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Ecological sensitivity assessment and driving force analysis of the Tarim river basin
Manual measurement of SD-OCT images of hyperreflective retinal layers in acute retinal vessel occlusion is reliable, repeatable and reproducible
Abstract To investigate the repeatability and reproducibility of manual measurements of the reflectivity of retinal layers in healthy eyes and in eyes with acute retinal vessel occlusion via spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). To reflect the full spectrum of different reflectivities seen in OCT images, for each of the following conditions, exactly one patient with a healthy and an affected eye was selected: non-ischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), ischemic CRVO, incomplete, subtotal and total central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). For all the patients, OCT images of the healthy and affected eyes were used. Each image was presented 10 times in a randomly changing sequence to all examiners (one experienced, two nonexperienced). The obtained values were analyzed via two statistical methods: Gage Repeatability & Reproducibility (Gage R&R, a measurement system analysis) and Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (Lin’s CCC). The total gage R&R values were as follows: vitreous body (VB) 1.11%, innermost retinal layer (IMRL) 0.94%, middle retinal layer (MRL) 4.94%, inner retinal layer (IRL) 2.56% and outer retinal layer (ORL) 3.77%. The repeatability values were 0.79, 0.62, 2.80, 1.42 And 2.60, respectively. The reproducibility values were 0.32, 0.33, 2.41, 1.14 and 1.16, respectively. Our previously described method of manual measurement of SD-OCT images of retinal layers determining the level of reflectivity (and hence ischemia) in the retina without any invasive examination is reliable, repeatable, reproducible and feasible for clinical use. Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov, Protocol ID: EK 417,102,016, TRN: NCT03061526, Registration date: 19 February 2017.
The primary hospitals should take gait speed as a routine test for elderly patients
Fast and robust mixed gas identification and recognition using tree-based machine learning and sensor array response
Network attack knowledge inference with graph convolutional networks and convolutional 2D KG embeddings
Solvothermal synthesis of lanthanide-doped CaF2upconversion nanoparticles using liquid-solid-solution approach
Abstract Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) capable of emitting pure green, red, blue, and white emissions have grabbed a lot of attention for bioimaging, security printing, and optoelectronic devices. Ho3+/Yb3+, Er3+/Yb3+, Tm3+/Yb3+, and Er3+/Tm3+/Yb3+ double- and triple-doped CaF2 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by the solvothermal method. The nanoparticleswere characterized by XRD, FTIR, HR-TEM, Raman, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Under 980 nm, UCNPs emit red, green, blue, yellow, and white emissions by the appropriate doping of lanthanide ions.The CIE-1931 chromaticity study was carried out to determine the color coordinate and color purity of the UCNPs. The color purity of red, green, blue, and yellow emissions exceeds 90%, showing the excellent chromatic performance. The energy transfer mechanismin the sensitizer Yb3+ions withthe activators Ho3+, Er3+, and Tm3+ was successfully studied. Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped CaF2 UCNPs were used to study the potential scope in latent fingerprint detection and security applications.
Revisiting recent Ostracod type material from Ishizaki with insights into species distribution and taxonomic reassessment
Abstract Ishizaki’s work is among the most significant taxonomic studies of recent Ostracods in Japan. However, limited access to scanning electron microscopes at that time led to several misidentifications, causing confusion in biogeographical interpretations, including the fossil record. In this study, we rephotographed Ishizaki’s type specimens under an electron microscope and compared them with illustrations from papers published over the past 70 years since Ishizaki’s work. This has enabled us to compile an updated synonym list and perform biogeographical assessments based on Titterton and Whatley’s definitions. Of the 47 Ishizaki specimens examined, 24 species either have the oldest fossil record or are exclusively found around Japan in both fossil and modern records. Four species, originally recorded on the coast of South China, including Taiwan, are now only found around Japan: Sinoleberis tosaensis, Aurila tosaensis, Loxoconcha zamia, and Loxoconcha viva. Additionally, 15 species exhibit a wider biogeographical distribution, ranging from the South China Sea, the Indochina Peninsula, the Philippines, and Indonesia to around Japan.
