Machine learning for differentiating between pancreatobiliary-type and intestinal-type periampullary carcinomas based on CT imaging and clinical findings.

PURPOSE: To develop a diagnostic model for distinguishing pancreatobiliary-type and intestinal-type periampullary adenocarcinomas using preoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) findings combined with clinical characteristics. METHODS: This retrospective study included 140 patients with periampullary adenocarcinoma who underwent preoperative enhanced CT, including pancreaticobiliary (N = 100) and intestinal (N = 40) types. They were randomly assigned to the training or internal validation set in an 8:2 ratio. Additionally, an independent external cohort of 28 patients was enrolled. Various CT features of the periampullary region were evaluated and data from clinical and laboratory tests were collected. Five machine learning classifiers were developed to identify the histologic type of periampullary adenocarcinoma, including logistic regression, random forest, multi-layer perceptron, light gradient boosting, and eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). RESULTS: All machine learning classifiers except multi-layer perceptron used achieved good performance in distinguishing pancreatobiliary-type and intestinal-type adenocarcinomas, with the area under the curve (AUC) ranging from 0.75 to 0.98. The AUC values of the XGBoost classifier in the training set, internal validation set and external validation set are 0.98, 0.89 and 0.84 respectively. The enhancement degree of tumor, the growth pattern of tumor, and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 were the most important factors in the model. CONCLUSION: Machine learning models combining CT with clinical features can serve as a noninvasive tool to differentiate the histological subtypes of periampullary adenocarcinoma, in particular using the XGBoost classifier.

New evidence of the Hoyle-like structure in 16O.

An experiment of 12C(16O,16O → 4α)12C was performed at a beam energy of 96 MeV. A large number of 4-α events were recorded in coincidence and with full particle identification (PID). This was made possible by employing a series of silicon-strip-based telescopes that provided excellent position and energy resolutions. Four narrow resonances just above the 15.1 MeV state were firmly identified in the α + 12C(7.65 MeV; Hoyle state) decay channel. Combined with the theoretical predictions, these resonant states provide new evidence for the predicted possible Hoyle-like structure in 16O above the 4-α separation threshold. Some very high-lying 4-α resonant states have also been observed and need to be further investigated.

Overexpression of the cotton trihelix transcription factor GhGT23 in Arabidopsis mediates salt and drought stress tolerance by binding to GT and MYB promoter elements in stress-related genes.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is the world's most economically valuable textile crop. However, cotton plants are often subjected to numerous abiotic stresses that can dramatically limit yield. Trihelix transcription factors (TTFs) play important roles in abiotic stress responses in many plant species, and efforts to better understand their roles in cotton abiotic stress responses are ongoing. In this study, a member of the cotton TTF family (GhGT23) was functionally characterized. This protein contains a SANT domain and is a member of the SIP subfamily of TTF proteins. GhGT23 was significantly (p < 0.05) and highly expressed in cotton fiber compared to relatively low expression in other tissues. A significant (p < 0.05) increase in GhGT23 expression occurred in cotton seedlings within 12 hours of drought, salt, and ABA exposure. The GhGT23 protein localized in the nucleus but exhibited no signs of transactivation activity. GhGT23 overexpression in Arabidopsis conferred enhanced drought and salt stress tolerance. The expression of stress-related genes was higher in transgenic Arabidopsis expressing GhGT23 than in wild-type plants subjected to salt stress. The results of electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that GhGT23 could bind to the GT cis-elements GT-1Box (Box II), GT2-Box, GT3-Box, GT-3a (Site1-type), GT-3b, and Box as well as the MYB cis-elements MBS1 and MRE4. Our results demonstrate that GhGT23 positively regulates salt and drought stress responses, possibly by enhancing the expression of stress-related genes.

Facile synthesis strategy for cesium tin halide perovskite crystals toward light emitting devices and anti-counterfeiting flexible fiber.

All-inorganic metal halide perovskites are widely studied because of their excellent photoelectric properties. However, due to the toxicity of CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) perovskites, it is difficult to apply them on a large scale. The lead-free nature and air stability make Cs2SnX6 (X = Cl, Br, I) perovskites possible candidates to replace CsPbX3 perovskites. Herein, we report the perovskite crystals (PCs) based on Te(IV)-doped Cs2SnCl6: Cs2Sn1-xTexCl6. Cs2Sn1-xTexCl6 PCs showed yellow emission under a 365 nm ultraviolet lamp. The photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of Cs2Sn0.94Te0.06Cl6 PCs was 57.09%, which was proposed to be from the triplet Te(IV) ion 3P1 → 1S0 self-trapping excitons (STE) recombination. The perovskite crystals can be used to fabricate light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The fiber paper prepared from aramid chopped fibers (ACFs) and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) fibers showed a bright yellow light under 365 nm ultraviolet light after being post-processed with Cs2Sn1-xTexCl6 PCs solution. The ACFs/PPS compound fiber paper modified with Cs2Sn1-xTexCl6 PCs maintained exceptional optical properties and could be stored in air for more than 4500 h. The fluorescence performance of the modified ACFs/PPS compound fiber paper could be applied to fluorescence anti-counterfeiting. The modification strategy and the applications in this work will provide a good choice for studying the optical performance of perovskites and broaden the application of ACFs/PPS compound fiber paper.

