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Abstract Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations are a routine part of the cancer treatment process. In developing countries, disease diagnosis is often time-consuming and associated with serious prognostic problems. Moreover, MRI is characterized by high noise and low resolution. This creates difficulties in automatic segmentation of the lesion region, leading to a decrease in the segmentation performance of the model. This paper proposes a deep convolutional neural network osteosarcoma image segmentation system based on noise reduction and super-resolution reconstruction, which is the first time to introduce super-resolution methods in the task of osteosarcoma MRI image segmentation, effectively improving the Model generalization performance. We first refined the initial osteosarcoma dataset using a Differential Activation Filter, separating those image data that had little effect on model training. At the same time, we carry out rough initial denoising of the image. Then, an improved information multi-distillation network based on adaptive cropping is proposed to reconstruct the original image and improve the resolution of the image. Finally, a high-resolution network is used to segment the image, and the segmentation boundary is optimized to provide a reference for doctors. Experimental results show that this algorithm has a stronger segmentation effect and anti-noise ability than existing methods. Code: https://github.com/GFF1228/NSRDN.

ContextThe prevalence of unilateral primary aldosteronism (UPA) with cortisol co-secretion varies geographically.ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of UPA with cortisol co-secretion in a Chinese population.DesignRetrospective cohort study.MethodsWe recruited 580 patients with UPA who underwent cosyntropin stimulation test (CST) after the 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics and postoperative outcomes of UPA with and without cortisol co-secretion.ResultsUPA with cortisol co-secretion (1 mg DST>1.8 ug/dL) was identified in 65 of 580 (11.2%) patients. These patients were characterized by older age, longer duration of hypertension, higher concentration of plasma aldosterone and midnight cortisol, lower adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), larger tumor diameter, and more history of diabetes mellitus. Cortisol and aldosterone levels were higher and DHEAS level was lower in UPA with cortisol co-secretion at 0–120 min after CST. Among 342 UPA patients with KCNJ5 gene sequencing and follow-up results, the complete clinical success rate was lower in UPA with cortisol co-secretion (33.3% vs. 56.4%, P

IntroductionShape memory alloy (SMA) actuators are attractive options for robotic applications due to their salient features. So far, achieving precise control of SMA actuators and applying them to human-robot interaction scenarios remains a challenge.MethodsThis paper proposes a novel approach to deal with the control problem of a SMA actuator. Departing from conventional mechanism models, we attempt to describe this nonlinear plant using a gray-box model, in which only the input current and the output displacement are measured. The control scheme consists of the model parameters updating and the control law calculation. The adaptation algorithm is founded on the multi-innovation concept and incorporates a dead-zone weighted factor, aiming to concurrently reduce computational complexities and enhance robustness properties. The control law is based on a PI controller, the gains of which are designed by the pole assignment technique. Theoretical analysis proves that the closed-loop performance can be ensured under mild conditions.ResultsThe experiments are first conducted through the Beckhoff controller. The comparative results suggest that the proposed adaptive PI control strategy exhibits broad applicability, particularly under load variations. Subsequently, the SMA actuator is designed and incorporated into the hand rehabilitation robot. System position tracking experiments and passive rehabilitation training experiments for various gestures are then conducted. The experimental outcomes demonstrate that the hand rehabilitation robot, utilizing the SMA actuator, achieves higher position tracking accuracy and a more stable system under the adaptive control strategy proposed in this paper. Simultaneously, it successfully accommodates hand rehabilitation movements for multiple gestures.DiscussionThe adaptive controller proposed in this paper takes into account both the computational complexity of the model and the accuracy of the control results, Experimental results not only demonstrate the practicality and reliability of the controller but also attest to its potential application in human-machine interaction within the field of neural rehabilitation.

BackgroundPrediabetes is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality. Rare research in China has evaluated the prevalence of prediabetes among children and adolescents using the HbA1c criterion or the combined FPG-or-HbA1c diagnostic criterion, and researchers paid no attention to the distributions of blood glucose in Shenzhen, especially for juveniles.MethodsWe conducted a school-based cross-sectional study based on the first-year students from 17 primary, middle, and high schools. Prediabetes was defined as FPG of 5.6–6.9 mmol/L or HbA1c of 5.7%–6.4%. The crude and standardized prevalence of prediabetes with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was estimated.ResultsA total of 7519 participants, aged 6 to 17 years, were included. For all subjects, the crude prevalence (95% CI) of prediabetes was 1.49% (1.21–1.77), 8.72% (8.08–9.36), and 9.80% (9.13–10.47) by the FPG-only, HbA1c-only, and FPG-or-HbA1c criteria, respectively. Based on the 2010 Shenzhen census population, the standardized prevalence was 1.56% (males 1.85%, females 1.19%), 11.05% (males 11.47%, females 10.53%), and 12.19% (males 13.01%, females 11.15%) by the corresponding criteria. The proportion of prediabetes was higher for males than females, and the prevalence decreased with grade for males but increased for females. The association of BMI and prediabetes was U-shaped curve, indicating higher rates of prediabetes for underweight and obesity people.ConclusionThe blood glucose status of children and adolescents in Shenzhen is worrisome, and the early detection and management of prediabetes are imperative.

ContextAdrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is rare and have high rates of recurrence and mortality. The role of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) in localized ACC was controversial.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study in our center between 2015 and 2021 to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adjuvant RT in localized ACC. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the independent risk factors. Adverse events associated with RT were documented according to the toxicity criteria of the radiation therapy oncology group (RTOG) and the common terminology criteria for adverse events (CTCAE v5.0).ResultsOf 105 patients with localized ACC, 46 (43.8%) received adjuvant RT after surgery. The median radiation dose was 45.0Gy (range:30.0-50.4) and median follow up time was 36.5 (IQR: 19.7-51.8) months. In comparison to the no adjuvant RT group, patients with adjuvant RT had better 3-year OS (87.9% vs 79.5%, P=0.039), especially for patients with ENSAT I/II stage (P=0.004). Adjuvant RT also improved the median DFS time from 16.5months (95%CI, 12.0-20.9) to 34.6months (95%CI, 16.1-53.0). Toxicity of RT was generally mild and moderate with six grade 3 events.ConclusionsPostoperative adjuvant RT significantly improved OS and DFS compared with the use of surgery alone in resected ACC patients. Although this retrospective study on RT in localized ACC indicates that RT is effective in ACC, its findings need to be prospectively confirmed.

In order to improve the stable isotope utilization rate, a simple and inexpensive synthesis method was developed. The synthesis of levofloxacin is based on piperazine as the starting material, and the reaction with carbobenzoxy chloride (CBZ-Cl) to get CBZ-piperazine-CD3, and then the reaction with iodomethane-D3 to get CBZ-piperazine-CD3, after the removal of CBZ protection to get methylpiperazine-D3, and finally the reaction with levofloxacin carboxylic acid to get levofloxin-D3. The yield of levofloxacin-D3 was 37.0% based on the amount of iodomethane-D3. The synthesized Levofloxacin-D3 product was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The chemical purity was 98.5% and the isotope abundance was 99.5atom% D. It can be used as the internal standard for the quantitative determination of levofloxacin residue in animal food.

To achieve better mechanical properties and higher scour resistance of yellow mud in Qiang Village, this study investigated how to improve yellow mud by single factors of straw, starch, cement, and epoxy resin. First, the effect of each material on the shear strength of yellow mud was analyzed through the direct shear test, and the effect of the respective material on the scour resistance of yellow mud was examined using a self-made spray device. Subsequently, combined with the results of the two experiments, the improvement effect of the material was comprehensively studied, and the optimal dosage of the respective material was determined. Lastly, an electron microscope was used to observe the microscopic morphology of the samples, and the improvement mechanism of each material was discussed from qualitative and quantitative perspectives. As revealed by the results, straw, starch, cement, and epoxy resin improved the shear strength and scour resistance of yellow mud. Peaks of straw, starch, and epoxy resin were found in their corresponding properties-dosage curves, corresponding to the optimal dosage in the experimental range. The corresponding performance curve of cement showed a unidirectional change, which was found with a significant improvement effect.

Using recycled aggregates to prepare geopolymer concrete plays an essential role in reducing dependence on natural resources and solving the problem of waste accumulation. However, the application of geopolymer recycled aggregate concrete (GRC) has been greatly limited due to the defects in the quality of recycled aggregates and the limitations of the brittleness of concrete materials. Therefore, the work is dedicated to improving GRC properties and exploring the mechanism of action of steel fiber (SF) and nano-Al2O3. In this study, calcined gangue, slag, fly ash, and recycled aggregate were used as raw materials, the influence of SFs (0–1.25 vol%) was first explored by single factor analysis, and on this basis, the effect of nano-Al2O3 (NA) (0–2 wt%) on the GPC performance of SF was studied. The microstructure of GRC was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The test results showed that adding SF could significantly improve the splitting tensile and flexural strength of GRC, among which 0.75 vol% is the most excellent. However, the increase in compressive strength could be more apparent. The addition of NA can make up for the lack of SF in improving compressive performance. When NA content is 1 wt%, the version of GRC is most apparent. Adding 1% NA has the most significant advance in GRC performance. The microstructure analysis showed that the NA could promote the polymerization reaction, generate more gel, and make the contact interface between SF and matrix more compact, thus improving the strength of GRC.

