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Abstract Motivation Drug combination therapies have shown promise in clinical cancer treatments. However, it is hard to experimentally identify all drug combinations for synergistic interaction even with high-throughput screening due to the vast space of potential combinations. Although a number of computational methods for drug synergy prediction have proven successful in narrowing down this space, fusing drug pairs and cell line features effectively still lacks study, hindering current algorithms from understanding the complex interaction between drugs and cell lines. Results In this paper, we proposed a Permutable feature fusion network for Drug-Drug Synergy prediction, named PermuteDDS. PermuteDDS takes multiple representations of drugs and cell lines as input and employs a permutable fusion mechanism to combine drug and cell line features. In experiments, PermuteDDS exhibits state-of-the-art performance on two benchmark data sets. Additionally, the results on independent test set grouped by different tissues reveal that PermuteDDS has good generalization performance. We believed that PermuteDDS is an effective and valuable tool for identifying synergistic drug combinations. It is publicly available at https://github.com/littlewei-lazy/PermuteDDS . Scientific contribution First, this paper proposes a permutable feature fusion network for predicting drug synergy termed PermuteDDS, which extract diverse information from multiple drug representations and cell line representations. Second, the permutable fusion mechanism combine the drug and cell line features by integrating information of different channels, enabling the utilization of complex relationships between drugs and cell lines. Third, comparative and ablation experiments provide evidence of the efficacy of PermuteDDS in predicting drug-drug synergy.

The automatic registration of infrared and visible images in vehicular imaging systems remains challenging in vision-assisted driving systems because of differences in imaging mechanisms. Existing registration methods often fail to accurately register infrared and visible images in vehicular imaging systems due to numerous spurious points during feature extraction, unstable feature descriptions, and low feature matching efficiency. To address these issues, a robust and efficient registration of infrared and visible images for vehicular imaging systems is proposed. In the feature extraction stage, we propose a structural similarity point extractor (SSPE) that extracts feature points using the structural similarity between weighted phase congruency (PC) maps and gradient magnitude (GM) maps. This approach effectively suppresses invalid feature points while ensuring the extraction of stable and reliable ones. In the feature description stage, we design a rotation-invariant feature descriptor (RIFD) that comprehensively describes the attributes of feature points, thereby enhancing their discriminative power. In the feature matching stage, we propose an effective coarse-to-fine matching strategy (EC2F) that improves the matching efficiency through nearest neighbor matching and threshold-based fast sample consensus (FSC), while improving registration accuracy through coordinate-based iterative optimization. Registration experiments on public datasets and a self-established dataset demonstrate the superior performance of our proposed method, and also confirm its effectiveness in real vehicular environments.

Identification of genetic variants associated with complex traits is a critical step for improving plant resistance and breeding. Although the majority of existing methods for variants detection have good predictive performance in the average case, they can not precisely identify the variants present in a small number of target genes. In this paper, we propose a weighted sparse group lasso (WSGL) method to select both common and low-frequency variants in groups. Under the biologically realistic assumption that complex traits are influenced by a few single loci in a small number of genes, our method involves a sparse group lasso approach to simultaneously select associated groups along with the loci within each group. To increase the probability of selecting out low-frequency variants, biological prior information is introduced in the model by re-weighting lasso regularization based on weights calculated from input data. Experimental results from both simulation and real data of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with Arabidopsis flowering traits demonstrate the superiority of WSGL over other competitive approaches for genetic variants detection.

A guided−wave long−range surface plasmon resonance (GW−LRSPR) sensor was proposed in this investigation. In the proposed sensor, high−refractive−index (RI) dielectric films (i.e., CH3NH3PbBr3 perovskite, silicon) served as the guided−wave (GW) layer, which was combined with the long−range surface plasmon resonance (LRSPR) structure to form the GW−LRSPR sensing structure. The theoretical results based on the transfer matrix method (TMM) demonstrated that the LRSPR signal was enhanced by the additional high#x2212;RI GW layer, which was called the GW−LRSPR signal. The achieved GW−LRSPR signal had a strong ability to perceive the analyte. By optimizing the low− and high−RI dielectrics in the GW−LRSPR sensing structure, we obtained the highest sensitivity (S) of 1340.4 RIU−1 based on a CH3NH3PbBr3 GW layer, and the corresponding figure of merit (FOM) was 8.16 × 104 RIU−1 deg−1. Compared with the conventional LRSPR sensor (S = 688.9 RIU−1), the sensitivity of this new type of sensor was improved by nearly 94%.

