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OBJECTIVES: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) on cancer pain and concomitant negative emotion in cancer pain model mice, and to explore its molecular mechanisms in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) by using transcriptomics techniques. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were randomized into sham operation, model and EA groups, with 10 mice in each group. The cancer pain model was established by injecting PBS suspension containing Lewis lung cancer cells into the femur. The mice in the EA group received EA stimulation(1 mA, 2 Hz) on ST36 and SP6 from the 10th day after modeling, 20 min per day for 12 successive days. The bone damage of the distal femur was observed with X-ray and H.E. staining, respectively. The mechanical pain threshold (MPT) was detected by using von Frey. The depression-like behavior was detected by using sucrose-preference test (sucrose preference index in 12 h), and the immobility (feeling of despair) duration of forced swimming within 4 min. The BLA tissue was extracted for RNA sequencing (RNA library construction, and screening differential gene profiling by transcriptomic sequencing) and bioinformatics analysis. The real-time PCR was used to validate the mRNA expression of differentially expressed genes：tumor necrosis factor superfamily 8 (Tnfsf8), bone marrow stromal cell antigen 1 (Bst1), prodynorphin (Pdyn) and voltage-gated sodium channelß4 (Scn4b). RESULTS: H.E. staining and X-ray showed significant bone damage in the distal femur in cancer pain mice. In contrast to the sham operation group, the MPT on the 1st , 4th, 7th , 10th, 14th and 21st day after modeling and sucrose preference index were significantly decreased (P<0.001, P<0.000 1), and the immobility time of the forced swimming was considerably increased in the model group (P<0.001). In contrast to the model group, the MPT values on the 14th and 21st day and sucrose preference index were obviously increased (P<0.000 1, P<0.05), and the immobility time was strikingly decreased in the EA group (P<0.01). RNA sequencing showed that a total of 404 differentially expressed genes (205 up-regulated, 199 down-regulated) were screened in the model group compared with the sham operation group, and a total of 329 differentially expressed genes (206 up-regulated and 123 down-regulated) were screened in the EA group compared with the model group. Venn diagram analysis of the differentially expressed genes showed that 45 up-regulated and 28 down-regulated genes in the model group were completely reversed by EA. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of the screened differentially expressed genes revealed that the above differential genes were mainly enriched in the ligand receptor activity, cytokine receptor binding, and cytokine activity related to neuro-inflammation, as well as in neuropeptide signaling pathways related to neuronal excitability, and calcium ion mediated signal transduction. The analysis of KEGG pathway showed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the inflammation-related pathways, such as interleukin-17 pathway. Validation analysis of the differentially expressed genes showed that the expression levels of Tnfsf8 and Bst1 were significantly up-regulated in the model group compared with the sham operation group (P<0.01, P<0.05), and down-regulated by EA (P<0.01, P<0.05), while the expression levels of Pdyn and Scn4b were down-regulated in the model group in comparison with the sham operation group (P<0.01), and up-regulated by EA (P<0.05, P<0.01), which was consistent with the changing trend of the gene sequencing results. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture of ST36 and SP6 can significantly relieve cancer pain and concomitant negative emotion in cancer pain mice, which may be related to its functions in alleviating neuro-inflammation and relieving the abnormal activities of specific neurons in the BLA.

Protonated Z-scheme CdS-covalent organic framework heterojunction with highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

The low efficiency of photocatalytic hydrogen production from water is mainly suffer from limited light absorption, charge separation and water delivery to the active centers. Herein, an inorganic-organic Z-scheme heterojunction (CdS-COF-Ni) is constructed by in-situ growth of CdS nanosheets on the porphyrin-based covalent organic framework with nickel ions (COF-Ni) in the porphyrin centers. A built-in electric field is formed at the interface, which accelerates the separation and transfer of photogenerated charges. Moreover, through the surface protonation treatment in ascorbic acid (AC) solution, the hydrophilicity of the obtained composite is obviously increased and facilitates the transport of water molecules to the photocatalytic centers. Under the synergistic effect of the interfacial interaction and surface protonation treatment, the photocatalytic hydrogen production rate is optimized to be 18.23 mmol h-1 g-1 without adding any cocatalysts, which is 21 times that of CdS. After a series of photoelectrochemical measurements, in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, it is found that the photocatalytic charge transfer pathway conforms to the Z-scheme mechanism, which not only greatly accelerates the separation and transfer of photogenerated charges, but also retains a high reduction capacity for water splitting. This work offers a good strategy for constructing highly efficient organic-inorganic heterojunctions for water splitting.

