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Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have brought society closer to the long-held dream of creating machines to help with both common and complex tasks and functions. From recommending movies to detecting disease in its earliest stages, AI has become an aspect of daily life many people accept without scrutiny. Despite its functionality and promise, AI has inherent security risks that users should understand and programmers must be trained to address. The ICE (integrity, confidentiality, and equity) cybersecurity labs developed by a team of cybersecurity researchers addresses these vulnerabilities to AI models through a series of hands-on, inquiry-based labs. Through experimenting with and manipulating data models, students can experience firsthand how adversarial samples and bias can degrade the integrity, confidentiality, and equity of deep learning neural networks, as well as implement security measures to mitigate these vulnerabilities. This article addresses the pedagogical approach underpinning the ICE labs, and discusses both sample activities and technological considerations for teachers who want to implement these labs with their students.

Due to the collision-shift effect, helium permeation into the vapor cell causes a time-dependent frequency drift in rubidium atomic clock. To quantify this shift, a cylindrical vapor cell with dimensions of 1.8 cm in diameter, 1.6 cm in height, and 1 mm in thickness, operating at a temperature of 65 ℃, is selected for analysis. Numerical methods are employed to simulate the temporal variation of helium gas pressure within atomic vapor cells composed of Pyrex (Corning 7740) and low helium-permeable aluminosilicate (Corning 1720). The results of the calculations indicate that for Pyrex vapor cells, after 12 years of operation, the drift rate attributable to helium permeation decreases to less than 1.0×10-14/day. In contrast, the frequency drift rate due to helium permeation in aluminosilicate vapor cell rubidium atomical clocks remains below 3.0×10-17/day throughout their operational lifetime, rendering its contribution to the drift rate negligible. This computational approach is also applicable to the investigation of the permeation processes of other gaseous species in various glass materials.

[Objective] To compare the applicability of terrain change monitoring algorithms in the pisha sandstone areas of the loess plateau. [Methods] A branch gully Telagouagou Huangfuchuan was taken as the research object, including digital elevation model of difference (DoD), cloud to cloud (C2C), cloud to mesh (C2M), and multiscale model to model cloud comparison (M3C2). Point cloud data employed to operate the four algorithms were produced using the SfM technique based on images acquired by UAV between July 2022 and March 2023. The impact of point density changes in the accuracy of the employed algorithms was also investigated. [Results] (1) All four algorithms were capable of effectively monitoring large surface changes. Among them, the M3C2 algorithm performed the best with the highest accuracy (R2=0.953, p

Abstract Background Cognitive dysfunction is one of the leading causes of disability and dependence in older adults and is a major economic burden on the public health system. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for cognitive dysfunction and their predictive value in older adults in Northwest China. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using a multistage sampling method. The questionnaires were distributed through the Elderly Disability Monitoring Platform to older adults aged 60 years and above in Northwest China, who were divided into cognitive dysfunction and normal cognitive function groups. In addition to univariate analyses, logistic regression and decision tree modelling were used to construct a model to identify factors that can predict the occurrence of cognitive dysfunction in older adults. Results A total of 12,494 valid questionnaires were collected, including 2617 from participants in the cognitive dysfunction group and 9877 from participants in the normal cognitive function group. Univariate analysis revealed that ethnicity, BMI, age, educational attainment, marital status, type of residence, residency status, current work status, main economic source, type of chronic disease, long-term use of medication, alcohol consumption, participation in social activities, exercise status, social support, total scores on the Balanced Test Assessment, total scores on the Gait Speed Assessment total score, and activities of daily living (ADL) were significantly different between the two groups (all P

A new lithophytic species, Paraboea zunyiensis T.Deng, F.Wen & R.B.Zhang (Gesneriaceae), inhabiting Karst rocks in northern Guizhou, China, is introduced and depicted in this study. It bears a resemblance to P. crassifolia (Hemsl.) B.L. Burtt, yet is distinguishable by its shorter filaments and staminodes, triangular ovate calyx segments, and ovaries surpassing the styles in length. Moreover, the phylogenetic tree constructed from nuclear DNA (ITS) and plastid DNA (trnL-F) data firmly support the differentiation of this novel species from P. crassifolia.

