Combustion aerosols and suspended dust with controlled processes in Lhasa: Elemental analysis and size distribution characteristics.

To explore air contamination resulting from special biomass combustion and suspended dust in Lhasa, the present study focused on the size distribution and chemical characteristics of particulate matter (PM) emission resulting from 7 types of non-fossil pollution sources. We investigated the concentration and size distribution of trace elements from 7 pollution sources collected in Lhasa. Combining Lhasa's atmospheric particulate matter data, enrichment factors (EFs) have been calculated to examine the potential impact of those pollution sources on the atmosphere quality of Lhasa. The highest mass concentration of total elements of biomass combustion appeared at PM0.4, and the second highest concentration existed in the size fraction 0.4-1 µm; the higher proportion (12 %) of toxic metals was produced by biomass combustion. The elemental composition of suspended dust and atmospheric particulate matter was close (except for As and Cd); the highest concentration of elements was all noted in PM2.5-10 (PM3-10). Potassium was found to be one of the main biomass markers. The proportion of Cu in suspended dust is significantly lower than that of atmospheric particulate matter (0.53 % and 3.75 %), which indicates that there are other anthropogenic sources. The EFs analysis showed that the Cr, Cu, Zn, and Pb produced by biomass combustion were highly enriched (EFs > 100) in all particle sizes. The EFs of most trace elements increased with decreasing particle size, indicating the greater influence of humanfactors on smaller particles.

Expression and significant roles of the long non-coding RNA CASC19/miR-491-5p/HMGA2 axis in the development of gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignant tumor, long non-coding RNA and microRNA (miRNA) are important regulators that affect tumor proliferation, metastasis and chemotherapy resistance, and thus participate in tumor progression. CASC19 is a new bio-marker which can promote tumor invasion and metastasis. However, the mechanism by which CASC19 affects the progression of GC through miRNA is not clear. AIM: To explore the role of the CASC19/miR-491-5p/HMGA2 regulatory axis in GC. METHODS: To explore the expression and prognosis of CASC19 in GC through clinical samples, and investigate the effects of inhibiting CASC19 on the proliferation, migration, invasion and other functions of GC cells through cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), ethynyldeoxyuridine, Wound healing assay, Transwell, Western blot and flow cytometry experiments. The effect of miR-491-5p and HMGA2 in GC were also proved. The regulatory relationship between CASC19 and miR-491-5p, miR-491-5p and HMGA2 were validated through Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and reverse transcription PCR. Then CCK-8, Transwell, Wound healing assay, flow cytometry and animal experiments verify the role of CASC19/miR-491-5p/HMGA2 regulatory axis. RESULTS: The expression level of CASC19 is related to the T stage, N stage, and tumor size of patients. Knockdown of the expression of CASC19 can inhibit the ability of proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT conversion of GC cells, and knocking down the expression of CASC19 can promote the apoptosis of GC cells. Increasing the expression of miR-491-5p can inhibit the proliferation of GC cells, miR-491-5p mimics can inhibit EMT conversion, and promote the apoptosis of GC cells, while decreasing the expression of miR-491-5p can promote the proliferation and EMT conversion and inhibit the apoptosis of GC cells. The expression of HMGA2 in GC tissues is higher than that in adjacent tissues. At the same time, the expression level of HMGA2 is related to the N and T stages of the patients. Reducing the level of HMGA2 can promote cell apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation of GC cells. Cell experiments and animal experiments have proved that CASC19 can regulates the expression of HMGA2 through miR-491-5p, thereby affecting the biological functions of GC. CONCLUSION: CASC19 regulates the expression of HMGA2 through miR-491-5p to affect the development of GC. This axis may serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target of GC.

Vitamin B6 prevents heart failure with preserved ejection fraction through downstream of kinase 3 in a mouse model.