Abstract Background In recent years, numerous computational methods predicted protein function based on the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. These methods supposed that two proteins share the same function if they interact with each other. However, it is reported by recent studies that the functions of two interacting proteins may be just related. It will mislead the prediction of protein function. Therefore, there is a need for investigating the functional relationship between interacting proteins. Results In this paper, the functional relationship between interacting proteins is studied and a novel method, called as GoDIN, is advanced to annotate functions of interacting proteins in Gene Ontology (GO) context. It is assumed that the functional difference between interacting proteins can be expressed by semantic difference between GO term and its relatives. Thus, the method uses GO term and its relatives to annotate the interacting proteins separately according to their functional roles in the PPI network. The method is validated by a series of experiments and compared with the concerned method. The experimental results confirm the assumption and suggest that GoDIN is effective on predicting functions of protein. Conclusions This study demonstrates that: (1) interacting proteins are not equal in the PPI network, and their function may be same or similar, or just related; (2) functional difference between interacting proteins can be measured by their degrees in the PPI network; (3) functional relationship between interacting proteins can be expressed by relationship between GO term and its relatives.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Qi Gong fitness in alleviating stress, anxiety, and depression among underprivileged working youth with a follow-up study. Methods: Eighty subjects were randomly assigned to normal groups (NG) and treatment groups (TG), with 40 participants in each group. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), and 24-Item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-24) were used to evaluate the effect of Qi Gong fitness on alleviating stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms in underprivileged working youth. Results: There was no significant difference in demographic outcome indicators between NG and TG. The main analytic results showed significant differences (P < .05) in the intra- and inter-group comparisons of NG and TG in stress, anxiety, and depression before and after intervention. When compared with prior intervention, NG and TG after intervention showed more favorable scores in PSS, GAD-7, and HAMD-24, among which PSS (NG: 51.61 ± 4.32 vs. 29.80 ± 3.08; TG: 55.21 ± 5.41 vs. 15.85 ± 2.25; P < .01), GAD-7 (NG: 10.83 ± 2.45 vs. 9.85 ± 2.52; TG: 12.23 ± 1.90 vs. 7.84 ± 1.57; P < .01), and HAMD-24 (NG: 10.83 ± 2.45 vs. 9.85 ± 2.52; TG: 25.63 ± 3.94 vs. 11.40 ± 3.82; P < .01); These results indicate that NG and TG have significant effects on alleviating occupational stress, anxiety, and depression in young underprivileged people. Conclusion: The study indicates that Qi Gong fitness had a positive effect on reducing and alleviating stress, anxiety, and depression among young underprivileged professionals. This highlights the potential benefits of incorporating Qi Gong fitness into treatment plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Delirium is a common complication in elderly surgical patients and is associated with an increased risk of dementia. Although advanced age is a major risk factor, the mechanisms underlying postoperative delirium remain poorly understood. The glymphatic system, a brain-wide network of perivascular pathways, facilitates cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow and supports the clearance of metabolic waste. Impairments in glymphatic function have been observed in aging brains and various neurodegenerative conditions. Using in vivo two-photon imaging, we examined the effects of surgery (laparotomy) on glymphatic function in adult (6 months) and aged (18 months) mice 24 h post-surgery. In adult mice, CSF tracer entry into the brain parenchyma along periarteriolar spaces occurred rapidly following intracisternal tracer injection, with no significant differences between sham and surgery groups. In contrast, aged mice exhibited delayed tracer influx, with further impairments observed in the surgery group compared to sham controls. This glymphatic dysfunction correlated with poorer T-maze performance in aged mice. These findings suggest that surgery exacerbates glymphatic impairment in aging brains, potentially hindering brain waste clearance and contributing to postoperative delirium.

CT image reconstruction algorithm based on generalized total variation (TGV) can overcome the staircase effect of total variation (TV) regularization, thereby protecting the structural features of the reconstructed image transition region. Although the TGV reconstruction method is superior to the TV reconstruction method, it still ignores the role of non-local self-similar prior information in restoring CT image details. To overcome the aforementioned limitations of TGV reconstruction method, we introduce a non-local TGV (NLTGV) regularization term and propose a sparse view CT reconstruction algorithm based on NLTGV regularization. The proposed method can not only utilize non-local variational information of different orders to protect image structural features but can also utilize non-local self-similarity to restore the details of the reconstructed image. Owing to the inclusion of dual non-smooth terms in the reconstruction model, solving it directly is difficult. Therefore, we proposed an optimization algorithm based on convex set projection, which decomposes the problem into several sub-problems to be solved. The simulation and experimental results show that the proposed NLTGV regularization reconstruction method can effectively improve the quality of reconstructed images compared with other variational reconstruction methods.

