peony had been directly validated in vivo. These results demonstrated that PsUGT78A27 and PsUGT75L45 are key players for the presence or absence of vivid red flower color in tree peony cultivars. Our findings further elucidated the chemical and molecular mechanism of petal pigmentation of Paeonia and could help breed the Paeonia cultivars possessing novel flower colors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusion expression is widely employed to enhance the solubility of recombinant proteins. However, removal of the fusion tag is often required due to its potential impact on the structure and activity of passenger proteins. Tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease is widely used for this purpose due to its stringent sequence recognition. In the present work, fusion to the acyl carrier protein from E. coli fatty acid synthase (ACP) significantly increased the yield of recombinant soluble TEV, and the ACP tag also greatly improved TEV stability. The cleavage activity of TEV was not affected by the ACP fusion tag, and ACP-TEV retained high activity, even at unfavourable pH values. Moreover, ACP-TEV could be efficiently modified by co-expressed E. coli holo-ACP synthase (AcpS), leading to covalent attachment of 4′-phosphopantetheine (4′-PP) group to ACP. The sulfhydryl group of the long, flexible 4′-PP chain displayed high specific reactivity with iodoacetyl groups on the solid support. Thus, TEV could be immobilised effectively and conveniently via the active holo-ACP, and immobilised TEV retained high cleavage activity after a long storage period and several cycles of reuse. As a low-cost and recyclable biocatalyst, TEV immobilised by this method holds promise for biotechnological research and development. Key points: • The ACP tag greatly increased the soluble expression and stability of TEV protease. • The ACP tag did not affect the cleavage activity of TEV. • The holo-ACP Tag effectively mediated the covalent immobilisation of TEV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose has received extensive attention as hydrogel electrolytes in energy storage fields, due to its renewable and environmentally friendly properties. However, it is still difficult to prepare cellulose-based hydrogel electrolytes for supercapacitors with high flexibility, high specific capacitance, and good temperature resistance. Herein, a series of cellulose-based hydrogel electrolytes with good mechanical properties were prepared successfully by incorporating with a small amount of acrylamide/N, N′-methylene bisacrylamide via a simple one-pot strategy and, successively, the resultant hydrogel electrolytes were assembled with the commercial activated carbon, as electrode materials, yielding quasi solid-state symmetric supercapacitors. It was found that the optimum hydrogel electrolytes prepared with 15 wt.% acrylamide/N, N′-methylene bisacrylamide possessed the tensile strength and break elongation as high as 18.7 kPa and 743.3%, respectively. The supercapacitors originating from the above electrolytes showed the excellent electrochemical performance. The specific capacitance could achieve 163.7 F g−1 at 1.0 A g−1 and the corresponding capacitance retention was 87.9% after the constant charge–discharge cycles for 8000 times. Moreover, the supercapacitors could be operated at various bending angles (0°– 180°) and low temperature (− 30 °C) without significant loss of capacitance. These results indicate that the cellulose-based hydrogel electrolytes presented here would have great potential in the application of flexible energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The slow melt crystallization behavior of the new bio-based poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PEFT) copolyester makes its foaming a big challenge, thus severely hindering the exploration of its applications in the foam field. To address this issue, the objective of this study was to fabricate cell structure-tunable PEFT foams via a regulating approach of cold crystallization prior to batch foaming. First, cold crystallization via thermal annealing at a fixed temperature of 110 °C was carried out for poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), PEFT5%, PEFT10% and PEFT15% to investigate its effect on the foaming behavior. Second, cold crystallization at various temperatures was performed to investigate its effect on the cell structure. Third, the cell structure variation of the foams with the crystallinity was studied. Fourth, the thermal insulation of the foams was studied. It is found that with the increase in the crystallinity for all samples, the cell size decreases, the cell density increases, and the expansion ratio first increases and then decreases. Hence, the rule of cell structure variation with the crystallinity is proposed and cell structure-tunable PEFT foams are thus fabricated. In addition, microcellular PET and PEFT foams are prepared via controlling the thermal annealing temperature. Moreover, it is found that PEFT foams show comparable thermal insulation with PET foams of similar expansion