BACKGROUND: There is an urgent need to develop an efficient therapeutic strategy for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), which is mediated by phenotypic changes in cardiac macrophages. We previously reported that vitamin B6 (VB6) inhibits macrophage-mediated inflammasome activation OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine whether the prophylactic use of VB6 prevents HFpEF METHODS: HFpEF model was elicited by a combination of high fat diet and Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester in mice. Cardiac function was assessed using conventional echocardiography and Doppler imaging. Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting were used to detect changes in the macrophage phenotype and myocardial remodeling-related molecules RESULTS: Co-administration of VB6 with HFpEF mice mitigated HFpEF phenotypes, including diastolic dysfunction, cardiac macrophage phenotypic shifts, fibrosis, and hypertrophy. Echocardiographic improvements were observed, with the E/E' ratio decreasing from 42.0 to 21.6 and the E/A ratio improving from 2.13 to 1.17. The exercise capacity also increased from 295.3 m to 657.7 m. However, these beneficial effects were negated in downstream of kinase 3 (DOK3)-deficient mice. Mechanistically, VB6 increased DOK3 protein levels and inhibited macrophage phenotypic changes, which were abrogated by an AMP-activated protein kinase inhibitor CONCLUSION: VB6 increases DOK3 signaling to lower the risk of HFpEF by inhibiting phenotypic changes in cardiac macrophages.

N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor elicits a neuroprotection against ischemic neuronal injury by restoring autophagic/lysosomal dysfunction.

Autophagosome-lysosome fusion defects play a critical role in driving autolysosomal dysfunction, leading to autophagic/lysosomal impairment in neurons following ischemic stroke. However, the mechanisms hindering autophagosome-lysosome fusion remain unclear. Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) is an essential ATPase to reactivate STX17 and VAMP8, which are the paired molecules to mediate fusion between autophagosomes and lysosomes. However, NSF is frequently inactivated to inhibit the reactivation of STX17 and VAMP8 in ischemic neurons. Herein, we investigated whether autophagosome-lysosome fusion could be facilitated to alleviate autophagic/lysosomal impairment in ischemic neurons by over-expressing NSF. Rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and HT22 neuron ischemia model of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) were prepared, respectively. The results demonstrated that NSF activity was significantly suppressed, accompanied by reduced expressions of STX17 and VAMP8 in penumbral neurons 48 h post-MCAO and in HT22 neurons 2 h post-OGD. Moreover, the attenuated autolysosome formation accompanied by autophagic/lysosomal dysfunction was observed. Thereafter, NSF activity in HT22 neurons was altered by over-expression and siRNA knockdown, respectively. After transfection with recombinant NSF-overexpressing lentiviruses, both STX17 and VAMP8 expressions were concurrently elevated to boost autophagosome-lysosome fusion, as shown by enhanced immunofluorescence intensity co-staining with LC3 and LAMP-1. Consequently, the OGD-created autophagic/lysosomal dysfunction was prominently ameliorated, as reflected by augmented autolysosomal functions and decreased autophagic substrates. By contrast, NSF knockdown conversely aggravated the autophagic/lysosomal impairment, and thereby exacerbated neurological damage. Our study indicates that NSF over-expression induces neuroprotection against ischemic neuronal injury by restoring autophagic/lysosomal dysfunction via the facilitation of autophagosome-lysosome fusion. Over-expression of NSF promotes fusion by reactivating STX17 and VAMP8. Black arrows represent the pathological process after cerebral ischemia, green arrows represent the mechanism of remission after NSF over-expression, and red arrows represent the effect on the pathological process after NSF knockdown.

Effect of diode laser on oral pigmentation, pain, and wound healing in patients with gingival hyperpigmentation: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Diode laser represent a practical clinical strategy for treating gingival hyperpigmentation. However, its effectiveness remains controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis evaluating the quantitative effects of diode laser therapy on gingival hyperpigmentation. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Pubmed, Embase, Web Of Science, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched for the use of diode laser in gingival hyperpigmentation. The primary outcomes assessed were the Dummett-Gupta Oral Pigmentation Index (DOPI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores, and the Wound Healing Index (WHI) for overall evaluation. I2 index was calculated to identify heterogeneity and sensitivity analyses sources of heterogeneity. Funnel plots and Egger's test were utilized to evaluate publication bias. RESULTS: Thirteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving a total of 233 participants were included in this study. The analysis demonstrated that diode laser had a significant effect on DOPI (standard mean difference [SMD] = -0.245, 95% CI = -0.415 to -0.040, P =.019) and VAS (SMD = -0.089, 95% CI = -1.332 to -0.285, P =.002), with no significant effect on WHI (SMD = -0.224, 95% CI = -1.100 to 0.653, P =.617). Despite the significant heterogeneity in VAS and WHI indicated by the I2 index statistic, the sensitivity analyses' results demonstrated the main findings' reliability. While no significant publication bias was detected for DOPI and WHI, the VAS results exhibited notable publication bias. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that diode laser prolongs gingival repigmentation time and reduces pain compared to other treatments. However, the efficacy in wound healing did not significantly promote.