Constructing CoP/Ni2P Heterostructure Confined Ru Sub-Nanoclusters for Enhanced Water Splitting in Wide pH Conditions.

Developing efficient electrocatalysts for water splitting is of great significance for realizing sustainable energy conversion. In this work, Ru sub-nanoclusters anchored on cobalt-nickel bimetallic phosphides (Ru-CoP/Ni2P) are constructed by an interfacial confinement strategy. Remarkably, Ru-CoP/Ni2P with low noble metal loading (33.1 µg cm-2) shows superior activity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in all pH values, whose turnover frequency (TOF) is 8.7, 15.3, and 124.7 times higher than that of Pt/C in acidic, alkaline, and neutral conditions, respectively. Meanwhile, it only requires the overpotential of 171 mV@10 mA cm-2 for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and corresponding TOF is 20.3 times higher than that of RuO2. More importantly, the Ru-CoP/Ni2P||Ru-CoP/Ni2P displays superior mass activity of 4017 mA mgnoble metal -1 at 2.0 V in flowing alkaline water electrolyzer, which is 105.1 times higher than that of Pt/C||IrO2. In situ Raman spectroscopy demonstrates that the Ru sites in Ru-CoP/Ni2P play a key role for water splitting and follow the adsorption evolution mechanism toward OER. Further mechanism studies disclose the confined Ru atom contributes to the desorption of H2 during HER and the formation of O-O bond during OER, leading to fast reaction kinetics. This study emphasizes the importance of interface confinement for enhancing electrocatalytic activity.

Classification of major species in the sericite-Artemisia desert grassland using hyperspectral images and spectral feature identification.

Background: The species composition of and changes in grassland communities are important indices for inferring the number, quality and community succession of grasslands, and accurate monitoring is the foundation for evaluating, protecting, and utilizing grassland resources. Remote sensing technology provides a reliable and powerful approach for measuring regional terrain information, and the identification of grassland species by remote sensing will improve the quality and effectiveness of grassland monitoring. Methods: Ground hyperspectral images of a sericite-Artemisia desert grassland in different seasons were obtained with a Soc710 VP imaging spectrometer. First-order differential processing was used to calculate the characteristic parameters. Analysis of variance was used to extract the main species, namely, Seriphidium transiliense (Poljak), Ceratocarpus arenarius L., Petrosimonia sibirica (Pall), bare land and the spectral characteristic parameters and vegetation indices in different seasons. On this basis, Fisher discriminant analysis was used to divide the samples into a training set and a test set at a ratio of 7:3. The spectral characteristic parameters and vegetation indices were used to identify the three main plants and bare land. Results: The selection of parameters with significant differences (P < 0.05) between the recognition objects effectively distinguished different land features, and the identification parameters also differed due to differences in growth period and species. The overall accuracy of the recognition model established by the vegetation index decreased in the following order: June (98.87%) > September (91.53%) > April (90.37%). The overall accuracy of the recognition model established by the feature parameters decreased in the following order: September (89.77%) > June (88.48%) > April (85.98%). Conclusions: The recognition models based on vegetation indices in different months are superior to those based on feature parameters, with overall accuracies ranging from 1.76% to 9.40% higher. Based on hyperspectral image data, the use of vegetation indices as identification parameters can enable the identification of the main plants in sericite-Artemisia desert grassland, providing a basis for further quantitative classification of the species in community images.

IDEAL-IQ measurement can distinguish dysplastic nodule from early hepatocellular carcinoma: a case-control study.