ContextAdrenal incidentaloma (AI) is commonly discovered on cross-sectional imaging. Mild autonomous cortisol secretion is the most common functional disorder detected in AI.ObjectiveTo delineate the association between radiological characteristics of benign adrenocortical tumors and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.MethodsIn the study, 494 patients diagnosed with benign unilateral adrenocortical tumors were included. Mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) was diagnosed when cortisol after 1mg-dexamethasone suppression test (1-mg DST) was in the range of 1.8-5ug/dl. Non-functional adrenocortical tumor (NFAT) was diagnosed as cortisol following 1-mg DST less than 1.8ug/dL. We performed Logistics regression and causal mediation analyses, looking for associations between radiological characteristics and the HPA axis.ResultsOf 494 patients, 352 (71.3%) with NFAT and 142 (28.7%) with MACS were included. Patients with MACS had a higher tumor diameter, thinner contralateral adrenal gland, and lower plasma ACTH and serum DHEAS than those with NFAT. ACTH (OR 0.978, 0.962-0.993) and tumor diameter (OR 1.857, 95%CI, 1.357-2.540) were independent factors associated with decreased serum DHEAS (all P

In many applications, data streams are indispensable to describe the relationships between nodes in networks, such as social networks, computer networks, and hyperlink networks. Fundamentally, a graph stream is a dynamic representation of a graph, which is usually composed of a sequence of edges, where each edge is represented by two endpoints and a weight. As a result of its large volume and highly dynamic nature, several graph sketches were proposed for the purposes of summarizing large-scale graph streams and enabling fast query processing. By using a compact data structure with hash functions, the graph sketches sequentially store the edges. Nevertheless, the existing graph sketches suffer from low performance on graph query tasks as a result of unpredictable collisions between heavy edges and light edges. To store heavy edges and light edges, this paper introduces a novel learning-based Dichotomy Graph Sketch (DGS) mechanism that uses two separate graph sketches, a heavy sketch and a light sketch. During a graph stream session, DGS obtains heavy edges and light edges, and uses these edges as training samples for a deep neural network (DNN) based binary classifier. The DNN-based classifier is then used to determine whether the upcoming edges are heavy or not. We will store the edges that are classified as heavy edges in the heavy sketch, and those that are classified as light edges in the light sketch. By combining the learnable classifier and Dichotomy Graph Sketches, the proposed mechanism resolves the hashing collision problem in conventional graph sketches and significantly improves graph query accuracy. The DGS algorithm outperforms the state-of-the-art graph sketches in a variety of graph query tasks based on extensive experiments that were conducted on four real-world graph stream datasets.

For a higher classification accuracy of disturbance signals of power quality, a disturbance classification method for power quality based on gram angle field and multiple transfer learning is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the one-dimensional disturbance signal of power quality is transformed into a Gramian angular field (GAF) coded image by using the gram angle field, and then three ResNet networks are constructed. The disturbance signals with representative signal-to-noise ratios of 0 dB, 20 dB and 40 dB are selected as the input of the sub-model to train the three sub-models, respectively. During this period, the training weights of the sub-models are transferred in turn by using the method of multiple transfer learning. The pre-training weight of the latter model is inherited from the training weight of the previous model, and the weight processing methods of partial freezing and partial fine-tuning are adopted to ensure the optimal training effect of the model. Finally, the features of the three sub-models are fused to train the classifier with a full connection layer, and a disturbance classification model for power quality is obtained. The simulation results show that the method has higher classification accuracy and better anti-noise performance, and the proposed model has good robustness and generalization.

The interfacial transition zone (ITZ) has long been considered as a zone of weakness in concrete. Many scholars have carried out relatively scattered tentative explorations to improve the performance of ITZ. The application of nanomaterials to enhance ITZ in concrete is a promising research. In order to further study the basic principles and practical applications of this field, it is urgent to systematically sort out the existing results. In this study, the nano-modification of ITZ in concrete is systematically reviewed and summarized. First, this study reviews the microscopic characterization of ITZ, including hydration products, porosity, and microhardness. Then, the influence of nanomaterials on ITZ is reviewed from the view of the above three aspects. Finally, the method and mechanism of the ITZ modified by nanomaterials were preliminarily clarified, which provided theoretical and empirical data support for the team’s next experimental work. A large number of research results show that nanomaterials improve the mechanical properties and microstructure of the ITZ, thus enhancing the mechanical properties and durability of concrete. The results of this article will provide source materials for the development of this field, a broader research basis for peer research, and a basis for further development of green engineering materials.

BackgroundIdiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA) is one of the most common types of primary aldosteronism (PA), an important cause of hypertension. Although high dietary sodium is a major risk factor for hypertension, there is no consensus on the recommended dietary sodium intake for IHA.ObjectiveThis study investigated the effect of a low-sodium diet on hemodynamic variables and relevant disease biomarkers in IHA patients, with the aim of providing a useful reference for clinical treatment.MethodsFifty IHA patients were evenly randomized into two groups and provided, after a 7-day run-in period (100 mmol/d sodium), either a low-sodium diet (50 mmol/d sodium) or a normal sodium diet (100 mmol/d sodium) for an additional 7 days. After the 14-day intervention (conducted without potassium supplementation), changes in blood pressure (BP) and serum potassium were evaluated in both groups.ResultsAfter the dietary intervention, the low sodium group exhibited, compared to the normal sodium group, decreased BP (SBP: 121.8 ± 12.8 vs. 129.9 ± 12.1 mmHg, p < 0.05; DBP: 82.6 ± 7.6 vs. 86.4 ± 8.2 mmHg, p < 0.05; MAP: 95.7 ± 8.8 vs. 100.9 ± 8.4 mmHg, p < 0.05) and increased serum potassium levels (3.38 ± 0.33 vs. 3.07 ± 0.27 mmol/L, p < 0.001). The low sodium group showed also better control of both BP and serum potassium: BP 0.05), BP

IntroductionPheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PCC/PGL) are rare neuroendocrine tumors and can secrete catecholamine. Previous studies have found that SDHB immunohistochemistry (IHC) can predict SDHB germline gene mutation, and SDHB mutation is closely associated with tumor progression and metastasis. This study aimed to clarify the potential effect of SDHB IHC as a predictive marker for tumor progression in PCC/PGL patients.MethodsWe included PCC/PGL patients diagnosed in Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from 2002 to 2014 for retrospective analysis and discovered that SDHB (-) staining patients had poorer prognoses. Then we examined SDHB protein expression by IHC on all tumors in the prospective series, which was composed of patients from 2015 to 2020 in our center.ResultsIn the retrospective series, the median follow-up was 167 months, and during follow-up, 14.4% (38/264) patients developed metastasis or recurrence, and 8.0% (22/274) patients died. Retrospective analysis revealed that 66.7% (6/9) of participants in the SDHB (-) group and 15.7% (40/255) of those in the SDHB (+) group developed progressive tumors (OR: 10.75, 95% CI: 2.72-52.60, P=0.001), and SDHB (-) was independently associated with poor outcomes after adjusting by other clinicopathological parameters (OR: 11.68, 95% CI: 2.58-64.45, P=0.002). SDHB (-) patients had shorter disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) (P

In order to improve the speed and accuracy of distribution transformer outage prediction, a distribution transformer outage prediction method based on Logistic fast minimum error entropy algorithm was proposed. Aiming at the problem that the basic minimum entropy regression algorithm runs too slowly, a fast minimum error entropy algorithm was proposed, which can keep the same regression effect as the minimum entropy regression, and greatly reduce the running time of the algorithm. In view of the application of Logistic regression in outage prediction, a fast minimum error entropy regression algorithm based on logistic was proposed, and the weight of distribution transformer was selected. The overload duration, maximum active load rate, average active load rate, average three-phase unbalance degree and heavy three-phase unbalance degree were used as the characteristic variable data of distribution transformer outage prediction. A distribution transformer outage prediction model was established, and the effect was found to be better than Logistic regression in the comparative experiment.

Sleep disorders and cognitive dysfunction are common non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). There is a close relationship between different sleep disorders and cognitive dysfunction. However, the pathophysiological mechanism is still unclear. This article intends to review the pathophysiological mechanism of sleep disorders in PD and the relationship between different sleep disorders and cognitive dysfunction for early identification, early diagnosis, and early intervention of sleep disorders. Based on this, we can delay cognitive decline of patients with PD and improve quality of life.

Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), an enduring and harmful organic pollutant, is widely employed in diverse food-related sectors. Our previous studies have provided evidence that PFDA has the potential to facilitate obesity and hepatic fat accumulation induced by high-fat diet (HFD) intake. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol found in green tea, has been suggested to possess potential preventive effects against metabolic abnormalities and fatty liver. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of EGCG on PFDA-exacerbated adiposity and hepatic lipid accumulation in HFD-fed mice. The results showed that EGCG reduced body weight gain; tissue and organ weights; blood glucose, serum insulin, HOMA-IR, leptin, and lipid parameters; serum inflammatory cytokines (IL−1β, IL−18, IL−6, and TNF−α); and hepatic lipid accumulation in PFDA-exposed mice fed an HFD. Further work showed that EGCG improved liver function and glucose homeostasis in mice fed an HFD and co-exposed to PFDA. The elevated hepatic mRNA levels of SREBP-1 and associated lipogenic genes, NLRP3, and caspase−1 in PFDA-exposed mice fed an HFD were significantly decreased by EGCG. Our work provides evidence for the potential anti-obesity effect of EGCG on co-exposure to HFD and PFDA and may call for further research on the bioactivity of EGCG to attenuate the endocrine disruption effects of long-term exposure to pollutants.

Abstract Background Atherosclerosis is a common complication in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Multiple factors are involved in the development and progress of atherosclerosis. We evaluated the association of weekly sedentary time (WST) with carotid plaque formation. Methods After data cleaning, a total of 26 664 participants with T2DM from 10 National Metabolic Management Centers (MMCs) from June 2017 to April 2021 were enrolled. Self‐reported lifestyle data including WST, sleeping time, smoking and drinking information, carotid artery ultrasound, and biochemical parameters were obtained. The independent association of carotid plaue with sedentary and other lifestyle behaviors was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression models, and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were reported. Moreover, stratified analysis was conducted to demonstrate the influence of confounding factors. Results The mean (SD) age of the participants was 54.0 (11.6) years, and the median (interquartile range) WST was 35.0 (21.0, 42.0) h. Comparing with participants in the first tertile of WST, those in the second or third tertile of WST were younger and with a shorter duration of diabetes. There were positive associations between longer sedentary time and odds of artery plaque after adjustment, with corresponding ORs in the second and third tertile were 1.40 (95% CI: 1.31–1.50) and 1.67 (95% CI: 1.56–1.79), respectively. However, the effect of WST on plaque in patients aged 18–40 years old had no statistical significance; the p value in the third tertile was 0.163. Conclusions In summary, higher WST appears to be associated with higher prevalence of carotid plaque in patients with T2DM, especially in aged populations.

In order to explore the engineering application potential of coal gangue-based geopolymer concrete (CGGPC), this article formulated the fiber-reinforced coal gangue-based geopolymer concrete (FRCGGPC). The mechanical properties of the specimens were tested to analyze the effects of different types and dosing amounts of fibers on the mechanical properties of CGGPC. The microscopic morphology of the specimens was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyze the strengthening mechanism of fibers on the mechanical properties of the CGGPC. The experimental results show that the splitting tensile strength of FRCGGPC can be improved obviously, but the improvement of compressive strength is not obvious. The control groups containing steel fiber (SF) and polyester fiber (PF) had peaks in their compressive strength. Under the same dosage, the effect of SF and PF on the splitting tensile strength of FRCGGPC is better than basalt fiber. The results of SEM analysis show that within a certain range of dosage, the fiber is closely combined with the matrix, which has a good force transmission effect and strengthens the matrix material. When the fiber dosage is too much, it is easy to agglomerate, which leads to the decrease in the mechanical properties of the specimens.

ABSTRACT Rapid and reliable diagnosis is important for the management of individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The rapid antigen detection test (RADT) is a rapid, inexpensive, and easy method. Several studies have reported that RADTs performed well in many countries; however, very few studies have been reported in China. In this study, we assessed the performance of the RADT (Ediagnosis COVID-19 antigen test kit). This study was conducted in a centralized isolation site in Shanghai and enrolled 716 patients with COVID-19 and 203 noninfected participants. Nasopharyngeal swabs from all participants were collected on the same day and tested using the RADT and real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). The performance of the RADT was evaluated in different scenarios, such as threshold cycle (CT) values, symptomatic phase, and symptoms on the day of testing. The results demonstrated that the sensitivity for patients with CT values lower than 20 was 96.55% (95% confidence interval [CI], 87.05 to 99.4). The sensitivities were 78.4% (95% CI, 69.96 to 85.05) for participants within 5 days after the first RT-PCR-positive result and 90.77% (95% CI, 80.34 to 96.19) within 5 days after symptom onset. Moreover, the sensitivity of the RADT was more than 80% for patients with symptoms on the day of testing, including fever (89.29%), cough (86.84%), stuffy nose (92.59%), runny nose (92%), sore throat (81.25%), and muscle pain (80.77%), especially for those with upper respiratory tract symptoms. The specificity of the RADT was good in all scenarios. During the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, Ediagnosis performed excellently in individuals with a higher viral load (evidenced by lower CT values), individuals in the early symptomatic phase, and especially those with upper respiratory tract symptoms. IMPORTANCE RADTs have demonstrated excellent performance in many counties for screening SARS-CoV-2 infection, but very few studies have been conducted in China. The performance of RADTs is largely related to different real-life scenarios. In our study, the performance of the RADT was evaluated in different scenarios, such as CT values, symptomatic phase, and symptoms on the day of testing. The results demonstrated that Ediagnosis (an RADT made in China) performed excellently for individuals with a higher viral load (evidenced by lower CT values), individuals in the early symptomatic phase, and especially those with upper respiratory tract symptoms.

