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Due to the clinical continuum of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the accuracy of early diagnostic remains unsatisfactory and warrants further research. The objectives of this study were: (1) to develop an effective hierarchical multi-class framework for clinical populations, namely, normal cognition (NC), early mild cognitive impairment (EMCI), late mild cognitive impairment (LMCI), and AD, and (2) to explore the geometric properties of cognition-related anatomical structures in the cerebral cortex. A total of 1,670 participants were enrolled in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database, comprising 985 participants (314 NC, 208 EMCI, 258 LMCI, and 205 AD) in the model development set and 685 participants (417 NC, 110 EMCI, 83 LMCI, and 75 AD) after 2017 in the temporal validation set. Four cortical geometric properties for 148 anatomical structures were extracted, namely, cortical thickness (CTh), fractal dimension (FD), gyrification index (GI), and sulcus depth (SD). By integrating these imaging features with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores at four-time points after the initial visit, we identified an optimal subset of 40 imaging features using the temporally constrained group sparse learning method. The combination of selected imaging features and clinical variables improved the multi-class performance using the AdaBoost algorithm, with overall accuracy rates of 0.877 in the temporal validation set. Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) was the primary clinical variable associated with AD-related populations. The most discriminative imaging features included the bilateral CTh of the dorsal part of the posterior cingulate gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus (PHG), parahippocampal part of the medial occipito-temporal gyrus, and angular gyrus, the GI of the left inferior segment of the insula circular sulcus, and the CTh and SD of the left superior temporal sulcus (STS). Our hierarchical multi-class framework underscores the utility of combining cognitive variables with imaging features and the reliability of surface-based morphometry, facilitating more accurate early diagnosis of AD in clinical practice.

Terpenes possess a wide range of structural features and pharmaceutical activities and are promising for drug candidates. With the aim to find bioactive terpene molecules, eight new compounds were isolated from the medicinal plant Nepeta bracteata Benth., including seven new abietane-type diterpenoids (1–7), along with a new ursane-type triterpenoid(8). The structures of compounds 1–8 were elucidated through the detailed spectroscopic analyses of their 1D and 2D NMR and MS data, and the absolute configurations of compounds 1–7 were determined by comparing their experimental and calculated ECD spectra. Compound 1 was a novel degraded carbon diterpene with the disappearing of methyl signal at C-19, while compound 7 possessed a new norabietane-type diterpenoid carbon skeleton with the presence of five-membered lactone arising from ring rearrangement. The anti-inflammatory of all obtained isolates were evaluated on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and the results of anti-inflammatory activity screening showed that compared with the LPS model group, all compounds were significantly down-regulation the TNF-α inflammatory factor at the specific concentration, except for compound 6.

Sepsis represents a life-threatening organ dysfunction due to an aberrant host response. Of note is that majority of patients have experienced a severe immune depression during and after sepsis, which is significantly correlated with the occurrence of nosocomial infection and higher risk of in-hospital death. Nevertheless, the clinical sign of sepsis-induced immune paralysis remains highly indetectable and ambiguous. Given that, specific yet robust biomarkers for monitoring the immune functional status of septic patients are of prominent significance in clinical practice. In turn, the stratification of a subgroup of septic patients with an immunosuppressive state will greatly contribute to the implementation of personalized adjuvant immunotherapy. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the mechanism of sepsis-associated immunosuppression at the cellular level and highlight the recent advances in immune monitoring approaches targeting the functional status of both innate and adaptive immune responses.

Predicting a priori local defects in amorphous materials remains a grand challenge. Here authors combine a rotationally non-invariant structure representation with deep-learning to predict the propensity for shear transformations of amorphous solids for different loading orientations, only given the static structure.

