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Improving spleen segmentation in ultrasound images using a hybrid deep learning framework

Secure IoT data dissemination with blockchain and transfer learning techniques

Signature-based intrusion detection using machine learning and deep learning approaches empowered with fuzzy clustering

A benchmark of deep learning approaches to predict lung cancer risk using national lung screening trial cohort

Research on vehicle scheduling for forest fires in the northern Greater Khingan Mountains

AbstractIn the face of forest fire emergencies, fast and efficient dispatching of rescue vehicles is an important means of mitigating the damage caused by forest fires, and is an effective method of avoiding secondary damage caused by forest fires, minimizing the damage caused by forest fires to the ecosystem, and mitigating the losses caused by economic development. this paper takes the actual problem as the starting point, constructs a reasonable mathematical model of the problem, for the special characteristics of the emergency rescue vehicle scheduling problem of forest fires, taking into account the actual road conditions in the northern pristine forest area, through the analysis of the cost of paths between the forest area and the highway, to obtain the least obstructed rescue paths, to narrow the gap between the theoretical model and the problem of the actual. Improvement of ordinary genetic algorithm, design of double population strategy selection operation, the introduction of chaotic search initialization population, to improve the algorithm’s solution efficiency and accuracy, through the northern pristine forest area of Daxing’anling real forest fire cases and generation of large-scale random fire point simulation experimental test to verify the effectiveness of the algorithm, to ensure that the effectiveness and reasonableness of the solution to the problem of forest fire emergency rescue vehicle scheduling program. It enriches the solution method of forest fire emergency rescue vehicle dispatching problem in Great Khingan area, which is of great significance to improve the emergency rescue capability in case of sudden forest fire. Through simulation experiments, the proposed Improved Genetic Algorithm (IGA) achieved an average rescue time reduction of 8.5% compared to conventional Genetic Algorithm (GA) and 3.5% compared to Improved Artificial Bee Colony (IABC) algorithm, with an average solution time of 9.4 ms.

From 2D kaolinite to 3D amorphous cement

AbstractKaolinite is a single 2D layer of kaolin or metakaolin (MK), common clays that can be characterized as layered 3D materials. We show that because of its chemical composition, kaolinite can be converted into an amorphous 3D material by chemical means. This dimensional transformation is possible due to the large surface to volume ratio and chemical reactivity of kaolinite. We investigate the formation and influence of quasi- or nanocrystalline phases in MK-based alkali-activated materials (AAM) that are related to the Si/Al ratio. We analyze the formation of an AAM from a MK precursor, which is a 3D bonded network that preserves the layered structure at the nanometer scale. We also exfoliate the remaining layered phase to examine the effects of the alkali-activation in the final sheet structures embedded within the amorphous network. The final material can be used as a cement with no carbon dioxide produced by the transformation reaction.

Impact of postoperative morbidity on the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after laparoscopic liver resection: a multicenter observational study

Reduction in EEG theta power as a potential marker for spatial disorientation during flight

Abstract During flight, spatial disorientation (SD) commonly occurs when a pilot’s perception conflicts with the aircraft’s actual motion, attitude, or position. A prevalent form of SD is the somatogyral illusion, which is elicited by constant speed rotation and causes a false perception of motion in the opposite direction when the rotation ceases. This research aimed to investigate changes in brain activity that occur when experiencing a somatogyral illusion by simulating conditions closely mimicking flight conditions to gain insight into how to better manage this illusion during flight. In the study, 23 volunteers were isolated from external stimuli to promote somatogyral illusion induction while seated in a Barany (rotating) chair. The study employed electroencephalogram (EEG) and eye-tracking glasses to monitor brain activity and eye movements, respectively. Participants reported their perceived motion direction using a joystick, allowing us to compare a reference condition to that of the illusion. Results indicate a significant decrease (34%) in theta power (4–7.5 Hz) over the left frontal region during the illusion, complemented by the occurrence of nystagmus in 72% of the trials. These findings align with previous studies linking SD and theta band changes, suggesting implications for EEG-based identification of SD in flight.

Mitigating anthropogenic climate change with aqueous green energy

AbstractReaching net zero emissions and limiting global warming to 2 °C requires the widespread introduction of technology-based solutions to draw down existing atmospheric levels and future emissions of CO2. One such approach is direct air CO2 capture and storage (DACCS), a readily available, yet energy-intensive process. The combination of DACCS and ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) allows for independently powered carbon capture plants to inject concentrated carbon into deep marine sediments where storage is generally safe and permanent. OTEC is a form of electricity production that exploits the temperature difference between deep and shallow ocean waters, and can power DACCS on floating platforms at a price competitive with coal-generated electricity. Here we highlight the scale of the challenge facing society. We show that a safe and sustainable level of OTEC-generated electricity powering DACCS for 70 years could result in up to a 35% decrease in the relative global mean temperature warming compared to a business-as-usual emissions scenario.

