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Abstract In this study, a feasibility of γ radiation detection using complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors with a neural network algorithm to extract the γ rays interacted pixels has been investigated. The responses characteristics of the CMOS imaging sensor to γ-ray is studied by placed in a γ fields produced by standard60Co or137Cs isotope sources. The supported preview frame rate of the CMOS image sensor is 25 fps, establishing the functional relationship between the gray level histograms and the dose rate through the neural network, the high energy γ-ray from60Co and137Cs source radiation dose rate in µSv/h level can be detected using the CMOS imaging sensor. The results show that the proposed method can effectively identify the number of photon particles which detected by the radiation monitoring system based on CMOS image sensor, and infer that the CMOS imaging sensor with a radiation signal extraction algorithm can be used as a dose warner for radiation protection purpose.

Cancer is a global intractable disease, and its morbidity and mortality are increasing year by year in developing countries. Surgery and chemotherapy are often used to treat cancer, but they result in unsatisfactory outcomes, such as severe side effects and drug resistance. With the accelerated modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), an increasing body of evidence has shown that several TCM components have significant anticancer activities. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is considered the main active ingredient of the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus. AS-IV exhibits various pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, antifibrotic, and anticancer activities. AS-IV possesses a wide range of activities, such as the modulation of reactive oxygen species-scavenging enzyme activities, participation in cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis and autophagy, and suppression of cancer cell proliferation, invasiveness, and metastasis. These effects are involved in the inhibition of different malignant tumors, such as lung, liver, breast, and gastric cancers. This article reviews the bioavailability, anticancer activity, and mechanism of AS-IV and provides suggestions for further research of this TCM.

Latin Hypercube Design (LHD) is widely used in computer simulation to solve large-scale, complex, nonlinear problems. The high-dimensional LHD (HLHD) problem is one of the crucial issues and has been a large concern in the long run. This paper proposes an improved Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization (IHPSO) algorithm to find the near-optimal HLHD by increasing the particle evolution speed and strengthening the local search. In the proposed algorithm, firstly, the diversity of the population is ensured through comprehensive learning. Secondly, the Minimum Point Distance (MPD) method is adopted to solve the oscillation problem of the PSO algorithm. Thirdly, the Ranked Ordered Value (ROV) rule is used to realize the discretization of the PSO algorithm. Finally, local and global searches are executed to find the near-optimal HLHD. The comparisons show the superiority of the proposed method compared with the existing algorithms in obtaining the near-optimal HLHD.

Fusion reactors are expected to be safer, more environmentally friendly, and to have a lower nuclear proliferation risk, compared with other nuclear energy systems. However, it is widely recognized that a large amount of radioactive materials will be produced by a fusion reactor. Therefore, it is important to fully understand the overall radiation risk level of fusion radioactive wastes (radwaste) compared with existing nuclear energy systems. Studies on the treatment of the fusion radwaste have been currently focused on three ultimate options: clearance, recycling, and disposal by activation assessment of radioactive materials from the operation and decommissioning of fusion reactors. However, the radiation risk in the management of fusion radwaste, especially in the final disposal, was seldom studied. Based on the comparative analysis of fusion radioactive waste with ITER and fission reactors (e.g., pressurized water reactor, PWR), this paper tries to discuss how to determine the radiation risk in the process of fusion radwaste management on the premise of the current feasible industrial technology. On this basis, a risk assessment framework for repository disposal under normal degradation and external events is proposed.

Public acceptance has become the most critical question for sustainable development of nuclear energy in recent decades. Many researches concentrated on risk and benefit perception, which were deemed as the most influential factors of Public Acceptance of Nuclear Energy (PANE). But few researches focused on psychological factors including regulatory focus. Therefore, this paper aimed to explore the moderating effect of regulatory focus on PANE based on Regulatory Focus Theory in order to find ways to increase/decrease PANE. An Internet-based survey had been carried out in China nationwide. The results indicated that trust in government was positively related to PANE and this relationship was mediated by risk and benefit perception. In addition, the strength of the associations between risk and benefit perception and PANE were moderated by regulatory focus, consisting of prevention focus and promotion focus. Prevention focus strengthened the negative relationship between risk perception and PANE, while promotion focus weakened. Moreover, promotion focus weakened the positive relationship between benefit perception and PANE, but no significant moderating effect of prevention focus was founded on the relationship between benefit perception and PANE. Some policy implications were also proposed on the basis of above-mentioned findings. Keywords: Public acceptance, Nuclear energy, Regulatory focus, Moderating effect

