Search

Purpose: Integrated MRI and linear accelerator systems (MR-Linacs) provide superior soft tissue contrast, and the capability of adapting radiotherapy plans to changes in daily anatomy. In this dataset, serial MRIs of the abdomen of patients undergoing radiotherapy were collected and the luminal gastro-intestinal tract was segmented to support an online segmentation algorithm competition. This dataset may be further utilized by radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and data scientists to further improve auto segmentation algorithms. Acquisition and validation of methods: Serial 0.35T MRIs from patients who were treated on an MR-Linac for tumors located in the abdomen were collected. The stomach, small intestine and large intestine were manually segmented on all MRIs by a team of annotators under the supervision of a board-certified radiation oncologist. Annotator segmentations were validated on 4 representative abdominal MRIs by comparing to the radiation oncologist's contours using 3D Hausdorff distance and 3D Dice coefficient metrics. Data format and usage notes: The dataset includes 467 de-identified scans and their contours from 107 patients. Each patient underwent 1–5 MRI scans of the abdomen. Most of the scans consisted of 144 axial slices with a pixel resolution of 1.5 × 1.5 × 3 mm, leading to 67,248 total slices in the dataset. Images in DICOM format were converted into Portable Graphics Format (PNG) files. Each Portable Graphics Format (PNG) image file stored a slice of the scan, with pixels recorded in 16 bits to cover the full range of intensity values. DICOM-RT segmentations were converted into Comma-Separated Values (CSV) format. Data including images and the annotations is publicly available at https://www.kaggle.com/ds/3577354. Potential applications: While manual segmentations are subject to bias and inter-observer variability, the dataset has been used for the UW-Madison GI Tract Image Segmentation Challenge hosted by Kaggle and may be used for ongoing segmentation algorithm development and potentially for dose accumulation algorithms.

Purpose This prospective study in a real-world setting investigated the feasibility and safety of S-1 plus nimotuzumab (S-1-Nimo) based concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LA-ESCC) patients who failed to neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy.Methods LA-ESCC patients who failed to converse to resectable disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy were enrolled to receive the 4-week S-1-Nimo regimen of radiotherapy (40 Gy in 20 fractions, 5 days per week), S-1 chemotherapy, and nimotuzumab. Then, after surgical assessments, patients evaluated as resectable disease received surgery; patients with unresectable disease continued to receive definitive radiotherapy (50–60 Gy in 25–30 fractions, 5 days per week) concurrently with S-1-Nimo. The primary endpoint was event-free survival (EFS).Results Sixty-four patients were enrolled and evaluated. The median follow-up time was 23.2 months. Median EFS was 9.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.1–14.0) months, with an estimated 2-year EFS rate of 24.2%. The median overall survival (OS) and the estimated OS rate at 2 years were 13.4 (95% CI, 10.3–17.5) months and 31.2%, respectively. Twelve underwent surgery, with a surgical conversion rate of 18.8% and an R0 resection rate of 100.0%. Subgroup analysis identified the significantly prolonged EFS and OS in patients who experienced radical surgery (median EFS, not reached vs. 8.7 months; p = .0117. median OS, 24.9 vs. 10.6 months; p = .0205) as compared to those treated with CCRT. Of 64 patients, grade 3 adverse events mainly included radiation esophagitis (4.7%), anemia (1.6%), and thrombocytopenia (1.6%).Conclusion The study demonstrated the reasonable efficacy and promising safety of the S-1-Nimo-based CCRT in LA-ESCC patients with failure to neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy.

IntroductionThe increasing use of eye-tracking techniques in translation studies offers valuable insights into cognitive processes and behavioral strategies of translators, reflecting a significant trend within cognitive linguistics and translator training methodologies.MethodsThis review harnesses quantitative bibliometric analysis through Bibliometrix R-package with qualitative content assessment to evaluate the trajectory and thematic evolution of eye-tracking research in translation studies. Through a dataset from the Web of Science, 56 articles were analyzed, revealing distinct thematic dimensions and trend dynamics.ResultsThe analysis revealed that eye-tracking is increasingly pivotal in exploring the cognitive and technological dimensions of translation. Central themes include interactions with translation tools, machine translation, and human-computer interaction, highlighting the importance of cognitive research in technology-driven translation. Niche areas such as English-Chinese translation and online consultation suggest specialized topics that warrant further investigation. Additionally, emerging themes like cognitive load and sight translation demonstrate a shift toward exploring real-time translation processing. Declining traditional topics, such as broader translation theories, indicate a growing integration of cognitive research with technological advancements.ConclusionThese findings elucidate the growth and diversification of eye-tracking applications in translation studies, emphasizing the method’s importance in both academic research and practical applications, thereby informing future studies and enhancing translator training programs.