Background The association between vitamin D/calcium and risk of ovarian cancer is still a debatable point. The aim of our study was to systematically investigate the association between vitamin D/calcium, and the risk of ovarian cancer and estimate their dose-response association quantitatively. Methods PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify relevant observational studies. Two investigators screened citations and extracted data independently. Data were extracted and the association between vitamin D/calcium and ovarian cancer risk was estimated by calculating pooled relative risks (RRs). Subgroup analyses, publication bias estimation, and dose-response analyses were carried out as well. Results In total, 21 articles involving 980,008 participants were included in our present study. No significant association was observed between total vitamin D intake and ovarian cancer risk (RR: 1.02; 95% CI, 0.89-1.16, p = 0.81). Further subgroup analysis suggested that neither dietary vitamin D intake (RR: 0.80; 95% CI, 0.62-1.03, p = 0.09) nor supplementary vitamin D intake (RR: 0.98; 95% CI, 0.85-1.13, p = 0.80) was associated with the risk of ovarian cancer. As for calcium, total calcium intake was found to be statistically inversely associated with ovarian cancer risk in case-control studies (RR: 0.73; 95% CI, 0.63-0.86, p < 0.001) but not in cohort studies (RR: 1.05; 95% CI, 0.90-1.24, p = 0.52). Besides, supplementation with calcium plus vitamin D was not effective for the prevention of ovarian cancer (p = 0.98). Of note, dose-response analysis based on cohort studies suggested a potential inverse U-shape relationship between calcium intake (including total calcium and dietary calcium) and ovarian cancer risk, which indicated that low dose of calcium intake might reduce ovarian cancer risk while high dose of calcium intake might not. Conclusions Taken together, vitamin D could not decrease the risk of ovarian cancer. The role of calcium intake was not proven for reducing ovarian cancer risk. Besides, no evidence showed combinative use of calcium and vitamin D have additional benefits for ovarian cancer prevention., Author(s): Jiawei Xu [sup.1] , Kelie Chen [sup.1] , Fan Zhao [sup.2] , Dongdong Huang [sup.3] , Honghe Zhang [sup.3] , Zhiqin Fu [sup.4] , Jinming Xu [sup.5] , Yongfeng [...]

This article provides a detailed analysis of the transfer of a key cluster of ideas from mathematical logic to computing. We demonstrate the impact of certain of Turing’s logico-philosophical concepts from the mid-1930s on the emergence of the modern electronic computer—and so, in consequence, Turing’s impact on the direction of modern philosophy, via the computational turn. We explain why both Turing and von Neumann saw the problem of developing the electronic computer as a problem in logic, and we describe their joint journey from logic to electronic computation. While much has been written about Turing’s and von Neumann’s individual contributions to the development of the computer, this article investigates less well-known terrain: their interactions and mutual influences. Along the way we argue against ‘logic skeptics’ and ‘Turing skeptics’, who claim that neither logic nor Turing played any significant role in the creation of the modern computer.