Understanding Factors That Cause Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, Ménière Disease, and Vestibular Neuritis: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.

OBJECTIVES: Vertigo is a prevalent clinical symptom, frequently associated with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Ménière disease (MD), and vestibular neuritis (VN), which are three common peripheral vestibular disorders. However, there is a relative lack of research in epidemiology and etiology, with some existing studies presenting discrepancies in their conclusions. We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore potential risk and protective factors for these three peripheral vestibular disorders. DESIGN: Based on genome-wide association studies, we executed a univariable MR to investigate the potential associations between 38 phenotypes and MD, BPPV, and VN. We used the inverse variance weighted method as the primary MR result and conducted multiple sensitivity analyses. We used false discovery rate (FDR) correction to control for type I errors. For findings that were significant in the univariable MR, a multivariable MR analysis was implemented to ascertain direct effects. In addition, we replicated analyses of significant results from the univariable MR to enhance the robustness of our analyses. RESULTS: For BPPV, both alcohol consumption (odds ratio [OR] = 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.43 to 0.76, FDR Q = 0.004) and educational attainment (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.68 to 0.88, FDR Q = 0.003) were found to decrease the risk. The genetic prediction analysis identified major depression (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.28 to 2.39, FDR Q = 0.008) and anxiety (OR = 5.25, 95% CI = 1.79 to 15.42, FDR Q = 0.036) increased the risk of MD. However, the impact of major depression on MD could be influenced by potential horizontal pleiotropy. Systolic blood pressures (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.02 to 1.04, FDR Q = 4.00 × 10 -7 ) and diastolic blood pressures (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.03 to 1.07, FDR Q = 2.83 × 10 -6 ) were associated with an increased risk of VN, whereas high-density lipoprotein (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.67 to 0.89, FDR Q = 0.009) and urate (OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.63 to 0.91, FDR Q = 0.041) reduces the risk of VN. Only the relationship between urate and VN was not replicated in the replication analysis. Multivariable MR showed that the protective effect of education on BPPV was independent of Townsend deprivation index. The protective effect of high-density lipoprotein against VN was independent of triglycerides and apolipoprotein A1. The risk impacts of systolic and diastolic blood pressures on VN exhibited collinearity, but both are independent of chronic kidney disease and estimated glomerular filtration rate. The impacts of anxiety and severe depression on MD demonstrated collinearity. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified the risk association between systolic and diastolic blood pressure with VN and the protective influence of high-density lipoprotein on VN, which may support the vascular hypothesis underlying VN. Furthermore, we observed an elevated risk of MD associated with anxiety. The potential protective effects of education and alcohol consumption on BPPV need further exploration in subsequent studies to elucidate specific mechanistic pathways. In summary, our MR study offers novel insights into the etiology of three peripheral vestibular diseases from a genetic epidemiological standpoint.

Perceived school service quality and vocational students' learning satisfaction: Mediating role of conceptions of vocational education.

This study examined the relationships among vocational students' perceptions of school service quality, their learning satisfaction, and their conceptions of vocational education in Chinese secondary vocational schools. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 10,721 students through multistage sampling. Perceived school service quality was assessed using the five-factor SERVPERF instrument, learning satisfaction was measured with the one-factor SSwLA scale, and conceptions of vocational education were evaluated using the one-factor SCoVE scale. These instruments were subjected to internal, convergent, discriminant, and construct validity tests, including exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analyzed the relationships among the constructs. Additionally, mediation analysis was employed to explore the mediating role of students' conceptions of vocational education in the relationship between perceived school service quality and learning satisfaction. Results indicated that learning satisfaction was positively influenced by students' perceptions of school service quality, particularly responsiveness, assurance, reliability, and empathy, but negatively by tangibles. Furthermore, the association between students' perceived school service quality and learning satisfaction was mediated by their conceptions of vocational education, highlighting the complex interaction between perceived service quality and students' learning satisfaction. These findings provide critical insights for policymakers and educators seeking to enhance effectiveness and satisfaction within vocational education settings.