The raw materials of geopolymer come from industrial wastes, which have the advantages of lower carbon emissions and less energy consumption compared with traditional cement products. However, it still has the disadvantages of low strength, easy cracking, and low production efficiency, which limit its engineering application and development. At present, with the application and development of nanotechnology in the field of materials, it is found that nanomaterials have a good filling effect on composites, which greatly improves the integrity of the composites. It has become a very popular research direction to optimize and improve the engineering application performance of geopolymer concrete (GPC) by nanomaterials. The modification of nanomaterials can further improve the properties of GPC and expand its application fields in engineering and life. Based on people’s strong interest in nanomaterial-modified GPC and providing the latest and complete research status for further related work, this paper summarized the key technical problems in the field of nanomaterials-modified GPC in the past decade. Those include the modification mechanism, dispersion mode, and mechanical properties of nanomaterials. At the same time, the application bottlenecks and key problems of nanomaterials-modified GPC are comprehensively analyzed. Finally, the prospects and challenges of future work in this field are discussed.

Geopolymer cementitious materials and recycled aggregate are typical representatives of material innovation research in the engineering field. In this study, we experimentally investigated a method to improve the performance of geopolymer-recycled aggregate concrete (GRAC). The recycled concrete aggregates and steel fiber (SF), fly ash (FA), metakaolin (MK), and sodium silicate solution were used as the main raw materials to prepare fiber-reinforced geopolymer-recycled aggregate concrete (FRGRAC). First, the orthogonal test was carried out to study the GRAC, and the optimal mix proportion was found. Second, building on the optimal mix proportion, the effects of the SF content on the slump, 7 and 28 days compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength of FRGRAC were further studied. Finally, the microscopic mechanism of FRGRAC was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The study results indicate that the slump continues to decrease as the fiber content increases, but the compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength increase to a certain extent. Through SEM analysis, it is found that SF restrains the development of cracks and improves the strength of concrete.

In the global construction industry, with the growth of population, two important construction problems have to be faced, namely, the excessive consumption of non-renewable resources and the massive accumulation of construction waste. In order to solve these problems, geopolymer recycled aggregate concrete (GRAC) arises at the historic moment. On the one hand, using geopolymers produced by industrial wastes to completely or partially replace cement can reduce cement consumption, thus reducing CO2 emissions. On the other hand, recycled concrete made of recycled aggregate can consume accumulated construction waste and save non-renewable materials and land resources. The combination of the two materials can protect the environment to the greatest extent and save resources. This article reviews the current research on the mechanical properties of GRAC, makes a systematic analysis of GRAC materials, reaction mechanisms, and evaluation indicators, and also discusses the application prospects of GRAC, and strives to make contributions to the field and industry.

For the high demand for cement-based materials in buildings, improving the performance of cement-based materials has become the focus of relevant researchers. In recent years, nanomaterials have broad prospects in many fields such as architecture by virtue of their “lightweight, high strength, and strong solidity” characteristics. As a modifier of cement-based materials, it has also become a research hotspot. Graphene oxide (GO) is one of the most representative graphene-based nanomaterials. Because of its extremely high specific surface area and excellent physical properties, it has greatly improved the properties of cement-based materials. GO acts as an enhancer of cement composites that brings people unlimited imagination. The research progress of GO-modified cement-based materials is reviewed. The purpose is to point out the limitations of current research and provide a reference for later research. The dispersion treatment of GO and the properties of its modified cement-based materials are analyzed and summarized. In addition, the further research work that is needed and future development prospect are discussed.