ratio. Therefore, this study has made great contribution for fabricating cell structure-tunable PEFT foams and developing potential applications through improving foaming behavior via applying cold crystallization as an effective regulating approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of a deep learning-accelerated T2-weighted turbo spin echo (TSE) sequence (T2DL) applied to female pelvic MRI, using standard T2-weighted TSE (T2S) as reference. Methods: In total, 24 volunteers and 48 consecutive patients with benign uterine diseases were enrolled. Patients in the menstrual phase were excluded. T2S and T2DL sequences in three planes were performed for each participant. Quantitative image evaluation was conducted by calculating the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Image geometric distortion was evaluated by measuring the diameters in all three directions of the uterus and lesions. Qualitative image evaluation including overall image quality, artifacts, boundary sharpness of the uterine zonal layers, and lesion conspicuity were assessed by three radiologists using a 5-point Likert scale, with 5 indicating the best quality. Comparative analyses were conducted for the two sequences. Results: T2DL resulted in a 62.7% timing reduction (1:54 min for T2DL and 5:06 min for T2S in axial, sagittal, and coronal imaging, respectively). Compared to T2S, T2DL had significantly higher SNR (p ≤ 0.001) and CNR (p ≤ 0.007), and without geometric distortion (p = 0.925–0.981). Inter-observer agreement regarding qualitative evaluation was excellent (Kendall's W > 0.75). T2DL provided superior image quality (all p < 0.001), boundary sharpness of the uterine zonal layers (all p < 0.001), lesion conspicuity (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, and p = 0.021), and fewer artifacts (all p < 0.001) in sagittal, axial, and coronal imaging. Conclusions: Compared with standard TSE, deep learning-accelerated T2-weighted TSE is feasible to reduce acquisition time of female pelvic MRI with significant improvement of image quality. Key points: T2DL resulted in a 62.7% reduction in acquisition time compared to T2S T2DL can provide higher SNR and CNR, and without geometric distortion T2DL is feasible for reducing the motion-induced blurring and improving image quality [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insights into how genome topology couples with epigenetic states to govern the function and identity of the corneal epithelium are poorly understood. Here, we generate a high-resolution Hi-C interaction map of human limbal stem/progenitor cells (LSCs) and show that chromatin multi-hierarchical organisation is coupled to gene expression. By integrating Hi-C, epigenome and transcriptome data, we characterize the comprehensive 3D epigenomic landscapes of LSCs. We find that super-silencers mediate gene repression associated with corneal development, differentiation and disease via chromatin looping and/or proximity. Super-enhancer (SE) interaction analysis identified a set of SE interactive hubs that contribute to LSC-specific gene activation. These active and inactive element-anchored loop networks occur within the cohesin-occupied CTCF-CTCF loops. We further reveal a coordinated regulatory network of core transcription factors based on SE-promoter interactions. Our results provide detailed insights into the genome organization principle for epigenetic regulation of gene expression in stratified epithelia. Genome topology provides a structural basis for epigenome-mediated transcriptional regulation in eukaryotes. Here the authors characterized the 3D genome of stratified squamous epithelia. They generated a Hi-C map of human limbal stem/progenitor cells (LSCs) and integrated these data with epigenomics, transcription factor binding maps, and transcriptome data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To observe the changes in image-defined risk factors (IDRFs) with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in pediatric abdominal neuroblastoma and to investigate the correlations between IDRF changes and histopathological features. In addition, this study also investigated the correlations between residual IDRFs after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and intraoperative complications. Methods: Forty-three patients with abdominal neuroblastoma who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy in our hospital from January 2015 to September 2021 were enrolled. Intraoperative records, histopathological features, and CT images at initial diagnosis and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy of all patients were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 245 IDRFs were found at initial diagnosis, with a median of 6 [5, 7] IDRFs per patient. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, IDRFs significantly decreased to 156 (p < 0.001), with a median of 4 [3, 5] IDRFs remaining per patient. The majority of IDRFs (6/8, 75.00%) were significantly improved after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p < 0.05), while tumor invasion of renal pedicles (p > 0.05) and adjacent structures (p > 0.05) was the least responsive IDRF. IDRFs in different types of neuroblastoma decreased significantly after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p < 0.05), while they were not significant in neuroblastoma with low and intermediate mitosis-karyorrhexis indices (p > 0.05). The number of residual IDRFs correlated positively with the volumes of intraoperative blood loss (r = 0.399, p = 0.008), but not with the presence of intraoperative complications (r = 0.111, p = 0.478). Conclusions: IDRFs in different types of neuroblastoma can be significantly improved after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, while IDRFs in neuroblastoma with low and intermediate mitosis-karyorrhexis indices might not be easily improved. At the same time, the number of residual IDRFs after neoadjuvant chemotherapy might not correlate with the occurrence of intraoperative complications in abdominal neuroblastoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) is currently used to solve Markov decision process problems for which the environment is typically assumed to be stationary. In this paper, we propose an adaptive DRL method for non-stationary environments. First, we introduce model uncertainty and propose the self-adjusting deep Q-learning algorithm, which can achieve the rebalance of exploration and exploitation automatically as the environment changes. Second, we propose a feasible criterion to judge the appropriateness of parameter setting of deep Q-networks and minimize the misjudgment probability based on the large deviation principle (LDP). The effectiveness of the proposed adaptive DRL method is illustrated in terms of an advanced persistent threat (APT) attack simulation game. Experimental results show that compared with the classic deep Q-learning algorithms in non-stationary and stationary environments, the adaptive DRL method improves performance by at least 14.28% and 30.56%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present work was to compare the non-isothermal melt and cold crystallization behavior and kinetics of poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate-co-ethylene terephthalate) (PEFT) copolyesters. First, the non-isothermal melt and cold crystallization behavior of PET and PEFT copolyesters were studied at a fixed cooling and heating rate with differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Second, the non-isothermal melt and cold crystallization behavior of PET, PEFT5% and PEFT10% were studied at various cooling and heating rates, respectively. Third, the non-isothermal melt and cold crystallization kinetics of PET, PEFT5% and PEFT10% were analyzed with the crystallization half-time and Mo equation. It was found that with the increase in the FDCA content, the melt crystallization of PEFT gets gradually more difficult, and PEFT5%, PEFT10% and PEFT15% show cold crystallization behavior. The non-isothermal melt and cold crystallization rate of PET, PEFT5% and PEFT10% increases with the cooling and heating rate, respectively. At the same rate of cooling and heating, the cold crystallization rate is much larger than the melt crystallization rate. The copolymerization of FDCA units significantly hinders the melt crystallization rate of PEFT, while its effect on cold crystallization rate is not so prominent. The melt crystallization in PET during quenching significantly hinders its cold crystallization, thus leading to unexpectedly the cold crystallization rate of PEFT5% larger than that of PET. Based on this study, cold crystallization can be adapted as a feasible means for more efficiently adjusting the crystallization of PEFT copolyesters in practical processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose and its derivatives films are increasingly used in paper, packaging, and other fields, but there is limited research on its films with anti-counterfeiting patterns. Here, we demonstrate an approach to prepare cellulose film with a micro-millimeter scale pattern by lithium chloride (LiCl) crystal template, which grows out by the in-situ generation in the film formation process. The surface morphologies of the as-prepared film were systematically controlled by regulating the solution viscosity (η) and the surrounding temperature. The imprinting of LiCl crystal was retained on the film surface after rinsing. Moreover, the crystallinity of patterned film was significantly improved, and about 62 MPa increased tensile strength than the film without a pattern. Incredibly, these patterns were similar to fingerprint size, which exhibited an excellent function to unlock fingerprint locked phones and showed potential in the anti-counterfeiting yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic solvents with low Henry's constants, such as propylene carbonate (PC) and sulfolane, were proposed to be used as CO2 absorbents to increase CO2 absorption capacity in the CO2 switchable solvent, so that the dissolution of cellulose can be effectively enhanced. With the addition of PC, the maximum concentration