Real-world effectiveness and safety of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors in chronic kidney disease

Circulating serum metabolites as biomarkers and predictors of residual feed intake in lactating dairy cows

AbstractThis study explored the potential of circulatory serum metabolite profiles to increase understanding of the physiology of feed efficiency and identify biomarkers to predict residual feed intake (RFI) in lactating Holsteins. Serum metabolite profiles were compared in high (n = 20) and low RFI (n = 20) cows at early, mid, and late lactation stages. The low RFI cows had decreased (P < 0.05) concentrations of dodecanoylcarnitine, dodecenoylcarnitine, dodecanedioylcarnitine, tetradecanoylcarnitine, succinic acid, trimethylamine N-oxide, betaine, and increased concentrations of p-Hydroxyhippuric acid, hydroxysphingomyeline C16:1, phosphatidylcholine diacyl C40:6, and glutarylcarnitine at early lactation. A similar comparison at mid lactation stage showed altered serum concentrations of 26 metabolites that fall into the categories of acyl carnitines, glycerophospholipids, biogenic amines, amino acids, and organic acids. At late lactation, fewer sets of metabolites were significantly affected by RFI grouping. Receiver operator curve analyses identified p-Hydroxyhippuric acid as the top biomarker at early lactation and acetylornithine at mid and late lactation. Models based on sets of serum metabolites in early, mid, and late lactation stages predicted RFI with a validation coefficient of determination of 0.54, 0.68, and 0.64, respectively. This study demonstrated the potential of circulatory serum metabolites as biomarkers and predictors of RFI in lactating dairy cows.

Investigating lung cancer microenvironment from cell segmentation of pathological image and its application in prognostic stratification

Photocatalytic production and biological activity of D-arabino-1,4-lactone from D-fructose

AbstractLactones play crucial roles in various fields, such as pharmaceuticals, food, and materials science, due to their unique structures and diverse biological activities. However, certain lactones are difficult to obtain in large quantities from natural sources, necessitating their synthesis to study their properties and potential. In this study, we investigated the photocatalytic conversion of D-fructose, a biomass-derived and naturally abundant sugar, using a TiO2 photocatalyst under light irradiation in ambient conditions. The resulting products were identified using HPLC, LCMS, MALDI TOF MS, and 1H NMR. The results confirmed the successful production of D-arabino-1,4-lactone as a key product, along with the formation of other valuable compounds, including rare sugars such as erythrose and glyceraldehyde. Analysis of the reaction mechanism revealed that D-arabino-1,4-lactone can be directly produced by the α scission (C1-C2 position cleavage) of D-fructose. Furthermore, erythrose and glyceraldehyde, as rare sugars, can be produced from the decomposition of D-arabino-1,4-lactone, which means that D-arabino-1,4-lactone can be used as a source of rare sugars. Furthermore, to investigate the biological activity of D-arabino-1,4-lactone, it was administered to Bifidobacterium. The results showed that Bifidobacterium proliferated and produced more lactic acid than when cultured in a medium without D-arabino-1,4-lactone, suggesting that Bifidobacterium can utilize D-arabino-1,4-lactone.

Reducing children’s anxiety and pain in dental environment using an eye massage device combined with natural sounds—a randomized controlled trial

Nighttime light extent and intensity explain the dynamics of human activity in coastal zones

AbstractStudying human activity in coastal areas is crucial for urban planning, sustainability, and economic development. However, there is limited evidence of ongoing monitoring of human activities in these areas. Thus, a quantitative analysis of the spatio-temporal changes, trends, and variability of Nighttime light (NTL) in the Italian Coastal Zone over the past decade (2014–2023) was conducted to assess human activity dynamics. The findings of our study indicate the following: (1) NTL increases over the years in both extent and intensity along the coastal zone; (2) NTL extent and intensity vary by season, with the coastal zone being brighter in summer; and (3) a highly heterogeneous NTL pattern was found where some locations became hot spots (significant upward trend) or cold spots (significant downward trend) while others remain unchanged. By explaining the intensification of human activity, this study can provide insight into identifying the patterns of economic development and environmental conditions contributing to more effective planning in coastal zones.

Erwinia phage Asesino is a nucleus-forming phage that lacks PhuZ

AbstractAs nucleus-forming phages become better characterized, understanding their unifying similarities and unique differences will help us understand how they occupy varied niches and infect diverse hosts. All identified nucleus-forming phages fall within the Chimalliviridae family and share a core genome of 68 unique genes including chimallin, the major nuclear shell protein. A well-studied but non-essential protein encoded by many nucleus-forming phages is PhuZ, a tubulin homolog which aids in capsid migration, nucleus rotation, and nucleus positioning. One clade that represents 24% of all currently known chimalliviruses lacks a PhuZ homolog. Here we show that Erwinia phage Asesino, one member of this PhuZ-less clade, shares a common overall replication mechanism with other characterized nucleus-forming phages despite lacking PhuZ. We show that Asesino replicates via a phage nucleus that encloses phage DNA and partitions proteins in the nuclear compartment and cytoplasm in a manner similar to previously characterized nucleus-forming phages. Consistent with a lack of PhuZ, however, we did not observe active positioning or rotation of the phage nucleus within infected cells. These data show that some nucleus-forming phages have evolved to replicate efficiently without PhuZ, providing an example of a unique variation in the nucleus-based replication pathway.

Co-application of polyethylene oxide (PEO), biochar, and seaweed fertilizer improves desert soil properties

Developmental exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate(PFOS) impairs the endometrial receptivity

Market integration and resident health in China

Selenium nanoparticles modified niobium MXene for non-enzymatic detection of glucose

AbstractGlucose sensing remains a crucial need as diabetes is a worldwide concern. This work reports the application of Nb2CTx—selenium nanoparticle composite material for the nonenzymatic sensing of glucose. The surface morphology of the synthesized composite was analyzed using various microscopic techniques like scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and its structural properties were analyzed using diffraction and spectroscopic methods. A gold disc electrode was modified using the nanocomposite and tested for glucose in an alkaline medium. The sensing was based on the oxidation of glucose on the catalytic surface. The glucose was quantified amperometrically at a significantly lower overpotential of 0.16 V. The sensor showed a good detection range from 2 to 30 mM with a sensitivity of 4.15 µA mM−1 cm−2 and a detection limit of 1.1 mM.