Background: Previous studies have confirmed that malignant transformation of dysplastic nodule (DN) into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is accompanied by reduction of iron content in nodules. This pathological abnormality can serve as the basis for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This study was designed to identify the feasibility of iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least squares estimation-iron quantitative (IDEAL-IQ) measurement to distinguish early hepatocellular carcinoma (eHCC) from DN. Methods: We reviewed MRI studies of 35 eHCC and 23 DN lesions (46 participants with 58 lesions total, 37 males, 9 females, 31-80 years old). The exams include IDEAL-IQ sequence and 3.0T MR conventional scan [including T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and Gadopentic acid (Gd-GDPA)-enhanced]. Then, 3 readers independently diagnosed eHCC, DN, or were unable to distinguish eHCC from DN using conventional MRI (CMRI), and then assessed R2* value of nodules [R2* value represents the nodule iron content (NIC)] and R2* value of liver background [R2* value represents the liver background iron content (LBIC)] with IDEAL-IQ. Statistical analysis was conducted using the t-test for comparison of means, the Mann-Whitney test for comparison of medians, the chi-square test for comparison of frequencies, and diagnostic efficacy was evaluated by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: This study evaluated 35 eHCC participants (17 males, 6 females, 34-81 years old, nodule size: 10.5-27.6 mm, median 18.0 mm) and 23 DN participants (20 males, 3 females, 31-76 years old, nodule size: 16.30±4.095 mm). The NIC and ratio of NIC to LIBC (NIC/LBIC) of the eHCC group (35.926±12.806 sec-1, 0.327±0.107) was lower than that of the DN group (176.635±87.686 sec-1, 1.799±0.629) (P<0.001). Using NIC and NIC/LBIC to distinguish eHCC from DN, the true positive/false positive rates were 91.3%/94.3% and 87.0%/97.1%, respectively. The rates of CMRI, NIC and NIC/LBIC in diagnosis of eHCC were 77.1%, and 94.3%, 97.1%, respectively, and those of DN were 65.2%, 91.3%, and 87.0%, respectively. The diagnosis rate of eHCC and DN by CMRI was lower than that of NIC and NIC/LBIC (eHCC: P=0.03, 0.04, DN: P=0.02, 0.04). Conclusions: Using IDEAL-IQ measurement can distinguish DN from eHCC.

Identification of a conserved G-quadruplex within the E165R of African swine fever virus (ASFV) as a potential antiviral target.

Identification of a conserved G-quadruplex in E165R of ASFVAfrican swine fever virus (ASFV) is a double-stranded DNA arbovirus with high transmissibility and mortality rates. It has caused immense economic losses to the global pig industry. Currently, no effective vaccines or medications are to combat ASFV infection. G-quadruplex (G4) structures have attracted increasing interest because of their regulatory role in vital biological processes. In this study, we identified a conserved G-rich sequence within the E165R gene of ASFV. Subsequently, using various methods, we verified that this sequence could fold into a parallel G4. In addition, the G4-stabilizers pyridostatin and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(N-methyl-4-pyridyl) porphin (TMPyP4) can bind and stabilize this G4 structure, thereby inhibiting E165R gene expression, and the inhibitory effect is associated with G4 formation. Moreover, the G4 ligand pyridostatin substantially impeded ASFV proliferation in Vero cells by reducing gene copy number and viral protein expression. These compelling findings suggest that G4 structures may represent a promising and novel antiviral target against ASFV.

Light-Boosting Highly Sensitive and Ultrafast Piezoelectric Sensor Based on Composite Membrane of Copper Phthalocyanine and Graphene Oxide.

Self-powered wearable pressure sensors based on flexible electronics have emerged as a new trend due to the increasing demand for intelligent and portable devices. Improvements in pressure-sensing performance, including in the output voltage, sensitivity and response time, can greatly expand their related applications; however, this remains challenging. Here, we report on a highly sensitive piezoelectric sensor with novel light-boosting pressure-sensing performance, based on a composite membrane of copper phthalocyanine (CuPC) and graphene oxide (GO) (CuPC@GO). Under light illumination, the CuPC@GO piezoelectric sensor demonstrates a remarkable increase in output voltage (381.17 mV, 50 kPa) and sensitivity (116.80 mV/kPa, <5 kPa), which are approximately twice and three times of that the sensor without light illumination, respectively. Furthermore, light exposure significantly improves the response speed of the sensor with a response time of 38.04 µs and recovery time of 58.48 µs, while maintaining excellent mechanical stability even after 2000 cycles. Density functional theory calculations reveal that increased electron transfer from graphene to CuPC can occur when the CuPC is in the excited state, which indicates that the light illumination promotes the electron excitation of CuPC, and thus brings about the high polarization of the sensor. Importantly, these sensors exhibit universal spatial non-contact adjustability, highlighting their versatility and applicability in various settings.

Current research hotspots and frontier trends on carbon budget of coastal wetlands: A bibliometric analysis.