Working conditions exert an important influence on the tribological properties of protective coatings, thus affecting the wear resistance of workpieces. In this work, a TiAlSiN hardness-modulated multilayer coating with a good match of strength and toughness was deposited on WC-Co substrates. The adhesive wear played a predominant role under the condition of a larger normal load and lower velocity, leading to the formation of a third body layer composed of compressed and lubricating oxides. As a result, the wear rate of the coating tested at 20 N reduced by 23% of that tested at 5 N. Instead, abrasive wear was more manifest, leading to the formation of big-size abrasives, and thus the wear rate increased by 2.8 times while the velocity elevated from 4 mm/s to 16 mm/s. A full factorial analysis of the wear behaviors, including the nanohardness and roughness of the wear track, and the friction coefficient and wear rate of the coating, offered good guidance for the comprehension of the wear form of the TiAlSiN multilayer coating. The results demonstrated the optimization of multilayer structures for TiAlSiN coatings to attain better wear resistance under coupling conditions of normal load and velocity: harder or more lubricated sublayers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Biliary atresia (BA) is a devastating congenital disease characterized by inflammation and progressive liver fibrosis. Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis. Our study aimed to investigate the pharmacological effect and potential mechanism of pirfenidone (PFD) and andrographolide (AGP) separately and together on liver fibrosis of BA. Materials and Methods. The bile ducts of male C57BL/6J mice were ligated or had the sham operation. The in vivo effects of PFD and/or AGP on liver fibrosis of BA were evaluated. Human hepatic stellate cells (LX‐2) were also treated with PFD and/or AGP in vitro. Results. PFD and/or AGP ameliorates liver fibrosis and inflammation in the mice model of BA, as evidenced by significant downregulated in the accumulation of collagen fibers, hepatic fibrosis markers (α‐SMA, collagen I, and collagen IV), and inflammatory markers (IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α). Moreover, compared with monotherapy, these changes are more obvious in the combined treatment of PFD and AGP. Consistent with animal experiments, hepatic fibrosis markers (α‐SMA, collagen I, and CTGF) and inflammatory markers (IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α) were significantly decreased in activated LX‐2 cells after PFD and/or AGP treatment. In addition, PFD and/or AGP inhibited the activation of HSCs by blocking the TGF‐β/Smad signaling pathway, and the combined treatment of PFD and AGP synergistically inhibited the phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3. Conclusion. The combined application of PFD and AGP exerted superior inhibitive effects on HSC activation and liver fibrosis by mediating the TGF‐β/Smad signaling pathway as compared to monotherapy. Therefore, the combination of PFD and AGP may be a promising treatment strategy for liver fibrosis in BA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to investigate the clinical value and prognostic significance of the alanine aspartate aminotransferase‐to‐lymphocyte ratio index (ALRI) in patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: Clinical indices of patients with AMI were collected from the Medical Information Mark for Intensive Care (MIMIC) III database and Wuhan Sixth Hospital. Cox regression analysis was used to explore whether ALRI was a risk factor for a worse prognosis in patients with AMI, and a nomogram including ALRI was created to estimate its predictive performance for 28‐day mortality. Results: Based on clinical data from the MIMIC‐III database, we found that a high ALRI was closely associated with a variety of clinical parameters. It was an important risk factor for 28‐day survival in patients with AMI (HR = 5.816). ALRI had a high predictive power for worse 28‐day survival in patients with AMI (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.754). Additionally, we used clinical data from the Wuhan Sixth Hospital to verify the predictive power of ALRI in patients with AMI, and a high level of ALRI remained an independent risk factor for worse survival in patients with AMI (HR = 4.969). The AMI nomogram, including ALRI, displayed a good predictive performance for 28‐day mortality in both the MIMIC‐III (AUC = 0.826) and Wuhan Sixth Hospital cohorts (AUC = 0.795). Conclusion: The ALRI is closely related to the survival outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed AMI, indicating that it could serve as a novel biomarker for risk stratification such patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self‐monitoring in tumor therapy is a concept that allows for real‐time monitoring of the location and state of applied nanomaterials. This monitoring relies on dynamic signals, such as wave or magnetic signals, which vary in response to changes in the location and state of nanomaterials. Dynamic changes in nanomaterials can be monitored using dynamic signals, making it possible to determine and control the treatment process. Theranostic nanomaterials, which possess unique physical and chemical properties, have recently been explored as a viable option for self‐monitoring. With the help of self‐monitoring, theranostic nanomaterials can guide themselves to achieve region‐selective treatment with higher controllability and safety. In this review, self‐monitoring theranostic nanomaterials will be introduced in three parts according to their roles during therapy: tumor accumulation, tumor therapy, and metabolism. The limitations and future challenges of current self‐monitoring theranostic nanomaterials will also be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spinning equipment for processing recycled fibrous materials and their technology characteristics were summarized. The overview of waste textiles was briefly introduced. The related resuing technology of waste textiles were sorted out, including physical recycling method, chemical recycling method, thermal energy recycling method and mechanical opening method. The spinning system, spinning equipment and its technology characteristics for processing recycled fibrous materials exhibited by Switzerland Rieter and Saurer in 2022 China International Textile Machinery Exhibition & ITMA Asia were emphatically summarized. It is considered that guiding and developing the reuse of waste textiles scientifically and orderly conforms to Chinese laws, regulations and development plans. The waste textiles after mechanical opening can reenter the spinning process to achieve its high value utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]