Cervical discogenic pain (CDP) is mainly induced by cervical disc degeneration. However, how CDP modulates the functional interactions within the pain network remains unclear. In the current study, we studied the changed resting-state functional connectivities of pain network with 40 CDP patients and 40 age-, gender-matched healthy controls. We first defined the pain network with the seeds of the posterior insula (PI). Then, whole brain and seed-to-target functional connectivity analyses were performed to identify the differences in functional connectivity between CDP and healthy controls. Finally, correlation analyses were applied to reveal the associations between functional connectivities and clinical measures. Whole-brain functional connectivity analyses of PI identified increased functional connectivity between PI and thalamus (THA) and decreased functional connectivity between PI and middle cingulate cortex (MCC) in CDP patients. Functional connectivity analyses within the pain network further revealed increased functional connectivities between bilateral PI and bilateral THA, and decreased functional connectivities between left PI and MCC, between left postcentral gyrus (PoCG) and MCC in CDP patients. Moreover, we found that the functional connectivities between right PI and left THA, between left PoCG and MCC were negatively and positively correlated with the visual analog scale, respectively. Our findings provide direct evidence of how CDP modulates the pain network, which may facilitate understanding of the neural basis of CDP.

Abstract Background Despite improvement in treatment strategies for atrial fibrillation (AF), a significant proportion of patients still experience recurrence after ablation. This study aims to propose a novel algorithm based on Transformer using surface electrocardiogram (ECG) signals and clinical features can predict AF recurrence. Methods Between October 2018 to December 2021, patients who underwent index radiofrequency ablation for AF with at least one standard 10-second surface ECG during sinus rhythm were enrolled. An end-to-end deep learning framework based on Transformer and a fusion module was used to predict AF recurrence using ECG and clinical features. Model performance was evaluated using areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and F1-score. Results A total of 920 patients (median age 61 [IQR 14] years, 66.3% male) were included. After a median follow-up of 24 months, 253 patients (27.5%) experienced AF recurrence. A single deep learning enabled ECG signals identified AF recurrence with an AUROC of 0.769, sensitivity of 75.5%, specificity of 61.1%, F1 score of 55.6% and overall accuracy of 65.2%. Combining ECG signals and clinical features increased the AUROC to 0.899, sensitivity to 81.1%, specificity to 81.7%, F1 score to 71.7%, and overall accuracy to 81.5%. Conclusions The Transformer algorithm demonstrated excellent performance in predicting AF recurrence. Integrating ECG and clinical features enhanced the models’ performance and may help identify patients at low risk for AF recurrence after index ablation.

BackgroundQuorum sensing (QS) research stands as a pivotal and multifaceted domain within microbiology, holding profound implications across various scientific disciplines. This bibliometric analysis seeks to offer an extensive overview of QS research, covering the period from 2004 to 2023. It aims to elucidate the hotspots, trends, and the evolving dynamics within this research domain.MethodsWe conducted an exhaustive review of the literature, employing meticulous data curation from the Science Citation Index Extension (SCI-E) within the Web of Science (WOS) database. Subsequently, our survey delves into evolving publication trends, the constellation of influential authors and institutions, key journals shaping the discourse, global collaborative networks, and thematic hotspots that define the QS research field.ResultsThe findings demonstrate a consistent and growing interest in QS research throughout the years, encompassing a substantial dataset of 4,849 analyzed articles. Journals such as Frontiers in Microbiology have emerged as significant contributor to the QS literature, highlighting the increasing recognition of QS's importance across various research fields. Influential research in the realm of QS often centers on microbial communication, biofilm formation, and the development of QS inhibitors. Notably, leading countries engaged in QS research include the United States, China, and India. Moreover, the analysis identifies research focal points spanning diverse domains, including pharmacological properties, genetics and metabolic pathways, as well as physiological and signal transduction mechanisms, reaffirming the multidisciplinary character of QS research.ConclusionThis bibliometric exploration provides a panoramic overview of the current state of QS research. The data portrays a consistent trend of expansion and advancement within this domain, signaling numerous prospects for forthcoming research and development. Scholars and stakeholders engaged in the QS field can harness these findings to navigate the evolving terrain with precision and speed, thereby enhancing our comprehension and utilization of QS in various scientific and clinical domains.

For bottom-up bone tissue engineering, microcarriers play crucial roles in serving as scaffolds that provide structural support and environmental cues for cell growth. Studies have demonstrated that the physicochemical properties of microcarriers, such as surface structure and chemistry, have significant effects on cell phenotype. However, current research on microcarriers has primarily focused on hydrogels or polymers, neglecting the exploration of hard materials that mimic the bone tissue environment. In this study, a new facile method to fabricate magnetic calcium phosphate (CaP)-based microcarriers were presented. By this method, magnetic calcium phosphate was obtained without changing the surface nanostructure of CaP microspheres. These magnetic CaP microspheres were utilized as cell-adhesive microcarriers, allowing for cell-guided assembly into spherical microtissue under a relatively low number of cells. However, when using CaP microspheres as microcarriers, only loose aggregates were observed. To enhance the biofunctionality of the magnetic CaP microcarriers, bisphosphonate-modified growth differentiation factor-5 (PGDF-5) were synthesized and selectively deposited onto the magnetic CaP surfaces. Coculture with preosteoblastic cells demonstrated that PGDF-5 modified microcarriers effectively improved cell osteogenic differentiation and angiogenesis, thereby facilitating the formation of highly stable cell spheroids. Collectively, all findings suggest that PGDF-5 modified magnetic CaP microcarriers hold great potential as tools for fabricating bottom-up tissue engineered bone-mimicking tissue.

