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Design, synthesis, and investigation of novel 5-arylpyrazole-glucose hybrids as α-glucosidase inhibitors
Viral mediated α-synuclein overexpression results in greater transgene levels and α-synuclein overload in mice bearing kinase dead mutation of LRRK2
Evaluating the quality of medical content on YouTube using large language models
A genetic algorithm optimized hybrid model for agricultural price forecasting based on VMD and LSTM network
A groupwise multiresolution network for DCE-MRI image registration
Abstract In four-dimensional time series such as dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI, motion between individual time steps due to the patient’s breathing or movement leads to incorrect image analysis, e.g., when calculating perfusion. Image registration of the volumes of the individual time steps is necessary to improve the accuracy of the subsequent image analysis. Both groupwise and multiresolution registration methods have shown great potential for medical image registration. To combine the advantages of groupwise and multiresolution registration, we proposed a groupwise multiresolution network for deformable medical image registration. We applied our proposed method to the registration of DCE-MR images for the assessment of lung perfusion in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The networks were trained unsupervised with Mutual Information and Gradient L2 loss. We compared the groupwise networks with a pairwise deformable registration network and a published groupwise network as benchmarks and the classical registration method SimpleElastix as baseline using four-dimensional DCE-MR scans of patients after congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair. Experimental results showed that our groupwise network yields results with high spatial alignment (SSIM up to 0.953 ± 0.025 or 0.936 ± 0.028 respectively), medically plausible transformation with low image folding (|J| ≤ 0: 0.0 ± 0.0%), and a low registration time of less than 10 seconds for a four-dimensional DCE-MR scan with 50 time steps. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that image registration with the proposed groupwise network enhances the accuracy of medical image analysis by leading to more homogeneous perfusion maps.
Design of a five peak tunnable metasurface for terahertz biological detection with vanadium dioxide
The role of skin hydration, skin deformability, and age in tactile friction and perception of materials
Abstract Friction between fingertip and surface is a key contribution to tactile perception during active exploration of materials. We explore the role of skin factors such as stratum corneum thickness and hydration, deformability, elasticity, or density of sweat glands and of Meissner corpuscles in friction and tactile perception. The skin parameters were determined non-invasively for the glabrous skin at the index finger pad of 60 participants. Sets of randomly rough plastic surfaces and of micro-structured fibrillar rubber surfaces were explored as model materials with well-defined parameterized textures. Friction varies greatly between participants, and this variation can be explained to 70% by skin factors for the randomly rough plastic surfaces. The predictability of friction by skin factors is much lower for micro-structured rubber surfaces with bendable fibrils, where 50% of variance is explained for the stiffest fibrils but only 20% for the most bendable fibrils. The participants’ age is the key predictor for their tactile sensitivity to perceive the fibrils, where age is negatively correlated to the density of Meissner corpuscles. The results suggest that stratum corneum hydration, skin deformability, and age are important factors for friction and perception in active tactile exploration of materials.
Epidemiological characteristics and treatment challenges of chronic hepatitis C in the kashi region of xinjiang china: A retrospective investigation from 2018 to 2022
Assessment of hazardous trace metals and associated health risk as affected by feed intake in buffalo milk
Sensing of NO2, NH3, and C3H6O by graphene-Si Schottky diode at chosen voltage biases
Abstract Our research aims to propose a selective gas sensor based on a single graphene-silicon Schottky junction. By polarizing the sensor with selected voltage, we move between different regions of its gas sensitivity dependent on the lighting conditions. Our results show that low detection limits (36 ppb for NO2, 238 ppb for NH3, and 640 ppb for C3H6O) are obtained under UV irradiation at -0.4 V; however, a light source power supply is required. Then, the Schottky barrier height is primarily sensitive to gas adsorption. When the sensor operates in the dark, the characteristic region of graphene between the ohmic contact with the Ni/Au electrode and a Schottky contact with Si is responsible for observing the gating effect in the structure. It is visible as a bending in the I-V curve near 0.7 V, which shifts with the adsorption of gases due to potential induced by molecular dipoles. Observing and analyzing these two effects on DC characteristics makes our sensor a highly sensitive and selective platform of low-power consumption and low-cost methodology. Additionally, the applied Schottky junction between the graphene layer and the n-doped Si base makes the sensor more resistant to humidity adsorption during storage in ambient air than other graphene-based gas sensors (graphene back-gated FET).
Absolute quantification of rare gene targets in limited samples using crude lysate and ddPCR
Abstract Accurate quantification of rare genes from limited clinical samples is crucial for research purposes but is technically challenging, especially due to nucleic acid extraction. Using the commercially available genomic DNA (gDNA) extraction kits, which mostly include a DNA purification step through silica columns, magnetic beads or ethanol precipitation, are the preferred choice for many researchers. These kits, however, have a minimum cell number requirement for optimal DNA quality and yield. They are not ideal for use for clinical samples with limited cell numbers. Here, we report the development and validation of a novel crude lysate method for preparing DNA for the absolute quantification of rare genes, TRECs in our case, by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), from infrequent cells, that removes the need for DNA extraction. Multiple optimization steps and analytical validation of this novel assay was performed on PBMCs extracted from the blood of healthy donors. The newly developed assay shows good agreement with standard ddPCR and has high accuracy, specificity, and reproducibility; additionally, it can also be applied to fixed and permeabilized cells. The assay has the potential to be used for quantification of other trace targets from limited cell samples.
Fluorofenidone attenuates choline-deficient, l-amino acid-defined, high-fat diet-induced metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis in mice
Long-term water quality assessment and trophic status trends in Dobromierz, Lubachów and Sosnówka drinking water reservoirs in southwestern Poland
Abstract The aim of the article is to assess the water quality in three drinking water reservoirs in southwestern Poland, i.e. in Dobromierz, Lubachów and Sosnówka, taking into account two classification methods, to determine the trophic status and water quality indicators of 3 research objects, to analyze potential sources of anthropogenic impact on catchments in order to identify the causes of deterioration of the trophic status of reservoirs. When analyzing the results of water quality indicators for the period 1992–2022, reference was made to two classification methods: the new one, in force from 1st January 2022, and the old one, valid from 22nd October 2014 to 31st December 2021. Due to changes in the monitoring system resulting from the implementation of the assumptions of the Water Framework Directive, the scope of water quality analyses has been reduced from 23 to 9 parameters. The need to use two methods of classification of surface water bodies in the article is aimed at an in-depth analysis of water quality using an extended set of indicators. Due to limitations in data access for some indicators in individual years, the analyses conducted are of indicative nature. The overall water quality expressed by the average value of the calculated 6 water quality indices for the period 1992–2022 was moderate for the Dobromierz and Lubachów reservoirs and good for the Sosnówka reservoir. According to the new classification, the average water quality was in classes I or II. The article addresses the issue of eutrophication of water intended for consumption by determining the trophic status of the objects based on 4 trophic indices. In the years 1992–2022, the overall trophic status of the reservoirs oscillated between mesotrophic and eutrophic. The statistical analysis showed a high variability of physicochemical parameters of water. The parameters that worsened the ecological status of water in the reservoirs were NO3 –N, BOD5, NH4-N, TOC and TN. Taking into account information on existing sources of anthropogenic impact on the catchment area allowed for the explanation of potentially possible causes of deterioration of the trophic status of waters. The studied reservoirs are facilities at risk of eutrophication and the main pressure is caused by surface runoff of nutrients and unorganized water and wastewater management in the catchment area. Long-term monitoring of water quality indicators in drinking water reservoirs is needed in order to develop adaptive measures to environmental changes in the catchment area to ensure the safety and reliability of the entire water supply system.