Novel multiagent reinforcement learning framework using twin delayed deep deterministic policy gradient for adaptive PID control in boiler turbine systems
Assessing regional disparities and sociodemographic influences on short birth intervals (SBI) among reproductive-age women in Nigeria
Effects of different intercropping patterns on soil organic carbon content, enzyme activity, and aggregate stability in Apple orchards on the loess Plateau
Spondias pinnata mediated silver nanoparticles with antibiofilm and catalytic potential
Experiences of navigating anticipations and anxiety among patients having surgery for peripheral nerve tumours
Abstract Peripheral nerve tumours, most commonly schwannomas and neurofibromas, might present significant challenges by eliciting physical symptoms and emotional distress. We aimed to explore patients’ expectations, perceptions, and experiences regarding their diagnosis and the surgical treatment of a nerve tumour in the upper limb. Fourteen adults (10 women, 4 men; age range 35–85) from two Swedish hand surgery clinics participated in semi-structured interviews. Data saturation was reached. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed following a conventional content analysis approach. Three main categories emerged. Causal Reasoning and Anticipations included explanatory thoughts of tumour aetiology, expectations of surgery, and concerns for the future. Anxiety and Adaptation comprised psychological strain, but also how to overcome challenges in daily life. Course of Care encompassed uncertainty and waiting time, interaction with health care and decision making on whether or not to have surgery. Recognising the interplay between physical symptoms and psychological responses underscores the need for personalised communication and patient-centred strategies, such as clear and empathetic information and shared decision-making, to reduce uncertainty and support individuals facing peripheral nerve tumours in the upper limb.
Evaluation of esophageal tubing and buccal swabbing versus rumen cannula to characterize ruminal microbiota in cows fed contrasting diets
Engineering the ferroelectric polarization to optimize the GIDL and negative output conductance in negative capacitance FET
Abstract This paper presents the optimization of the gate induced drain leakage (GIDL) and negative output conductance (NOC) effect in ferroelectric negative capacitance (NC) FET by engineering the polarization of ferroelectric. The improvement in NOC and GIDL is presented with reworked polarization and hence the channel potential at the drain side through gate workfunction modulation. An NC SOI device structure is considered in this work, as this study is intended to investigate the proposed optimization technique. With the metal length ratios of 1:1 and 1:2, the proposed structure offered an enhanced ferroelectric polarization via surface potential amplification at the drain end of the channel. The onset of NOC is delayed by 0.21 V with an improved GIDL current of 3.18 nA and a minimum subthreshold swing of 33.45 mV/decade for the metal length ratio of 1:1.
Inhibition of monkeypox polymerase holoenzyme and methyltransferase using bioactive compounds of black tea: a computational approach
Simulation of personalized english learning path recommendation system based on knowledge graph and deep reinforcement learning
LncRNA RMRP knockdown upregulates PD-1 expression in natural killer cells
Abstract The role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in Natural Killer (NK) cells is still an ongoing research question. LncRNAs are RNAs with a length of more than 200 nucleotides. While they do not code for functional proteins, they have many regulatory roles from transcriptional to post-translational mechanisms that can affect gene expression. On the other hand, NK cells are large, innate, granular immune cells that exert cytotoxic effects against virus-infected and malignant cells using various mechanisms of actions. In this study, we aimed to perform functional analysis of lncRNAs in NK cells. We focused on five lncRNAs: MALAT1, RMRP, LINC-PINT, GAS5, and LINC00299. Our findings revealed that the expressions of the five lncRNAs were downregulated in cultured NK cells and upon cytokine stimulation. In addition, we observed an upregulation of the PD-1 receptor on the surface of NK cells in response to knocking down RMRP. This suggests that RMRP may have an inhibitory effect on PD-1 expression in NK cells. The proposed inverse relationship between RMRP and PD-1 offers new insights into the regulation of PD-1 expression and its role in NK cell function. Given PD-1’s critical role as an immune checkpoint, by understanding the regulatory relationship between RMRP and PD-1, new strategies can be explored to enhance NK cell efficacy, opening up new possibilities for designing immunotherapies that restore NK cell function by potentially targeting PD-1 regulation.