Pan-cancer analysis of TMEM45A and exploration of its prognostic value and mechanism in gastric cancer.

Cancer is a major category of diseases that need to be addressed urgently, bringing a huge burden to the world. Gastric cancer (GC) is a frequent malignant tumor of the digestive system with the highest incidence and mortality rate among all tumors. The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of action of TMEM45A in pan-cancer and gastric cancer. First, GEO and TCGA database were employed to analyze the expression of TMEM45A in GC patients. Then, we determined the association between TMEM45A expression and survival of GC patients using the Kaplan-Meier Plotter database and TCGA database and verified the accuracy of TMEM45A in predicting prognosis. Next, we analyzed the effect of CTHRC expression on TIICs in GC tissues. A prognostic model was constructed using immunomodulatory genes associated with TMEM45A. The specificity and accuracy of the model were verified. TMEM45A expression was markedly higher in GC tissue than in normal tissue. GC patients with TMEM45A overexpression had a poor prognosis. The AUC value of 5-year survival on the ROC curve was 0.705, indicating that TMEM45A is a reliable prognostic factor and can be used as a clinicopathological indicator alone to predict patient prognosis. Three high-risk immunomodulatory genes (CXCR4 and TGFB1) and one low-risk immunomodulatory gene (PDCD1) were obtained using both univariate and multivariate COX methods. These three immunomodulatory molecules were used to construct prognostic models. GC patients with TMEM45A overexpression have a poor prognosis and are associated with immune cell infiltration. Hence, TMEM45A is a fairly reliable independent prognostic marker.

Real-Time Monitoring of Activated Sludge Flocs via Enhanced Mask Region-based Convolutional Neural Networks.

The functionality of activated sludge in wastewater treatment processes depends largely on the structural and microbial composition of its flocs, which are complex assemblages of microorganisms and their secretions. However, monitoring these flocs in real-time and consistently has been challenging due to the lack of suitable technologies and analytical methods. Here we present a laboratory setup capable of capturing instantaneous microscopic images of activated sludge, along with algorithms to interpret these images. To improve floc identification, an advanced Mask R-CNN-based segmentation that integrates a Dual Attention Network (DANet) with an enhanced Feature Pyramid Network (FPN) was used to enhance feature extraction and segmentation accuracy. Additionally, our novel PointRend module meticulously refines the contours of boundaries, significantly minimising pixel inaccuracies. Impressively, our approach achieved a floc detection accuracy of >95%. This development marks a significant advancement in real-time sludge monitoring, offering essential insights for optimising wastewater treatment operations proactively.

A tumour-associated macrophage-based signature for deciphering prognosis and immunotherapy response in prostate cancer.

For the multistage progression of prostate cancer (PCa) and resistance to immunotherapy, tumour-associated macrophage is an essential contributor. Although immunotherapy is an important and promising treatment modality for cancer, most patients with PCa are not responsive towards it. In addition to exploring new therapeutic targets, it is imperative to identify highly immunotherapy-sensitive individuals. This research aimed to establish a signature risk model, which derived from the macrophage, to assess immunotherapeutic responses and predict prognosis. Data from the UCSC-XENA, GEO and TISCH databases were extracted for analysis. Based on both single-cell datasets and bulk transcriptome profiles, a macrophage-related score (MRS) consisting of the 10-gene panel was constructed using the gene set variation analysis. MRS was highly correlated with hypoxia, angiogenesis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, suggesting its potential as a risk indicator. Moreover, poor immunotherapy responses and worse prognostic performance were observed in the high-MRS group of various immunotherapy cohorts. Additionally, APOE, one of the constituent genes of the MRS, affected the polarisation of macrophages. In particular, the reduced level of M2 macrophage and tumour progression suppression were observed in PCa xenografts which implanted in Apolipoprotein E-knockout mice. The constructed MRS has the potential as a robust prognostic prediction tool, and can aid in the treatment selection of PCa, especially immunotherapy options.