ABSTRACT: We previously identified a dark blue appearance through the skin of abdomen, especially the colored chicken breeds, called hyperpigmentation of the visceral peritoneum (HVP) which characterized by intense pigmentation of connective tissue in the visceral peritoneum. The HVP has recently garnered increasing attention due to its negative impact on carcass appearance, and been an important concern in the poultry industry, especially for the Chinese yellow-feathered broilers. In this study, we measured the in vivo HVP at different time points, and analyzed the correlation between the HVP in vivo and postmortem. Then, established an accurate and reliable HVP phenotypic measuring method in vivo for early selection in chickens and analyzed the association of phenotypic variations with the in vivo HVP traits with growth traits. The results showed that the in vivo HVP at 21 d of age in chickens have a high heritability (h2 = 0.452) through estimating genetic parameters, and in vivo HVP levels at 21 and 42 d were both significantly associated with those postmortem in chickens, suggesting that directional selection on reducing HVP can be implemented as early as at 21 d in the breeding and production of chickens. Although, we found HVP had no effect on the body weight at 1 d, it could significantly reduce the body weight at 21, 42, 70 d and 91 d in chickens. This suggests HVP not only has a negative effect on carcass traits, but also significantly reduces the production in the poultry industry.

Global concern continues to mount regarding the accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in soil. However, little is known about how various types of MPs influence the properties of soil ecosystems. Here, we evaluated the effects of six different types of MPs, including low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyamide (PA), polystyrene (PS), polyhydroxy-alkanoates (PHA), polybutadiene styrene (PBS), and polylactide (PLA), on soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and microbial communities. At the end of a 230-day soil incubation, we observed significant changes in soil moisture content, soil organic carbon, pH, NH4+-N, NO3--N, and available phosphorus. The addition of MPs had a significant influence on the activities of soil β-glucosidase, acid phosphatase, urease, and fluorescein diacetate hydrolase, with effects varying with MP type. Results of 16S rRNA gene high throughput sequencing showed that MP exposure had little effect on soil microbial alpha diversity, but that PHA contamination significantly reduced ACE, Chao1, and Shannon index values. MP contamination also altered soil microbial community composition. In particular, the relative abundance of Firmicutes increased significantly while the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria (especially the nitrogen-fixing rhizobia), and Acidobacteriota decreased following exposure to PHA. Redundancy analysis showed that acid phosphatase and pH were the two main environmental factors affecting bacterial community structure at the phylum and order levels. Furthermore, Tax4Fun2 analysis found that MP treatment disrupted fundamental bacterial metabolic pathways. Our findings indicate that different types of MPs can affect soil fertility, bacterial community structure, and function in various ways, and highlight that biodegradable MPs may alter soil bacterial communities more than conventional MPs.

Although thyroid cancer is an indolent tumor with a favorable prognosis, lymph node metastasis (LNM) serves as a major concern for many patients. Because LNM is strongly correlated with recurrence, distant metastasis, and shortened survival, a precise and timely diagnosis and following appropriate management for LNM are necessary. However, significant challenges still exist in the diagnosis of small LNs (