achieved for the dissolution of paper cellulose can be largely increased from 1.0 to 5.0 wt%, while those for microcrystalline cellulose and corncob cellulose were increased from 5.0 to 10.0 and 7.0 wt%, respectively. Moreover, the chemical and crystalline structure of the regenerated cellulose was not affected by the addition of CO2 absorbents. This study illustrated a simple and effective way to modify the CO2 switchable solvent, which would be helpful for the application of the complex solvent system for the enhanced dissolution, derivatization, and processing of cellulose in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon aerogels (CAs) have been considered potential microwave absorption (MA) materials because of intrinsic hierarchical porous structure, low density, and excellent heat resistance. However, CAs always required to be ground into micron-scale powder before being used as microwave absorbers, which will inevitably destroy the hierarchical porous structure. Meanwhile, reproducing the optimized CAs powders is difficult. Herein, CAs microspheres with in-situ mineralized TiO2 were easily prepared via a sol-gel transition and calcination process. The uniform size of CA microspheres and the loaded TiO2 on the skeleton of CA yield great microwave attenuation performance while guaranteeing good impedance matching performance. The obtained TiO2/CA hybrid presented a minimum reflection loss value of −30.2 dB and a broad effective absorption bandwidth (reflection loss below −10 dB) of 6.2 GHz. The low density, MA performance, and controllable particle size make the novel TiO2/CA hybrid promising candidates for MA applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central South University is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Central South University is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

DNA methylation is one important epigenetic type to play a vital role in many diseases including cancers. With the development of the high-throughput sequencing technology, there is much progress to disclose the relations of DNA methylation with diseases. However, the analyses of DNA methylation data are challenging due to the missing values caused by the limitations of current techniques. While many methods have been developed to impute the missing values, these methods are mostly based on the correlations between individual samples, and thus are limited for the abnormal samples in cancers. In this study, we present a novel transfer learning based neural network to impute missing DNA methylation data, namely the TDimpute-DNAmeth method. The method learns common relations between DNA methylation from pan-cancer samples, and then fine-tunes the learned relations over each specific cancer type for imputing the missing data. Tested on 16 cancer datasets, our method was shown to outperform other commonly-used methods. Further analyses indicated that DNA methylation is related to cancer survival and thus can be used as a biomarker of cancer prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a retraction note for an article titled "Reality of virtual damage identification based on neural networks and vibration analysis of a damaged bridge under a moving vehicle." The article has been retracted by the Editor-in-Chief and the publisher due to concerns about compromised editorial handling and peer review process, inappropriate references, and not being in scope of the journal or guest-edited issue. The authors Hua-li Lu and Chun-bao Xiong disagree with the retraction, while Jin-song Zhu did not respond to correspondence from the publisher. Springer Nature, the publisher, remains neutral regarding jurisdictional claims and institutional affiliations. [Extracted from the article]

In order to solve the problem of low face recognition rate in controlled scene, an expression recognition algorithm based on residual rectification intensive convolutional neural network is proposed. This method takes convolutional neural network as the prototype. In the process of training model, the idea of residual network is introduced to correct the difference between the effect of test set and the effect of training set. The linear rectification operation of the residual block by the excitation function embedded in the convolution layer helps to express complex features. At the same time, the data intensive method is used to suppress the fast fitting of the deep neural network model during the training process, to improve its generalization performance on a given recognition task, and then to improve the robustness of the model learning effect. In the experiment, the method is applied to simulate the online teaching environment, and get effective facial expression recognition result in controlled scene. According to the experimental data, this method can effectively classify the facial image input under controlled conditions, and the highest accuracy is up to 91.7%. This research is helpful to the development of facial expression recognition and human-computer interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]