Abstract Background Fatty liver is a high incidence of perinatal disease in dairy cows caused by negative energy balance, which seriously threatens the postpartum health and milk production. It has been reported that lysine acetylation plays an important role in substance and energy metabolism. Predictably, most metabolic processes in the liver, as a vital metabolic organ, are subjected to acetylation. Comparative acetylome study were used to quantify the hepatic tissues from the severe fatty liver group and normal group. Combined with bioinformatics analysis, this study provides new insights for the role of acetylation modification in fatty liver disease of dairy cows. Results We identified 1841 differential acetylation sites on 665 proteins. Among of them, 1072 sites on 393 proteins were quantified. Functional enrichment analysis shows that higher acetylated proteins are significantly enriched in energy metabolic pathways, while lower acetylated proteins are significantly enriched in pathways related to immune response, such as drug metabolism and cancer. Among significantly acetylated proteins, many mitochondrial proteins were identified to be interacting with multiple proteins and involving in lipid metabolism. Furthermore, this study identified potential important proteins, such as HADHA, ACAT1, and EHHADH, which may be important regulatory factors through modification of acetylation in the development of fatty liver disease in dairy cows and possible therapeutic targets for NAFLD in human beings. Conclusion This study provided a comprehensive acetylome profile of fatty liver of dairy cows, and revealed important biological pathways associated with protein acetylation occurred in mitochondria, which were involved in the regulation of the pathogenesis of fatty liver disease. Furthermore, potential important proteins, such as HADHA, ACAT1, EHHADH, were predicted to be essential regulators during the pathogenesis of fatty liver disease. The work would contribute to the understanding the pathogenesis of NAFLD, and inspire in the development of new therapeutic strategies for NAFLD.

Low-cost camera calibration is vital in air and underwater photogrammetric applications. However, various lens distortions and the underwater environment influence are difficult to be covered by a universal distortion compensation model, and the residual distortions may still remain after conventional calibration. In this paper, we propose a combined physical and mathematical camera calibration method for low-cost cameras, which can adapt to both in-air and underwater environments. The commonly used physical distortion models are integrated to describe the image distortions. The combination is a high-order polynomial, which can be considered as basis functions to successively approximate the image deformation from the point of view of mathematical approximation. The calibration process is repeated until certain criteria are met and the distortions are reduced to a minimum. At the end, several sets of distortion parameters and stable camera interior orientation (IO) parameters act as the final camera calibration results. The Canon and GoPro in-air calibration experiments show that GoPro owns distortions seven times larger than Canon. Most Canon distortions have been described with the Australis model, while most decentering distortions for GoPro still exist. Using the proposed method, all the Canon and GoPro distortions are decreased to close to 0 after four calibrations. Meanwhile, the stable camera IO parameters are obtained. The GoPro Hero 5 Black underwater calibration indicates that four sets of distortion parameters and stable camera IO parameters are obtained after four calibrations. The camera calibration results show a difference between the underwater environment and air owing to the refractive and asymmetric environment effects. In summary, the proposed method improves the accuracy compared with the conventional method, which could be a flexible way to calibrate low-cost cameras for high accurate in-air and underwater measurement and 3D modeling applications.

Background: Primary aldosteronism is caused by aldosterone overproduction. While conventional hematoxylin-eosin staining can demonstrate morphological abnormality, it cannot provide any functional histopathological information. We aimed to identify the diagnostic, functional and prognostic value of CYP11B2, CYP11B1, and β-catenin immunostaining in unilateral hyperaldosteronism.Method: A total of 134 patients with unilateral hyperaldosteronism were recruited in our study. The expression of CYP11B2, CYP11B1, and β-catenin was evaluated semiquantitatively on 134 patients’ sections using immunohistochemistry technology and the relationship with clinical data was assessed.Results: Patients were classified into four subtypes based on CYP11B2 staining as below: (1)118 patients with unilateral single aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), (2)11 with unilateral multiple APA, (3)four with aldosterone-producing cell cluster (APCC), and (4)one with an undefined source. Adjusted CYP11B2 H-score was correlated with serum aldosterone, aldosterone to renin ratio (ARR), and serum potassium. In the abnormal β-catenin staining group, hypertension duration, aldosterone, ARR, cortisol, tumor diameter, tumor area, and CYP11B2 H-score were significantly higher than those of the wild-type group. Serum potassium level was significantly lower in the abnormal β-catenin staining group. Age, gender, BMI, family history of hypertension, adjusted CYP11B2 and CYP11B1 H-scores differed significantly between complete clinical success and incomplete clinical success groups. Age, gender and family history of hypertension were independently associated with complete clinical success based on multivariate logistic regression analysis.Conclusion: CYP11B2 immunostaining could improve the differential diagnosis of unilateral hyperaldosteronism. Adjusted CYP11B2 H-score could be used as a histopathological marker to reflect the severity of unilateral APA. Dysregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and impaired β-catenin degradation may provoke the proliferation and enhance the steroidogenic ability of APA tumor cells, indicating that the Wnt pathway might be a potential, actionable, therapeutic target in the treatment of hyperaldosteronism. Age, sex and family history of hypertension were independent predictors of clinical outcome after adrenalectomy for unilateral hyperaldosteronism.