The application of deep learning in neuroscience holds unprecedented potential for unraveling the complex dynamics of the brain. Our bibliometric analysis, spanning from 2012 to 2023, delves into the integration of deep learning in neuroscience, shedding light on the evolutionary trends and identifying pivotal research hotspots. Through the examination of 421 articles, this study unveils a significant growth in interdisciplinary research, marked by the burgeoning application of deep learning techniques in understanding neural mechanisms and addressing neurological disorders. Central to our findings is the critical role of classification algorithms, models, and neural networks in advancing neuroscience, highlighting their efficacy in interpreting complex neural data, simulating brain functions, and translating theoretical insights into practical diagnostics and therapeutic interventions. Additionally, our analysis delineates a thematic evolution, showcasing a shift from foundational methodologies toward more specialized and nuanced approaches, particularly in areas like EEG analysis and convolutional neural networks. This evolution reflects the field’s maturation and its adaptation to technological advancements. The study further emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies to foster innovation in decoding the cerebral code. The current study provides a strategic roadmap for future explorations, urging the scientific community toward areas ripe for breakthrough discoveries and practical applications. This analysis not only charts the past and present landscape of deep learning in neuroscience but also illuminates pathways for future research, underscoring the transformative impact of deep learning on our understanding of the brain.

Many species of animals exhibit caregiving or aggression toward conspecific offspring. The neural mechanisms underlying the infanticide and pup care remain poorly understood. Here, using monogamous mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus), we found that more oxytocin (OT) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were activated during pup caring than infanticide. Optogenetic activation of OT neurons in the PVN facilitated pup caring in male and female mandarin voles. In infanticide voles, optogenetic activation of PVN OT cells or PVN-medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) OT projection fibers prolonged latency to approach and attack pups, whereas inhibition of these OT neurons or projections facilitated approach and infanticide. Optogenetic activation of PVN OT neuron projections to the mPFC in males shortened the latency to approach and retrieve pups and facilitated the initiation of pup care, but produced no effects on pup-care females. In addition, OT release in the mPFC increased upon approaching and retrieving pups, and decreased upon attacking pups. Intraperitoneal injection of OT promoted pup care and inhibited infanticide behavior. It is suggested that the OT system, especially PVN OT neurons projecting to mPFC, modulates pup-directed behaviors and OT can be used to treat abnormal behavioral responses associated with some psychological diseases such as depression and psychosis.

Abstract Background To investigate the changes in the unhealthy eye-related behaviors of junior middle school students during the COVID-19 pandemic and the double reduction policy and its relationship with myopia. Methods Data were obtained from the 2019–2022 Tianjin Children and Youth Myopia, Common Diseases and Health Influencing Factors Survey. Latent profile analysis (LPA) and a generalized linear model (GLM) were applied to analyze the effect of eye-related behavior classes on myopia. Results A total of 2508 junior middle school students were included. The types of eye-related behavior were categorized into the medium-healthy behavior group, heavy academic burden and near-eye behavior group, insufficient lighting group and high-healthy behavior group. Students with heavy academic burdens and near-eye behavior were more likely to develop myopia than were those in the high-healthy group (OR = 1.466, 95% CI = 1.203–1.787; P

Abstract Background The role of tumor-draining lymph nodes in the progression of malignant tumors, including stage III colorectal cancer (CRC), is critical. However, the prognostic and predictive value of the number of examined lymph nodes (ELNs) are not fully understood. Methods This population-based study retrospectively analyzed data from 106,843 patients with stage III CRC who underwent surgical treatment and registered in three databases from 2004 to 2021. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cohort was divided using into training and test cohorts at a ratio of 3:2. We employed restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves to explore nonlinear relationships between overall survival (OS) and ELNs counts and performed Cox regression to evaluate hazard ratios across different ELNs count subtypes. Additional validation cohorts were utilized from the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) under the same criteria. Outcomes measured included OS, cancer-specific survival (CSS), and progression-free survival (PFS). Molecular analyses involved differential gene expression using the “limma” package and immune profiling through CIBERSORT. Tissue microarray slides and multiplex immunofluorescence (MIF) were used to assess protein expression and immune cell infiltration. Results Patients with higher ELNs counts (≥ 17) demonstrated significantly better long-term survival outcomes across all cohorts. Enhanced OS, CSS, and PFS were notably evident in the LN-ELN group compared to those with fewer ELNs. Cox regression models underscored the prognostic value of higher ELNs counts across different patient subgroups by age, sex, tumor differentiation, and TNM stages. Subtype analysis based on ELNs count revealed a marked survival benefit in patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy in the medium and large ELNs counts (≥ 12), whereas those with fewer ELNs showed negligible benefits. RNA sequencing and MIF indicated elevated immune activation in the LN-ELN group, characterized by increased CD3+, CD4+, and CD8 + T cells within the tumor microenvironment. Conclusions The number of ELNs independently predicts survival and the immunological landscape at the tumor site in stage III CRC, underscoring its dual prognostic and predictive value.