Small molecules, enormous functions: potential approach for overcoming bottlenecks in embryogenic tissue induction and maintenance in conifers.

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is not only the most effective method among various strategies for the asexual propagation of forest trees but also a basis for genetic improvement. However, some bottlenecks, such as the recalcitrance of initiation, the maintenance of embryogenic potential during proliferation and the low efficiency of maturation as well as high rate of abnormal embryo development remain unresolved. These bottlenecks refer to complex mechanisms, including transcriptional regulatory networks, epigenetic modifications and physiological conditions. In recent years, several small molecules utilized in animal stem cell research have exhibited positive effects on plant regeneration, including conifer species, which offers a potential novel approach to overcome the challenges associated with SE in conifers. In this review, we summarize the small molecules used in conifers, including redox substances, epigenetic regulatory inhibitors and other metabolism-related molecules, which overcome these difficulties without the use of genetic engineering. Moreover, this approach also has the advantages of dynamic reversibility, simple operation, and simultaneous regulation of multiple targets, which might be one of the best choices for optimizing plant regeneration systems including SE.

Remote neurostimulation through an endogenous ion channel using a near-infrared light-activatable nanoagonist.

The development of noninvasive approaches to precisely control neural activity in mammals is highly desirable. Here, we used the ion channel transient receptor potential ankyrin-repeat 1 (TRPA1) as a proof of principle, demonstrating remote near-infrared (NIR) activation of endogenous neuronal channels in mice through an engineered nanoagonist. This achievement enables specific neurostimulation in nongenetically modified mice. Initially, target-based screening identified flavins as photopharmacological agonists, allowing for the photoactivation of TRPA1 in sensory neurons upon ultraviolet A/blue light illumination. Subsequently, upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) were customized with an emission spectrum aligned to flavin absorption and conjugated with flavin adenine dinucleotide, creating a nanoagonist capable of NIR activation of TRPA1. Following the intrathecal injection of the nanoagonist, noninvasive NIR stimulation allows precise bidirectional control of nociception in mice through remote activation of spinal TRPA1. This study demonstrates a noninvasive NIR neurostimulation method with the potential for adaptation to various endogenous ion channels and neural processes by combining photochemical toolboxes with customized UCNPs.

Target deubiquitinase OTUB1 as a therapeatic strategy for BLCA via ß-catenin/necroptosis signal pathway.

Ubiquitination, a prevalent and highly dynamic reversible post-translational modification, is tightly regulated by the deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) superfamily. Among them, OTU Domain-Containing Ubiquitin Aldehyde-Binding Protein 1 (OTUB1) stands out as a critical member of the OTU deubiquitinating family, playing a pivotal role as a tumor regulator across various cancers. However, its specific involvement in BLCA (BLCA) and its clinical significance have remained ambiguous. This study aimed to elucidate the biofunctions of OTUB1 in BLCA and its implications for clinical prognosis. Our investigation revealed heightened OTUB1 expression in BLCA, correlating with unfavorable clinical outcomes. Through in vivo and in vitro experiments, we demonstrated that increased OTUB1 levels promote BLCA tumorigenesis and progression, along with conferring resistance to cisplatin treatment. Notably, we established a comprehensive network involving OTUB1, ß-catenin, necroptosis, and BLCA, delineating their regulatory interplay. Mechanistically, we uncovered that OTUB1 exerts its influence by deubiquitinating and stabilizing ß-catenin, leading to its nuclear translocation. Subsequently, nuclear ß-catenin enhances the transcriptional activity of c-myc and cyclin D1 while suppressing the expression of RIPK3 and MLKL, thereby fostering BLCA progression and cisplatin resistance. Importantly, our clinical data suggest that the OTUB1/ß-catenin/RIPK3/MLKL axis holds promise as a potential biomarker for BLCA.

Periostracum Cicadae Extract and N-Acetyldopamine Regulate the Sleep-Related Neurotransmitters in PCPA-Induced Insomnia Rats.

