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Respiratory rate (RR) is a critical vital sign that can provide valuable insights into various medical conditions, including pneumonia. Unfortunately, manual RR counting is often unreliable and discontinuous. Current RR estimation algorithms either lack the necessary accuracy or demand extensive window sizes. In response to these challenges, this study introduces a novel method for continuously estimating RR from photoplethysmogram (PPG) with a reduced window size and lower processing requirements. To evaluate and compare classical and deep learning algorithms, this study leverages the BIDMC and CapnoBase datasets, employing the Respiratory Rate Estimation (RRest) toolbox. The optimal classical techniques combination on the BIDMC datasets achieves a mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.9 breaths/min. Additionally, the developed neural network model utilises convolutional and long short-term memory layers to estimate RR effectively. The best-performing model, with a 50% train–test split and a window size of 7 s, achieves an MAE of 2 breaths/min. Furthermore, compared to other deep learning algorithms with window sizes of 16, 32, and 64 s, this study's model demonstrates superior performance with a smaller window size. The study suggests that further research into more precise signal processing techniques may enhance RR estimation from PPG signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung cancer is the second most common malignancy in the world, and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) in particular is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Endothelin converting enzyme 1 (ECE1) is a membrane‐bound metalloprotease involved in endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) processing and regulates vasoconstriction. However, very few studies have reported the involvement of ECE1 in regulating tumor cell proliferation, and the mechanism remains poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to determine the role of ECE1 in lung cancer development. Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas database and Kaplan–Meier plotter were used to assess the association between ECE1 and lung cancer. The expression of ECE1 was detected using immunohistochemistry staining and western blotting. A variety of in vitro assays were performed to evaluate the effects of ECE1 on the colony formation, proliferation, migration and invasion using ECE1 knockdown lung cancer cells. The gene expression profiles regulated by ECE1 were investigated by RNA sequencing. An immunoprecipitation assay and immunofluorescence assay were used to evaluate the mechanism underlying the regulatory effect of ECE1 on protein kinase B (AKT). The effect of ECE1 on tumor development was assessed by xenografted lung cancer cells in either C57BL/6 mice or nude mice. Results: ECE1 was upregulated in LUAD and correlated with the poor prognosis of patients with LUAD. Functional studies showed that knockdown of ECE1 retarded the progression of tumors formed by lung cancer cells at least partly by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation. Moreover, ECE1 accelerated tumor cell proliferation through promoting AKT activation dispensable of its canonical target ET‐1. Mechanically, ECE1 interacted with the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of AKT and facilitated its translocation to the plasma membrane for activation. Furthermore, the inhibition of AKT activity counteracted the lung cancer cell growth inhibition observed both in vitro and in xenografts caused by ECE1 suppression. Conclusions: The present study reveals a non‐canonical function of ECE1 in regulating AKT activation and cell proliferation, which provides the basis for the development of a novel strategy for the intervention of cancer including LUAD by abrogating ECE1‐AKT signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To establish an objective and comprehensive methodology to analyse the connections and differences between horned gallnut (HG) and bellied gallnut (BG) in Galla Chinensis (GC). The HPLC fingerprints from 15 batches of HG and 15 batches of BG were performed, and chemometric analysis including similarity analysis (SA), hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA), and orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) was also set up. The results showed that the similarity of all batch samples was more than 0.9. In fingerprint analysis, 8 distinct common peaks were detected, among which gallic acid (GA), 1,3,6-tri-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (TGG), and 1,2,3,4,6-O-galloyl-D-glucose (PGG) were identified by comparing with the standard compounds. Meanwhile, samples were clearly grouped into two classifications corresponding to HG and BG. This study demonstrated that HPLC fingerprints coupled with chemometric analysis could be applied to discriminate HG and BG and evaluate the qualities of HG and BG rapidly, which provided a certain experimental basis for the selection of GC raw materials and subsequent use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel approach to "treating waste with waste" was proposed to prepare porous ceramsite for the treatment of sewage containing Ag+ with total phosphorus tailings as raw material. The porous ceramsite with bulk density of 1.11 g/cm3 was fabricated via rotary granulation technique, followed by sintering at 1085 °C, whose compressive strength, water absorption, and hydrochloric acid solubility were 1.23MPa, 43.8%, and 15%, respectively. Effects of NaCl concentration, solid-liquid ratio, modification temperature, and modification time were studied in this study. After the porous ceramsite was modified by 1 mol/L NaCl solution at 70 °C for 4 h, the removal rate of Ag+ for modified ceramsite reached 99.9%. The high Ag+ removal rate was related to the surface microstructure of porous ceramsite. Numerous micro pores appeared on the surface of ceramsite after NaCl modification, which provided more contact sites for the adsorption of Ag+ by the adhered Cl− on ceramsite surface. The high removal rate of modified ceramsite for Ag+ makes it a highly promising for application in sewage disposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate repair of DNA double-stranded breaks by homologous recombination preserves genome integrity and inhibits tumorigenesis. Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is a cytosolic DNA sensor that activates innate immunity by initiating the STING-IRF3-type I IFN signalling cascade.sup.1,2. Recognition of ruptured micronuclei by cGAS links genome instability to the innate immune response.sup.3,4, but the potential involvement of cGAS in DNA repair remains unknown. Here we demonstrate that cGAS inhibits homologous recombination in mouse and human models. DNA damage induces nuclear translocation of cGAS in a manner that is dependent on importin-[alpha], and the phosphorylation of cGAS at tyrosine 215--mediated by B-lymphoid tyrosine kinase--facilitates the cytosolic retention of cGAS. In the nucleus, cGAS is recruited to double-stranded breaks and interacts with PARP1 via poly(ADP-ribose). The cGAS-PARP1 interaction impedes the formation of the PARP1-Timeless complex, and thereby suppresses homologous recombination. We show that knockdown of cGAS suppresses DNA damage and inhibits tumour growth both in vitro and in vivo. We conclude that nuclear cGAS suppresses homologous-recombination-mediated repair and promotes tumour growth, and that cGAS therefore represents a potential target for cancer prevention and therapy.DNA damage induces translocation of cyclic GMP-AMP synthase to the nucleus, where it suppresses homologous recombination by interfering with the formation of the PARP1-Timeless complex., Author(s): Haipeng Liu [sup.1] [sup.2] , Haiping Zhang [sup.3] , Xiangyang Wu [sup.1] [sup.2] , Dapeng Ma [sup.2] , Juehui Wu [sup.1] [sup.2] , Lin Wang [sup.1] [sup.2] , Yan [...]

Long‐term effective temperature monitoring using a flexible wearable temperature sensor is critical for future health monitoring, noninvasive clinical biomonitoring, disease diagnosis, and so on. Thermistors have the merits of simple structure, ease of preparation and great sensitivity, but the preparation of thermistors with good flexibility is often at the expense of their sensitivity and requirement of high temperature. Herein, a flexible temperature sensor with stability and high sensitivity by spraying VO2/PEDOT:PSS composites on an SBS electrospinning substrate is reported. The sensor exhibits high thermal sensitivity (−2.712%/°C), high precision (85 mK), ultra‐fast response time (1 s) and recovery time (2.5 s), enabling accurate real‐time temperature detection and meeting the need for long‐term temperature monitoring and tracking. As a proof of concept, this sensor is applied to monitor human skin temperature, breathing rate, and temperature recognition, and as a temperature‐based input keyboard, demonstrating its tremendous potential to further develop personalized flexible sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]