Primulina serrulata is a valuable ornamental herb with rosette leaves and vibrant flowers. Some leaves of this species exhibit a bright and distinct white color along the upper veins, enhancing their ornamental value, while others are less white or entirely green. This variation is observed in adult leaves from natural habitats and among young leaves from seedlings grown in the laboratory. TMT-labeled proteomics technology was used to study the protein-level biogenesis of white-veined (WV) P. serrulata leaves. Our objective was to offer novel insight into the breeding of WV plants. Chlorophyll (Chl) content was significantly lower in the WV group than in the control group. Out of 6261 proteins identified, a mere 69 met the criteria for differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) after stringent screening for subsequent analyses. Among these DEPs, there were 44 proteins that exhibited downregulation and 25 that were upregulated in the WV plants. Some DEPs associated with chloroplasts and Chl biosynthesis were downregulated, leading to the absence of green coloration. Concurrently, Gene Ontology enrichment analysis further emphasized an insufficiency of magnesium, the key element in Chl biosynthesis. Many DEPs associated with abiotic or biotic stressors were downregulated, suggesting an overall weakening of stress resistance with certain compensatory mechanisms. Similarly, many DEPs related to modifying biomacromolecules were downregulated, possibly affected by the decrease in proteins involved in photosynthesis and stress resistance. Some DEPs containing iron were upregulated, indicating that iron is mainly used to synthesize heme and ferritin rather than Chl. Additionally, several DEPs related to sulfur or sulfate were upregulated, suggesting strengthened respiration. Expansin-A4 and pectinesterase were upregulated, coinciding with the emergence of a rough and bright surface in the white area of leaves, indicative of the elongation and gelation processes in the cell walls. These findings provide new insight for future studies to explore the mechanism of color formation in WV leaves.

Background and Objectives: Circadian rhythms, the endogenous biological clocks that govern physiological processes, have emerged as pivotal regulators in the development and progression of breast cancer. This comprehensive review delves into the intricate interplay between circadian disruption and breast tumorigenesis from multifaceted perspectives, encompassing biological rhythms, circadian gene regulation, tumor microenvironment dynamics, and genetic polymorphisms. Methods and Results: Epidemiological evidence underscores the profound impact of external factors, such as night shift work, jet lag, dietary patterns, and exercise routines, on breast cancer risk and progression through the perturbation of circadian homeostasis. The review elucidates the distinct roles of key circadian genes, including CLOCK, BMAL1, PER, and CRY, in breast cancer biology, highlighting their therapeutic potential as molecular targets. Additionally, it investigates how circadian rhythm dysregulation shapes the tumor microenvironment, fostering epithelial-mesenchymal transition, chronic inflammation, and immunosuppression, thereby promoting tumor progression and metastasis. Furthermore, the review sheds light on the association between circadian gene polymorphisms and breast cancer susceptibility, paving the way for personalized risk assessment and tailored treatment strategies. Conclusions: Importantly, it explores innovative therapeutic modalities that harness circadian rhythms, including chronotherapy, melatonin administration, and traditional Chinese medicine interventions. Overall, this comprehensive review emphasizes the critical role of circadian rhythms in the pathogenesis of breast cancer and highlights the promising prospects for the development of circadian rhythm-based interventions to enhance treatment efficacy and improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The newly discovered Paraphlomis youyangensis, native to southeastern Chongqing, China, is introduced to the scientific community. This species exhibits similarities in floral structure to P. kuankuoshuiensis but is distinguishable by several discrete features, such as less pronounced rhizomes (<0.5 vs. 2-4 cm), elongated stolons (present vs. absent), smaller leaf blades (1.8-5.5 x 1.2-3.1 vs. 10-37 x 3-8 cm), leaf margins (shallowly repand and mucronulate vs. serrulate), and shorter bracteoles (1.2-4 vs. ca. 5 mm). Phylogenetic assessments based on two nuclear genes and three chloroplast genes indicated that P. youyangensis has a closer evolutionary relationship with P. yingdeensis but is differentiated from the latter by long stolons, smaller leaf blades (vs. 6.2-16.5 x 4-11.5 cm), leaf margins (vs. crenate-serrate), and notably shorter bracteoles (vs. 7-8 mm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell cryopreservation is widely used for porcine genetic conservation; however, isolating and freezing primary cells in farms without adequate experimental equipment and environment poses a significant challenge. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a quick and simple method to freeze tissues on-site, which can be used for deriving primary fibroblasts when needed to achieve porcine genetic conservation. In this study, we explored a suitable approach for porcine ear tissue cryopreservation. The porcine ear tissues were cut into strips and frozen by direct cover vitrification (DCV) in the cryoprotectant solution with 15% EG, 15% DMSO and 0.1 M trehalose. Histological analysis and ultrastructural evaluation revealed that thawed tissues had normal tissue structure. More importantly, viable fibroblasts could be derived from these tissues frozen in liquid nitrogen for up to 6 months. Cells derived from thawed tissues did not show any cell apoptosis, had normal karyotypes and could be used for nuclear transfer. These results suggest that this quick and simple ear tissue cryopreservation method can be applied for porcine genetic conservation, especially in the face of a deadly emerging disease in pigs.