Insomnia is the second most prevalent mental illness worldwide. Periostracum cicadae (PC), as an animal traditional Chinese medicine with rich pharmacological effects, has been documented as a treatment for children's night cries, and later extended to treat insomnia. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PC extract and N-acetyldopamine compounds in ameliorating insomnia. The UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS analysis determined that PC extract mainly contained N-acetyldopamine components. Previously, we also isolated some acetyldopamine polymers from PC extract, among which acetyldopamine dimer A (NADA) was present in high content. Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations demonstrated that NADA could form stable complexes with 5-HT1A, BDNF, and D2R proteins, respectively. The effects of PC extract and NADA on insomnia were evaluated in the PCPA-induced insomnia model. The results indicated that PC extract and NADA could effectively ameliorate hypothalamic pathology of insomnia rats, increase the levels of 5-HT, GABA, and BDNF, and decrease the levels of DA, DOPAC, and HVA. Meanwhile, the PC extract and NADA also could significantly affect the expression of 5-HT1A, BDNF, and DARPP-32 proteins. This study proved that PC extract and acetyldopamine dimer A could effectively improve PCPA-induced insomnia in rats. It is speculated that the main pharmacological substances of PC were acetyldopamine components.

Interspecies-chimera machine vision with polarimetry for real-time navigation and anti-glare pattern recognition.

Cutting-edge humanoid machine vision merely mimics human systems and lacks polarimetric functionalities that convey the information of navigation and authentic images. Interspecies-chimera vision reserving multiple hosts' capacities will lead to advanced machine vision. However, implementing the visual functions of multiple species (human and non-human) in one optoelectronic device is still elusive. Here, we develop an optically-controlled polarimetry memtransistor based on a van der Waals heterostructure (ReS2/GeSe2). The device provides polarization sensitivity, nonvolatility, and positive/negative photoconductance simultaneously. The polarimetric measurement can identify celestial polarizations for real-time navigation like a honeybee. Meanwhile, cognitive tasks can be completed like a human by sensing, memory, and synaptic functions. Particularly, the anti-glare recognition with polarimetry saves an order of magnitude energy compared to the traditional humanoid counterpart. This technique promotes the concept of interspecies-chimera visual systems that will leverage the advances of autonomous vehicles, medical diagnoses, intelligent robotics, etc.

Contrastive machine learning reveals Parkinson's disease specific features associated with disease severity and progression.

Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibits heterogeneity in terms of symptoms and prognosis, likely due to diverse neuroanatomical alterations. This study employs a contrastive deep learning approach to analyze Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data from 932 PD patients and 366 controls, aiming to disentangle PD-specific neuroanatomical alterations. The results reveal that these neuroanatomical alterations in PD are correlated with individual differences in dopamine transporter binding deficit, neurodegeneration biomarkers, and clinical severity and progression. The correlation with clinical severity is verified in an external cohort. Notably, certain proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid are strongly associated with PD-specific features, particularly those involved in the immune function. The most notable neuroanatomical alterations are observed in both subcortical and temporal regions. Our findings provide deeper insights into the patterns of brain atrophy in PD and potential underlying molecular mechanisms, paving the way for earlier patient stratification and the development of treatments to slow down neurodegeneration.

The heart sound classification of congenital heart disease by using median EEMD-Hurst and threshold denoising method.

Heart sound signals are vital for the machine-assisted detection of congenital heart disease. However, the performance of diagnostic results is limited by noise during heart sound acquisition. A limitation of existing noise reduction schemes is that the pathological components of the signal are weak, which have the potential to be filtered out with the noise. In this research, a novel approach for classifying heart sounds based on median ensemble empirical mode decomposition (MEEMD), Hurst analysis, improved threshold denoising, and neural networks are presented. In decomposing the heart sound signal into several intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), mode mixing and mode splitting can be effectively suppressed by MEEMD. Hurst analysis is adopted for identifying the noisy content of IMFs. Then, the noise-dominated IMFs are denoised by an improved threshold function. Finally, the noise reduction signal is generated by reconstructing the processed components and the other components. A database of 5000 heart sounds from congenital heart disease and normal volunteers was constructed. The Mel spectral coefficients of the denoised signals were used as input vectors to the convolutional neural network for classification to verify the effectiveness of the preprocessing algorithm. An accuracy of 93.8%, a specificity of 93.1%, and a sensitivity of 94.6% were achieved for classifying the normal cases from abnormal one.