Coastal wetlands are the main distribution of blue carbon in coastal zones and well known for their high carbon sequestration capacity. Investigating the variation of carbon budget is crucial for understanding the functionality of coastal wetlands and effectively addressing climate change. In this study, a bibliometric analysis of 4,509 articles was conducted to reveal research progress, hot issues, and emerging trends in the coastal wetland carbon budget field. The number of publications and citations in this field increased exponentially from 1991 to 2022. The leading subject category was Environmental Sciences with 1,844 articles (40.9%). At present, studies have been focused on blue carbon, the effects of climate change and man-made disturbances on carbon cycle, and the restoration of coastal wetlands. Based on the hotspots and trends in this field, the future researches should include (1) exploring the functional mechanisms of various factors affecting carbon cycle and establishing a methodological system for the estimation of blue carbon in coastal wetlands; (2) researching restoration techniques of coastal wetland and constructing wetland restoration evaluation index system; and (3) formulating enforceable carbon trading policy and strengthening international cooperation.

hydroSIM: super-resolution speckle illumination microscopy with a hydrogel diffuser.

Super-resolution microscopy has emerged as an indispensable methodology for probing the intricacies of cellular biology. Structured illumination microscopy (SIM), in particular, offers an advantageous balance of spatial and temporal resolution, allowing for visualizing cellular processes with minimal disruption to biological specimens. However, the broader adoption of SIM remains hampered by the complexity of instrumentation and alignment. Here, we introduce speckle-illumination super-resolution microscopy using hydrogel diffusers (hydroSIM). The study utilizes the high scattering and optical transmissive properties of hydrogel materials and realizes a remarkably simplified approach to plug-in super-resolution imaging via a common epi-fluorescence platform. We demonstrate the hydroSIM system using various phantom and biological samples, and the results exhibited effective 3D resolution doubling, optical sectioning, and high contrast. We foresee hydroSIM, a cost-effective, biocompatible, and user-accessible super-resolution methodology, to significantly advance a wide range of biomedical imaging and applications.

Low Concentration of Lipoprotein(a) is an Independent Predictor of Incident Type 2 Diabetes.

The aim of the study was to assess the association between lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentration and incident type 2 diabetes. A meta-analysis of qualified studies on the relationship of low levels of Lp(a) concentration with incident type 2 diabetes was conducted. PubMed and Cochrane libraries were searched for randomized controlled trials containing data on events. Seven randomized trials with 227178 subjects were included in this analysis. We found an inverse association of the levels of Lp(a) concentration with risk of type 2 diabetes with approximately 37% lower relative risk in the group with the highest concentration compared with group with the lowest concentration. The current available evidence from prospective studies suggests that there is an inverse association between the levels of Lp(a) concentration and risk of type 2 diabetes, with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes at low levels of Lp(a) concentration. Therefore, we believe that the low levels of Lp(a) concentration is an independent predictor of incident type 2 diabetes.

Constitutive Model and Microstructure Evolution of Ti65 Titanium Alloy.

The hot deformation behavior and mechanism of Ti65 alloy with a bimodal microstructure were investigated by isothermal compression experiments conducted on the Thermecmastor-Z simulator equipment at temperatures ranging from 950 to 1110 °C and strain rates ranging from 0.01 to 10.0 s-1. The Arrhenius constitutive model, based on strain compensation, and Grey Wolf optimization-neural network with back propagation model (GWO-BP), were both established. The differences between the experimental and predicted value of flow stress were compared and analyzed using the two models. The results show that the prediction accuracy of GWO-BP in the two-phase region is higher than that of Arrhenius model. In the single-phase region, both methods demonstrated high prediction accuracy. Compared to the single-phase region, the flow stress of Ti65 alloy shows a higher degree of softening in the two-phase region. During deformation in the two-phase region, the initial lamellar α phase transformed from a kinked and elongated morphology to a globularized topography as the strain rate decreased. Boundary-splitting was the primary mechanism leading to the spheroidization process. The degree of recrystallization increased with the increase in strain rate during the deformation in the single-phase region, while dynamic recovery and strain-induced grain boundary migration were the main deformation mechanisms at a lower strain rate. Discontinuous dynamic recrystallization may be the dominant recrystallization mechanism under a high strain rate of 10 s-1.

Vesicle fusion and release in neurons under dynamic mechanical equilibrium.

Vesicular fusion plays a pivotal role in cellular processes, involving stages like vesicle trafficking, fusion pore formation, content release, and membrane integration or separation. This dynamic process is regulated by a complex interplay of protein assemblies, osmotic forces, and membrane tension, which together maintain a mechanical equilibrium within the cell. Changes in cellular mechanics or external pressures prompt adjustments in this equilibrium, highlighting the system's adaptability. This review delves into the synergy between intracellular proteins, structural components, and external forces in facilitating vesicular fusion and release. It also explores how cells respond to mechanical stress, maintaining equilibrium and offering insights into vesicle fusion mechanisms and the development of neurological disorders.