We propose a graphene plasmonic structure by applying two graphene layers mingled with a thin gold layer in a silicon grating. By utilizing the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, we investigate the optical response of the system, and observe that the design achieves dual tunable electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT)-like effect at terahertz frequencies. The EIT-like effect arises from the destructive interference between the grapheme-layer bright modes and the gold-layer dark mode. The EIT-like phenomenon can be adjusted by the Fermi level, which is related to the applied voltage. The results show that the group delay of the present structure reaches 0.62 ps in the terahertz band, the group refractive index exceeds 1200, the maximum delay-bandwidth product is 0.972, and the EIT-like peak frequency transmittance is up to 0.89. This indicates that the device has good slow light performance. The proposed structure might enable promising applications in slow-light devices.

Amidst the rapid advancement in the application of artificial intelligence learning, questions regarding the evaluation of students' learning status and how students without relevant learning foundation on this subject can be trained to familiarize themselves in the field of artificial intelligence are important research topics. This study employed the use of a self-built AI platform (Ladder) for students to systematically learn and apply AI learning model established by the partial least squares (PLS) method to investigate the influence between variables (learning attitudes, self-regulated learning, AI anxiety, individual impact, computational thinking abilities, cognitive styles). This study was particularly conducted in the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering of a top national university in Southern Taiwan. The valid data were collected from 65 students (55 male students; 10 female students). Furthermore, this study demonstrated the relationship between cognitive style, self-regulated learning and computational thinking. For the first time, it explored the impact of AI anxiety and completed existing research on it. The results of this study show that interest in learning positively affects learning attitudes. In addition, learning attitudes have a positive influence on each individual's performance. Based on multiple theories and the artificial intelligence learning platform, the model proposed in this study effectively understood students' learning status.

A New process for refining medium-low carbon ferrochromium (M-LCFeCr) from high carbon ferrochromium (HCFeCr) through converter was discussed. This technology is similar to argon oxygen decarburization process (AOD) with the differ-ence of carbon dioxide being introduced as mixing gas. The results show that, it is feasible to use CO2 for decarburization of high car-bon and medium carbon ferrochrome. Better decarburization effect is obtained by using high volume ratio CO2 at the initial stage of pro-ducing MCFeCr through HCFeCr, while at the last stage of refining, viz. low carbon content melt, higher O2 concentration is better for carbon removal. The optimal gas composition for decarburization is 25%CO2+75%O2 (volume ratio) in the current experiments. CO2 introduction is benefit for enhancing the yield of chromium, and higher CO2 leads to better Cr retention. It has positive effect of CO2 on desulfurization of HCFeCr melt.

AIM: To observe the efficacy and safety of intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)combined with laser photocoagulation in treatment of diabetic macular edema. METHODS: Retrospective analysis on clinical data of 86 patients(102 eyes)with diabetic macular edema and they were divided into 2 groups randomly. The control group adopted laser photocoagulation treatment; observation group accepted anti-VEGF treated basis on control group(Conbercept 0.05mL). We compared the effects and the adverse reactions of the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, visual acuity of the two both increased; the observation group's situation was better than the control group(PPPP>0.05). CONCLUSION: The efficacy on diabetic macular edema by intravitreal injection of anti VEGF drug combined with laser photocoagulation is better, can reduce the CRT, TMV in the range of 6mm, and application security is good.

Artificial intelligence (AI) education is becoming an advanced learning trend in programming education. However, AI subjects can be difficult to understand because they require high programming skills and complex knowledge. This makes it challenging to determine how different departments of students are affected by them. This study draws on research in programming education and STEM education to explore the different factors that affect students in AI learning. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of AI learning platforms on information undergraduate and non-information undergraduate by using a research model. The course was implemented for 65 students in the information undergraduate group and 39 students in the non-information undergraduate group. The findings showed that the two groups had different learning effects under different variables. Students with different cognitive styles may use different skills to positively influence self-regulated learning. This study provides important evidence to understand the learning impact of artificial intelligence among university students from different disciplines.