Comparison of clinical outcomes between mineral trioxide aggregate and bioceramic materials in pulpotomy for treating early chronic pulpitis in deciduous teeth.

This study aims to elucidate the clinical efficacy of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) and Bioceramic Materials in pulpotomy procedures for early-stage chronic pulpitis in deciduous teeth. The clinical data of 100 children with early chronic pulpitis in deciduous teeth treated at our institution between January 2021 and January 2023 were included retrospectively, which were divided into an experimental group (n = 50) and a control group (n = 50) according to the treatment methods. Experimental group received pulpotomy with Thera Cal LC as bioceramic pulp-capping material versus control group with MTA as pulp-capping agent. Comparative studies were conducted to assess the clinical effectiveness and differences between both pulp-capping techniques. At 12 months postoperatively, the experimental group showed a significantly higher success rate than the control group (96.00% vs. 80.00%, p < 0.05). Post-treatment inflammatory markers (Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Interleukin-8 (IL-8)) were substantially lower in the experimental group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, significantly lower pain scores and higher comfort and satisfaction scores were obtained in the experimental group (p < 0.05). Experimental group adverse reactions were also lower in the experimental group (p < 0.05). TheraCal LC bioceramic material treats early chronic pulpitis in deciduous teeth effectively. Clinically, it is an excellent therapeutic option for emergence of permanent dentition, pain relief, comfort and improvement of patient satisfaction.

Synthetic Modification and Insecticidal Activity of 4-epi-cis-Dihydroagarofuran Derivatives.

To synthesize the fundamental framework of dihydroagarofuran, a novel strategy was devised for constructing the C-ring through a dearomatization reaction using 6-methoxy-1-tetralone as the initial substrate. Subsequently, the dihydroagarofuran skeleton was assembled via two consecutive Michael addition reactions. The conjugated diene and trans-dihydroagarofuran skeleton were modified. The insecticidal activities of 33 compounds against Mythimna separata were evaluated. Compounds 11-5 exhibited an LC50 value of 0.378 mg/mL. The activity exhibited a remarkable 29-fold increase compared to positive control Celangulin V, which was widely recognized as the most renowned natural dihydroagarofuran polyol ester insecticidal active compound. Docking experiments between synthetic compounds and target proteins revealed the shared binding sites with Celangulin V. Structure-activity relationship studies indicated that methyl groups at positions C4 and C10 significantly improved insecticidal activity, while ether groups with linear chains displayed enhanced activity; in particular, the allyl ether group demonstrated optimal efficacy. Furthermore, a three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship model was established to investigate the correlation between the skeletal structure and activity. These research findings provide valuable insights for discovering and developing dihydroagarofuran-like compounds.

Association of Vestibular Disorders and Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to consolidate and condense the available evidence about the potential association between vestibular diseases and cognitive impairment. DATA SOURCES AND METHODS: A systematic search was conducted on four English databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library) from the time of library construction to March 2024. The study incorporated various keywords such as "vestibular disorders," "vertigo," "dizziness," "Meniere's disease," "benign paroxysmal positional vertigo," "vestibular migraine," "vestibular neuritis," "labyrinthitis," "bilateral vestibular disease," as well as "cognitive function" and "cognitive dysfunction." A qualitative review was conducted to look for and assess pertinent studies. RESULTS: A total of 45 publications were incorporated, encompassing prevalent vestibular disorders, mostly targeting individuals in the middle-aged and older demographic. The findings indicate that individuals with vestibular disorders experience varying levels of cognitive impairment, which is evident in different aspects, with visuospatial cognitive deficits being more prominent. Furthermore, patients with chronic vestibular syndromes are more prone to cognitive dysfunction. Lastly, the hippocampus plays a crucial role in the intricate vestibular neural network. CONCLUSION: The findings of this comprehensive review indicate that vestibular disorders can result in impairments across various aspects of cognitive functioning, particularly in visuospatial cognition. The underlying mechanism may be associated with a decrease in the size of the hippocampus. Individuals suffering from chronic vestibular dysfunction exhibit a higher likelihood of experiencing cognitive deficits. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 2024.