Abstract A wideband end‐fire stepped slot antenna with gain enhancement and filtering capability is proposed. On one hand, a parasitic dipole serving as a director is introduced in the stepped slot to improve the radiation gain of the slot antenna without increasing its physical size. It is found that a gain enhancement of about 2 dB can be achieved after adopting such approach. On the other hand, an absorptive branch possessing a nearly complementary frequency response with regard to the one of the slot antenna is in‐parallel loaded at the microstrip feedline. It allows the partial dissipation of the out‐of‐band/non‐radiated RF‐signal power of the antenna to attain both an RF‐quasi‐absorptive behaviour and filtering capability. It is found that after loading the dissipative branch, the out‐of‐band radiation efficiency of the slot antenna is reduced to less than 20%. The measured results of a fabricated proof‐of‐concept antenna prototype show a reasonable agreement with the simulated ones and verify the RF performance merits of the proposed stepped slot antenna, such as wide RF operating band covering the 3.39−4.73‐GHz range, end‐fire radiation with a front‐to‐back ratio (FBR) above 10 dB, flat radiation gain, and co‐integrated filtering functionality with RF‐quasi‐absorptive capability.

Abstract Early-life exposure to stress results in significantly increased risk of neurodevelopmental impairments with potential long-term effects into childhood and even adulthood. As a crucial step towards monitoring neonatal stress in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), our study aims to quantify the duration, frequency, and physiological responses of care manipulation activities, based on bedside videos and physiological signals. Leveraging 289 h of video recordings and physiological data within 330 sessions collected from 27 neonates in 2 NICUs, we develop and evaluate a deep learning method to detect manipulation activities from the video, to estimate their duration and frequency, and to further integrate physiological signals for assessing their responses. With a 13.8% relative error tolerance for activity duration and frequency, our results were statistically equivalent to human annotations. Further, our method proved effective for estimating short-term physiological responses, for detecting activities with marked physiological deviations, and for quantifying the neonatal infant stressor scale scores.

Abstract Background Detecting epistatic interactions (EIs) involves the exploration of associations among single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and complex diseases, which is an important task in genome-wide association studies. The EI detection problem is dependent on epistasis models and corresponding optimization methods. Although various models and methods have been proposed to detect EIs, identifying EIs efficiently and accurately is still a challenge. Results Here, we propose a linear mixed statistical epistasis model (LMSE) and a spherical evolution approach with a feedback mechanism (named SEEI). The LMSE model expands the existing single epistasis models such as LR-Score, K2-Score, Mutual information, and Gini index. The SEEI includes an adaptive spherical search strategy and population updating strategy, which ensures that the algorithm is not easily trapped in local optima. We analyzed the performances of 8 random disease models, 12 disease models with marginal effects, 30 disease models without marginal effects, and 10 high-order disease models. The 60 simulated disease models and a real breast cancer dataset were used to evaluate eight algorithms (SEEI, EACO, EpiACO, FDHEIW, MP-HS-DHSI, NHSA-DHSC, SNPHarvester, CSE). Three evaluation criteria (pow1, pow2, pow3), a T-test, and a Friedman test were used to compare the performances of these algorithms. The results show that the SEEI algorithm (order 1, averages ranks = 13.125) outperformed the other algorithms in detecting EIs. Conclusions Here, we propose an LMSE model and an evolutionary computing method (SEEI) to solve the optimization problem of the LMSE model. The proposed method performed better than the other seven algorithms tested in its ability to identify EIs in genome-wide association datasets. We identified new SNP–SNP combinations in the real breast cancer dataset and verified the results. Our findings provide new insights for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Availability and implementation: https://github.com/scutdy/SSO/blob/master/SEEI.zip .