Background. Radiotherapy has been proven to be an effective treatment strategy for inhibiting head-andneck cancer. However, side effects are common when using high-dosage irradiation, and the mechanism of action of this therapy has not been fully clarified. Objectives. To discover targeting molecules involved in an electron radiation-induced xerostomia murine model. Materials and methods. The xerostomia model mice were divided into Gy-3 (n = 5), Gy-7 (n = 5), and Gy-21 (n = 5) groups, and were compared to a negative control (NC) group. Drinking water amount, saliva volume, submandibular gland weight, and body weight were recorded. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to amplify gene transcription. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to identify submandibular gland damage. The dual-luciferase assay was used to observe the interaction between the Cdkn1a gene and miR-486a-3p. Results. Electron radiation significantly increased the drinking water amount, and decreased saliva volume and body weight compared to mice without radiation treatment (p < 0.05). The H&E staining showed that electron radiation damaged the submandibular gland. Electron radiation also triggered significantly higher transcription of the Cdkn1a gene in the submandibular gland of xerostomia mice compared to those without radiation treatment (p < 0.05). The dual-luciferase assay demonstrated that miR-486a-3p interacted with the Cdkn1a gene (miRNA-mRNA). Conclusions. Radiation was found to induce damage of the submandibular gland and affect Cdkn1a expression by regulating the expression of miR-486a-3p in a xerostomia murine model. Therefore, modulation of miR-486a-3p and the Cdkn1a gene in a xerostomia murine model might improve damage of the submandibular gland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transdermal delivery has become a crucial field in pharmaceutical research. There has been a proliferation of innovative methods for transdermal drug delivery. In recent years, the number of publications regarding transdermal drug delivery has been rising rapidly. To investigate the current research trends and hotspots in transdermal drug delivery, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis was performed.Methods: An extensive literature review was conducted to gather information on transdermal drug delivery that had been published between 2003 and 2022. The articles were obtained from the Web of Science (WOS) and the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) databases. Subsequently, the collected data underwent analysis and visualization using a variety of software tools. This approach enables a deeper exploration of the hotspots and emerging trends within this particular research domain.Results: The results showed that the number of articles published on transdermal delivery has increased steadily over the years, with a total of 2,555 articles being analyzed. The most frequently cited articles were related to the optimization of drug delivery and the use of nanotechnology in transdermal drug delivery. The most active countries in the field of transdermal delivery research were the China, United States, and India. Furthermore, the hotspots over the past 2 decades were identified (e.g., drug therapy, drug delivery, and pharmaceutical preparations and drug design). The shift in research focus reflects an increasing emphasis on drug delivery and control release, rather than simply absorption and penetration, and suggests a growing interest in engineering approaches to transdermal drug delivery.Conclusion: This study provided a comprehensive overview of transdermal delivery research. The research indicated that transdermal delivery would be a rapidly evolving field with many opportunities for future research and development. Moreover, this bibliometric analysis will help researchers gain insights into transdermal drug delivery research’s hotspots and trends accurately and quickly.

Osteochondral defects include the damage of cartilage and subchondral bone, which are still clinical challenges. The general replacements are difficult to simultaneously repair cartilage and subchondral bone due to their various requirements. Moreover, appropriate printable bioactive materials were needed for 3D bioprinting personalized scaffolds for osteochondral repairing. Herein, the novel hydrogel was developed by hybridizing the alginate sodium (SA) and gellan gum (GG) with the inorganic thixotropic magnesium phosphate-based gel (TMP-BG) in the pre-crosslinking of Mg2+ to enhance osteochondral repairing. SA-GG/TMP-BG hybrid hydrogels possessed controllable rheological, injectable, mechanical properties and porosities by tuning their ratio. The shear-thinning of SA-GG/TMP-BG was responsible for its excellent injectability. SA-GG/TMP-BG hybrid hydrogels displayed good cell compatibility, on which MG-63 and BMSCs cells attached and spread well with the high proliferation and up-regulated osteogenic genes. In addition, the inorganic TMP-BG gel hybridized with SA-GG hydrogel released Mg2+ was conducive to recruiting BMSCs and promoting the osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Histological results confirmed that SA-GG/TMP6040 significantly promoted the osteogenesis of subchondral bone and then further facilitated the cartilage repairing after being implanted in osteochondral defects of rabbits for 6 and 12 weeks.Our finding revealed that the inorganic TMP-BG endowed the excellent osteogenic activity of the hybrid hydrogels, which played a key role in successful osteochondral repairing. The newly SA-GG/TMP-BG hybrid hydrogels appeared to be promising materials for osteochondral repairing and the further 3D bioprinting.