Abstract Osseointegration is a crucial property of biomaterials used for bone defect repair. While titanium is the gold standard in craniofacial surgeries, various polymeric biomaterials are being explored as alternatives. However, polymeric materials can be bioinert, hindering integration with surrounding tissues. In this investigation, plasma ion immersion implantation (PIII)-treated polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and polyether ketone (PEK) implants were assessed in a sheep maxilla and mandible model. Defects were filled with PIII-treated PEEK and PEK implants, produced through fused filament fabrication (FFF) and selective laser sintering (SLS), respectively. Positive controls were grade 23 titanium implants via selective laser melting, while untreated PEEK implants served as negative controls. Surface analyses using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy revealed favorable properties. Osseointegration was qualitatively and quantitatively assessed at 8-, 10-, and 12-weeks post-implantation, showing significantly improved outcomes for both PIII-treated PEEK and PEK implants compared to untreated controls. The study suggests PIII treatment enhances FFF-printed PEEK’s osseointegration, and PIII-treated SLS-printed PEK achieves comparable osseointegration to 3D printed titanium. These findings underscore surface modification strategies’ potential for polymeric biomaterials, offering insights into developing alternative implant materials for craniofacial surgeries, with enhanced biocompatibility and osseointegration capabilities for improved clinical outcomes.

Abstract In order to solve the problems of rutting and early fatigue cracks in emulsified asphalt cold recycled pavement, and the shortage of natural stone resources and new environmental hazards caused by the use of traditional limestone powder filler. In this study, coal gangue powder was added to prepare Emulsified Asphalt Mastic (EAM) to improve the rheological properties and fatigue performance. A series of tests, including frequency scanning, temperature scanning, Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR), Linear Amplitude Scanning (LAS), and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were conducted. Through rheology theory, viscoelastic damage theory, the impact of three fillers: Coal Gangue Powder (CGP), Limestone Powder (LP) and Portland Cement (PC), as well as four kinds of Powder-Binder ratios (P/B) (0.6, 0.9, 1.2, 1.5) on the high temperature rheology and medium temperature fatigue performance of EAM was analyzed. The findings reveal that the filler content has a great influence on the proportion of viscoelastic components of EAM in the low frequency domain. The complex shear modulus (G*) and phase angle (δ) of EAM were suitable for Christensen-Anderson-Marasteanu model (CAM) model in the wide frequency domain. Increasing the filler content and Rotating Thin Film Oven Test (RTFOT) aging can improve the high-temperature stability and stress sensitivity of EAM, but it reduced its fatigue resistance. The high temperature performance of EAM containing PC and CGP exhibit superior high-temperature performance compared to LP fillers. Conversely, LP mastic demonstrate superior anti-fatigue performance under actual strain levels in both thin and thick asphalt pavement layers, surpassing the performance of PC mastic and CGP mastic. Therefore, coal gangue powder can be used as a new type of green filler to replace limestone powder. An appropriate amount of incorporation can improve the high temperature stability of the mortar and does not have a huge impact on the fatigue performance. The most suitable range of P/B is identified as 0.6–1.0 when utilizing LP as the filler, 1.2–1.5 when utilizing PC or CGP as the filler.

Accurate volumetric error model is the basis for accuracy design. In this paper, a universal model for volumetric error prediction considering tolerance is proposed. Firstly, geometric error parameters are obtained by analysing the motion forms of key components. Secondly, the map between geometric error and tolerance is developed using Fourier function. Subsequently, the volumetric error prediction model (VEPM) is established based on key component tolerance. The model was applied to guide the development of machine tools. Finally, model validation experiments are carried out with two configurations of machine tools. The results show that, for the horizontal grinder, the predicted values for ±45° diagonal errors are 0–2.7 μm and 0–4.5 μm, which are consistent with the measured average values of 0.03–2.33 μm and −0.10–5.46 μm, respectively. Moreover, the predicted and measured values for +45° diagonal error of the vertical grinder are −15.0–0 μm and −15.07–0 μm, respectively. The experimental results illustrate the VEPM is effective and universal. The model has the potential to be applied to the design and development of machine tools.

Abstract Background To analyze the safety and efficacy of microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy(MSV) performed with and without preservation of all testicular arteries and lymphatic system. Methods All of the 98 patients with varicocele who underwent MSV were included in the analysis. Fifty-eight male patients surgically underwent MSV with preservation of all testicular arteries and lymphatic system(Group 1). The other 40 male patients surgically underwent MSV with preservation of a single testicular artery, while the remaining vascular bundle sparing the vas deferens with its vessels was then isolated"en bloc,” ligated and cut(Group 2). Operative time, semen parameters and complications were then compared. Results Mean operative time for Group 1 was significantly longer than that of Group 2(90.26 ± 21.69 min vs. 79.30 ± 19.58 min, P = 0.01). Visual analogue pain scale (VAS) decreased significantly in both groups. Group 1 experienced a decrease from a median of 5 (interquartile range, IQR: 4 ~ 6) to 1 (IQR: 0 ~ 2), P