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Background: To evaluate the techniques used for the automatic digitization of cephalograms using artificial intelligence algorithms, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each one and reviewing the percentage of success in localizing each cephalometric point. Methods: Lateral cephalograms were digitized and traced by three calibrated senior orthodontic residents with or without artificial intelligence (AI) assistance. The same radiographs of 43 patients were uploaded to AI-based machine learning programs MyOrthoX, Angelalign, and Digident. Image J was used to extract x- and y-coordinates for 32 cephalometric points: 11 soft tissue landmarks and 21 hard tissue landmarks. The mean radical errors (MRE) were assessed radical to the threshold of 1.0 mm,1.5 mm, and 2 mm to compare the successful detection rate (SDR). One-way ANOVA analysis at a significance level of P <.05 was used to compare MRE and SDR. The SPSS (IBM-vs. 27.0) and PRISM (GraphPad-vs.8.0.2) software were used for the data analysis. Results: Experimental results showed that three methods were able to achieve detection rates greater than 85% using the 2 mm precision threshold, which is the acceptable range in clinical practice. The Angelalign group even achieved a detection rate greater than 78.08% using the 1.0 mm threshold. A marked difference in time was found between the AI-assisted group and the manual group due to heterogeneity in the performance of techniques to detect the same landmark. Conclusions: AI assistance may increase efficiency without compromising accuracy with cephalometric tracings in routine clinical practice and research settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We aimed to systemically investigate the diagnostic capacity of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1)/placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio in fetal growth restriction (FGR).Methods: We systematically searched the PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases for relevant studies from inception to 15 May 2022. All potentially relevant studies were assessed and then pooled.Results: Eight studies with 339 patients and 5111 controls were included. A sFlt-1/PlGF ratio >33 was demonstrated a predictive value for FGR with a pooled sensitivity of [0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.54-0.71], specificity of (0.84, 95% CI = 0.83-0.85), and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.8354. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC for the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio ≥85 group were 0.79 (95% CI = 0.66-0.89), 0.69 (95% CI = 0.65-0.74), and 0.8197, respectively.Discussion: These findings revealed that the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio could be a potential indicator in predicting FGR and FGR + PE. More studies are needed to support the conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effect of starch-polyphenol interaction induced by different processing methods on digestion characteristics, a dynamic in vitro human gastrointestinal system was employed to investigate the digestive characteristics of lotus seed starch–epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) complex (LS–EGCG) prepared by different processing methods. Digestion altered crystal structure, particle size, morphology, pH, starch hydrolysis, and EGCG content. Processing broke physical barriers, reducing particle size by enzyme erosion. Enzymatic hydrolysis gradually exposed EGCG, indicated by green fluorescence. Heat and high pressure treatments enhanced starch dissolution, increasing sugar accumulation and hydrolysis. However, ultrasonic-microwave and high pressure microfluidization treatments formed dense structures, decreasing hydrolysis rates. Overall, the complex formed by high pressure microfluidization showed better enzyme resistance. The results provide a scientific basis for the development of food with quality and functional properties. [Display omitted] • Both HPM and UM treatment forms dense structures, decreasing hydrolysis rates. • LSE-HPM resists the attack of enzyme better, and LSE-HT shows the worst resistance. • The interaction between EGCG and amylase inhibits the digestion of the complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstarct: S-Transform, as a time-frequency analysis approach, has been successfully introduced into fringe pattern demodulation in recent years. The paper presents a thorough discussion on the application of this technique in analyzing fringe pattern. A brief review of the S transform profilometry is followed by the comparison between the one-dimensional S-Transform method and the two-dimensional S-Transform method, including one-dimensional S-Transform ridge method, one-dimensional S-Transform filtering method, two-dimensional S-Transform ridge method and two-dimensional S-Transform filtering method in the application of the phase retrieval from the fringe patterns with different noise, contrast, nonlinearity and fringe breaking. Numerical computer simulations and experiments were carried out to show the 1DST method is sensitive to the noise but suitable to detect detail of the measured object, while 2DST method with capability of smooth processing for the surface of the measured object is adapt to demodulate the fringe pattern with serious noise. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Both two-dimensional (2D) Windowed Fourier Transform and 2D S Transform are popular time–frequency analysis tools for processing signals. But fewer articles reported the application of 2D S Transform in Fringe pattern analysis. This paper studies the 2D S Transform and compares it with 2D Windowed Fourier Transform. The phase calculation formula based on the 2D Windowed Fourier Transform “ridge” coefficients and 2D S Transform “ridge” coefficients are deduced respectively. A comparison between them is carried out to show their own characteristic in fringe patterns analysis based on the structured-light illumination. It verifies that the 3D reconstruction result of 2D ST is better than that of 2D WFT because of the employment of the adjusted windows by frequency parameters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer death in China. This study investigated the effects of Annexin A7 (ANXA7) on the inhibition of HCC lymph node metastasis in a mouse model.Methods: The stable knockup and knockdown of Annexin A7-expressing HCC cells using Annexin A7 cDNA and shRNA vectors, respectively, were injected into a mouse footpad to establish primary and metastatic tumors in mice. On the 14th, 21st, and 28th days after HCC cells inoculation, the mice were sacrificed for inspection of primary and secondary tumors and immunohistochemistry of Annexin A7 expression.Results: The lymph node metastasis rate of the FANXA7-control group was 77%, and the lymph node metastasis rate of the FANXA7-down group was 100% (p<0.05). In contrast, the lymph node metastasis rate of the PANXA7-up group was 0% and that of the PANXA7-control group was 36% (p<0.05). Furthermore, immunohistochemistry experiments revealed that the subcellular localization of Annexin A7 protein in both primary and lymph node-metastasized tumors was mainly in the cytosol. In addition, the expression of the 47 kDa and 51 kDa isoforms of Annexin A7 protein changed during tumor progression.Conclusion: This study indicated that Annexin A7 expression was able to inhibit HCC lymph node metastasis, whereas knockdown of Annexin A7 expression significantly induced HCC metastasis to local lymph nodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An off-axis Ronchi test based on the phase-shifting technique is presented to measure the aspheric mirror quantitatively. In this paper, slopes of deviations from the mirror''s ideal aspheric shape are derived when an off-axis point source is used. By integrating these slopes, the deviations of the shape are obtained and then the tested shape can be reconstructed. Compared with the coaxial Ronchi test, the measurement error caused by combination fringes can be avoided, and this system is more flexible. In the experiment, a marked point is used to guide the phase unwrapping procedure, which improves the accuracy of extracting corresponding phase points. In addition, the method has strong anti-noise ability. The validity of the method has been verified by both computer simulations and a preliminary experiment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]