Tomato and cucumber are two vital edible vegetables that usually appear in people’s daily diet. Penthiopyrad is a new type of amide chiral fungicide, which is often used for disease control of vegetables (including tomato and cucumber) due to its wide bactericidal spectrum, low toxicity, good penetration, and strong internal absorption. Extensive application of penthiopyrad may have caused potential pollution in the ecosystem. Different processing methods can remove pesticide residues from vegetables and protect human health. In this study, the penthiopyrad removal efficiency of soaking and peeling from tomatoes and cucumbers was evaluated under different conditions. Among different soaking methods, heated water soaking and water soaking with additives (NaCl, acetic acid, and surfactant) presented a more effective reduction ability than other treatments. Due to the specific physicochemical properties of tomatoes and cucumbers, the ultrasound enhances the removal rate of soaking for tomato samples and inhibits it for cucumber samples. Peeling can remove approximately 90% of penthiopyrad from contaminated tomato and cucumber samples. Enantioselectivity was found only during tomato sauce storage, which may be related to the complex microbial community. Health risk assessment data suggests that tomatoes and cucumbers are safer for consumers after soaking and peeling. The results may provide consumers with some useful information to choose better household processing methods to remove penthiopyrad residues from tomatoes, cucumbers, and other edible vegetables.

In coal-fired power plants, how to timely inventory coal storage, in order to optimize the coal stock, and improve coal blending operation, and then carry out economic dispatch scientifically and reasonably, has always been an important topic. The traditional way of artificial method has big error, high cost and serious waste of resources. Ultrasonic measurement technology is greatly affected by time difference and dust. Measurement technology based on computer vision requires interpolation to fit the correction model. The above methods all have large measurement errors and have been eliminated by the market. This paper mainly introduces coal measuring technologies based on laser and uav tilt photography which have been researched and applied more recently. Their respective installation methods, characteristics and applicable working occasions are analyzed. They have the common characteristic that the 3d coordinate point cloud data of coal yard surface needs to be solved before the 3d model of coal yard can be generated and the coal storage amount can be calculated. In the case that the 3d coordinate point cloud data of coal yard of power plant cannot be obtained directly, 3d reconstruction can be carried out by using 2d images of coal yard in coal report, or by using neural network model, and then the coal volume can be checked. This research idea is of great significance to realize effective and accurate supervision of coal storage in power plants..