The incidence and risk factors of proximal lower extremity deep vein thrombosis without pharmacologic prophylaxis in critically ill surgical Taiwanese patients: A prospective study.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in critically ill patients has been well-studied in Western countries. Many studies have developed risk assessments and established pharmacological protocols to prevent deep venous thrombosis (DVT). However, the DVT rate and need for pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis in critically ill Taiwanese patients are limited. This study aimed to prospectively determine the DVT incidence, risk factors, and outcomes in critically ill Taiwanese patients who do not receive pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis. Methods: We conducted a prospective study in a surgical intensive care unit (SICU) of a tertiary academic medical center in Taiwan. Adult patients admitted to SICU from March 2021 to June 2022 received proximal lower extremities DVT surveillance with venous duplex ultrasound. No patient received pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis. The outcomes were the incidence and risk factors of DVT. Results: Among 501 enrolled SICU patients, 21 patients (4.2%) were diagnosed with proximal lower extremities DVT. In a multivariate regression analysis, hypoalbuminemia (odd ratio (OR) = 6.061, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.067-34.421), femoral central venous catheter (OR = 4.515, 95% CI: 1.547-13.174), ICU stays more than 10 days (OR = 4.017, 95% CI: 1.270-12.707), and swollen leg (OR = 3.427, 95% CI: 1.075-10.930) were independent risk factors for DVT. In addition, patients with proximal lower extremities DVT have more extended ventilator days (p = 0.045) and ICU stays (p = 0.044). Conclusion: Our findings indicate critically ill Taiwanese patients have a higher incidence of DVT than results from prior retrospective studies in the Asian population. Physicians who care for this population should consider the specific risk factors for DVT and prescribe pharmacologic prophylaxis in high-risk groups.

Cholecystokinin facilitates motor skill learning by modulating neuroplasticity in the motor cortex.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is an essential modulator for neuroplasticity in sensory and emotional domains. Here, we investigated the role of CCK in motor learning using a single pellet reaching task in mice. Mice with a knockout of Cck gene (Cck-/-) or blockade of CCK-B receptor (CCKBR) showed defective motor learning ability; the success rate of retrieving reward remained at the baseline level compared to the wildtype mice with significantly increased success rate. We observed no long-term potentiation upon high-frequency stimulation in the motor cortex of Cck-/- mice, indicating a possible association between motor learning deficiency and neuroplasticity in the motor cortex. In vivo calcium imaging demonstrated that the deficiency of CCK signaling disrupted the refinement of population neuronal activity in the motor cortex during motor skill training. Anatomical tracing revealed direct projections from CCK-expressing neurons in the rhinal cortex to the motor cortex. Inactivation of the CCK neurons in the rhinal cortex that project to the motor cortex bilaterally using chemogenetic methods significantly suppressed motor learning, and intraperitoneal application of CCK4, a tetrapeptide CCK agonist, rescued the motor learning deficits of Cck-/- mice. In summary, our results suggest that CCK, which could be provided from the rhinal cortex, may surpport motor skill learning by modulating neuroplasticity in the motor cortex.

High-speed optical imaging with sCMOS pixel reassignment.

Fluorescence microscopy has undergone rapid advancements, offering unprecedented visualization of biological events and shedding light on the intricate mechanisms governing living organisms. However, the exploration of rapid biological dynamics still poses a significant challenge due to the limitations of current digital camera architectures and the inherent compromise between imaging speed and other capabilities. Here, we introduce sHAPR, a high-speed acquisition technique that leverages the operating principles of sCMOS cameras to capture fast cellular and subcellular processes. sHAPR harnesses custom fiber optics to convert microscopy images into one-dimensional recordings, enabling acquisition at the maximum camera readout rate, typically between 25 and 250 kHz. We have demonstrated the utility of sHAPR with a variety of phantom and dynamic systems, including high-throughput flow cytometry, cardiomyocyte contraction, and neuronal calcium waves, using a standard epi-fluorescence microscope. sHAPR is highly adaptable and can be integrated into existing microscopy systems without requiring extensive platform modifications. This method pushes the boundaries of current fluorescence imaging capabilities, opening up new avenues for investigating high-speed biological phenomena.