Background: Cancer cells have properties similar to those of stem cells, including high proliferation and self-renewal ability. NANOG is the key regulatory gene that maintains the self-renewal and pluripotency characteristics of embryonic stem cells. We previously reported that knockdown of the pluripotent stem cell factor NANOG obviously reduced the proliferation and drug-resistance capabilities of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In this study, we gained insights into the potential regulatory mechanism of NANOG, particularly in ESCC. Methods: NANOG was ectopically expressed in the Eca-109 cell line via pcDNA3.1 vector transfection. The mRNA expression of different genes was detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and protein quantification was performed by western blotting. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the expression of interleukin 6 (IL-6). The capabilities of proliferation, migration, and invasion were investigated using cell count and Transwell assays. The tumor sphere-forming assay was used to investigate the sphere formation capacity of cancer stem cells. Results: The expression of NANOG promoted the cell proliferation and sphere formation capacity of cancer stem cells in a dose-dependent manner. IL-6-mediated activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was closely related to the expression of NANOG in ESCC. Consistently, the target genes of STAT3, including CCL5 , VEGFA , CCND1 , and Bcl-xL , were upregulated upon the overexpression of NANOG. Conclusion: These results revealed that the expression of NANOG promotes cell proliferation, invasion, and stemness via IL-6/STAT3 signaling in ESCC.

Metallic ions have been widely investigated and incorporated into bone substitutes for bone regeneration owing to their superior capacity to induce angiogenesis and osteogenesis. Exosomes are key paracrine mediators that play a crucial role in cell-to-cell communication. However, the role of exosomes in metallic ion-induced bone formation and their underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Thus, this review systematically analyzes the effects of metallic ions and metallic ion-incorporated biomaterials on exosome secretion from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and macrophages, as well as the effects of secreted exosomes on inflammation, angiogenesis, and osteogenesis. In addition, possible signaling pathways involved in metallic ion-mediated exosomes, followed by bone regeneration, are discussed. Despite limited investigation, metallic ions have been confirmed to regulate exosome production and function, affecting immune response, angiogenesis, and osteogenesis. Although the underlying mechanism is not yet clear, these insights enrich our understanding of the mechanisms of the metallic ion-induced microenvironment for bone regeneration, benefiting the design of metallic ion-incorporated implants.

Implant-related infection (IRI) is a major problem in orthopedics. Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element with strong bactericidal activity and, thus, presents potential for reducing IRI. The present study explored a straightforward strategy for releasing Cu2+ from titanium (Ti) implants, and we conducted a preliminary study to assess the feasibility of this approach in clinical translation. Polylactic acid (PLA) coatings containing different concentrations of copper ions were prepared on Ti discs. The antibacterial activity and biocompatibility of the copper ion-incorporated Ti implants were evaluated using Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and animal models. In vitro, the coatings produced burst release of Cu2+ in 12 h, and inhibited S. aureus growth in a dose-dependent manner. The coatings prepared from PLA solutions containing 0.5 or 1.0 mg/mL reduced the viability and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, but these effects were negated after the coatings were immersed in culture medium for 6 h. Four weeks after implantation, the Cu-free K-wires challenged with S. aureus had persistent infection and inferior fracture healing to the other three groups, while Cu-coated wires had no evidence of infection. Furthermore, the Cu-coated wires placed in rabbits without S. aureus challenge showed superior fracture healing to the other three groups. These results suggest that PLA coatings containing Cu2+ may be an effective design for reducing IRI without adversely affecting adjacent bone healing.

Fibronectin adsorption on biomaterial surfaces plays a key role in the biocompatibility of biomedical implants. In the current study, the adsorption behavior of the 7–10th type III modules of fibronectin (FN-III7–10) in the presence of hydroxyapatite (HAP) was systematically investigated by using molecular docking approach. It was revealed that the FN-III10 is the most important module among FN-III7–10 in promoting fibronectin binding to HAP by optimizing the interaction energy; the arginine residues were observed to directly interact with the hydroxyl group of HAP through electrostatic forces and hydrogen bonding. Moreover, it was found that the HAP-binding sites on FN-III10 are mainly located at the RGD loop region, which does not affect the interaction between the fibronectin protein and its cognate receptors on the cell surface.