Correction: Tumor Immunotherapy-Related Information on Internet-Based Videos Commonly Used by the Chinese Population: Content Quality Analysis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/50561.].

CFAP58 is involved in the sperm head shaping and flagellogenesis of cattle and mice.

CFAP58 is a testis-enriched gene that plays an important role in the sperm flagellogenesis of humans and mice. However, the effect of CFAP58 on bull semen quality and the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in spermatogenesis remain unknown. Here, we identified two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs110610797, A>G and rs133760846, G>T) and one indel (g.-1811_ g.-1810 ins147bp) in the promoter of CFAP58 that were significantly associated with semen quality of bulls, including sperm deformity rate and ejaculate volume. Moreover, by generating gene knockout mice, we found for the first time that the loss of Cfap58 not only causes severe defects in the sperm tail, but also affects the manchette structure, resulting in abnormal sperm head shaping. Cfap58 deficiency causes an increase in spermatozoa apoptosis. Further experiments confirmed that CFAP58 interacts with IFT88 and CCDC42. Moreover, it may be a transported cargo protein that plays a role in stabilizing other cargo proteins, such as CCDC42, in the intra-manchette transport/intra-flagellar transport pathway. Collectively, our findings reveal that CFAP58 is required for spermatogenesis and provide genetic markers for evaluating semen quality in cattle.

Registration of multimodal bone images based on edge similarity metaheuristic.

OBJECTIVE: Blurry medical images affect the accuracy and efficiency of multimodal image registration, whose existing methods require further improvement. METHODS: We propose an edge-based similarity registration method optimised for multimodal medical images, especially bone images, by a balance optimiser. First, we use a GPU (graphics processing unit) rendering simulation to convert computed tomography data into digitally reconstructed radiographs. Second, we introduce the improved cascaded edge network (ICENet), a convolutional neural network that extracts edge information of blurry medical images. Then, the bilateral Gaussian-weighted similarity of pairs of X-ray images and digitally reconstructed radiographs is measured. The a balanced optimiser is iteratively applied to finally estimate the best pose to perform image registration. RESULTS: Experimental results show that, on average, the proposed method with ICENet outperforms other edge detection networks by 20%, 12%, 18.83%, and 11.93% in the overall Dice similarity, overall intersection over union, peak signal-to-noise ratio, and structural similarity index, respectively, with a registration success rate up to 90% and average reduction of 220% in registration time. CONCLUSION: The proposed method with ICENet can achieve a high registration success rate even for blurry medical images, and its efficiency and robustness are higher than those of existing methods. SIGNIFICANCE: Our proposal may be suitable for supporting medical diagnosis, radiation therapy, image-guided surgery, and other clinical applications.

Shear damage mechanisms of jointed rock mass: a macroscopic and mesoscopic study.

The joints are existing throughout the underground rock mass. It is of great significance to investigate the shear performance of the rock mass to maintain the stability of the underground structure. In this study, we conducted orthogonal tests to determine the proportion of rock-like materials, and used JRC curves to make specimen molds and then prepare the specimens. We conducted straight shear tests and uniaxial compression tests to determine the various mechanical parameters of the rock-like materials. Next, we carried out the compression and shear tests to investigate the shear characteristics of the specimens, and study the damage pattern and shear strength of the jointed rock mass under different confining pressures and roughness levels. The mesoscopic displacements in the shear process of joints were analyzed by using ABAQUS. The test results show that the effect of the confining pressure on the shear strength of the joint plane is relatively obvious, and a larger confining pressure indicates a larger shear strength. The effects of different joint plane roughness and shear rated on the shear characteristics of the joint plane are also significant. The mesoscopic displacement difference inside the joint plane with higher roughness is relatively large, and the stress concentration phenomenon is obvious and lasts longer, which leads to the faster destruction of the specimen with higher roughness and the higher destruction degree. Therefore, we suggest that the priority should be given to the reinforcement of jointed rock mass with high roughness during the construction to prevent sudden destabilization and failure.

Self-Catalyzed, Visible-Light-Induced Selective C3-H Aroylation of Quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones with Arylaldehydes by Air as an Oxidant.

A self-catalyzed, visible-light-induced, directly selective C3-H aroylation of quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones via energy transfer and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) catalysis has been developed. The method is highly atom-economical, eco-friendly, and easy to handle. Notably, the reaction proceeded efficiently with ambient air as the sole oxidant at room temperature.