Tb3+ and Sm3+ co-doped Ca2La3(SiO4)3F phosphor: synthesis, color regulation, and luminescence properties.

The polychromatic phosphor with an apatite structure Ca2La3(SiO4)3F:0.15Tb3+,xSm3+ (CLSOF:0.15Tb3+,xSm3+) was synthesized via a solid-state route. The phase and morphology of the phosphor has been investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The structures of the as-prepared phosphor were verified by means of the Rietveld method. The optical performance was investigated thoroughly and the phosphors could emit multicolor light from short wavelengths to long wavelengths by gradually increasing the doping contents of samarium. All the results support that the energy transfer in CLSOF:0.15Tb3+,xSm3+ contributes to the color tunable property of the phosphor.

Trihelix Transcriptional Factor GhGT26 of Cotton Enhances Salinity Tolerance in Arabidopsis.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), the most important textile crop worldwide, often encounters abiotic stress during its growing season and its productivity is significantly limited by adverse factors. Trihelix transcription factors (also known as GT factors) are important proteins involved in the morphological development and responses to abiotic stress in plants. However, their functions and molecular mechanisms in the cotton toward abiotic stress response remain unclear. In this study, a member (GhGT26) of the cotton Trihelix family was functionally characterized in the model plant Arabidopsis. This protein containing a SANT domain belongs to the GT-1 subgroup of trihelix proteins. GhGT26 was widely expressed in tissues (with the highest level in flower) and responded to high salt and ABA treatments at the transcriptional level. Using the Arabidopsis protoplast assay system, we found that the GhGT26 protein was located in the cell nuclei. The EMSA assay revealed that the GhGT26 protein could bind to the Site1-type GT cis elements (GT-3a) and MYB elements MRE3 and MRE4. The overexpression of GhGT26 improved plant tolerance to salt stress in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. Although ABA inhibits root elongation, the statistical analysis revealed that the root lengths of GhGT26-overexpressing Arabidopsis were the same as the wild plants after ABA treatment. Our results demonstrate that GhGT26 positively regulates salt stress via ABA-independent pathways. This evidence suggests that the GhGT26 may participate in the regulation of stress tolerance in cotton.

A Small Gtp-Binding Protein GhROP3 Interacts with GhGGB Protein and Negatively Regulates Drought Tolerance in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).

As a plant-specific Rho-like small G protein, the ROP (Rho-related GTPase of plants) protein regulates the growth and development of plants and various stress responses in the form of molecular switches. Drought is a major abiotic stress that limits cotton yield and fiber quality. In this study, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technology was used to analyze the biological function of GhROP3 in cotton drought stress tolerance. Meanwhile, we used yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays to examine the interaction between GhROP3 and GhGGB. GhROP3 has a high expression level in cotton true leaves and roots, and responds to drought, high salt, cold, heat stress, and exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin (IAA) treatments. Silencing GhROP3 improved the drought tolerance of cotton. The water loss rates (WLR) of detached leaves significantly reduced in silenced plants. Also, the relative water content (RWC) and total contents of chlorophyll (Chl) and proline (Pro) of leaves after drought stress and the activities of three antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD) significantly increased, whereas the contents of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) significantly reduced. In the leaves of silenced plants, the expression of genes related to ABA synthesis and its related pathway was significantly upregulated, and the expression of decomposition-related GhCYP707A gene and genes related to IAA synthesis and its related pathways was significantly downregulated. It indicated that GhROP3 was a negative regulator of cotton response to drought by participating in the negative regulation of the ABA signaling pathway and the positive regulation of the IAA signaling pathway. Yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays showed that the GhROP3 protein interacted with the GhGGB protein in vivo and in vitro. This study provided a theoretical basis for the in-depth investigation of the drought resistance-related molecular mechanism of the GhROP3 gene and the biological function of the GhGGB gene.

The Created Excellent Thermal, Mechanical and Fluorescent Properties by Doping Eu3+-Complex-Anchored Carbon Nanotubes in Polycyanate Resins.

In the blending process of the composites, the clustering of MWCNTs under high concentration leads to poor dispersion and difficult complexing with luminescent elements. Cyanate ester resins (CERs) have a brittle network structure when cured caused by a conjugation effect that forms a strong emission peak in the ultraviolet-visible region and quenches the luminescent elements of the fluorescent nanofillers. In this paper, by anchoring of the Eu complex (Eu(TTA)3Phen, ETP) on a surface of longitudinal split unzipped carbon nanotubes (uMWCNTs); fluorescent nanoparticles were prepared as ETP anchor unzipper carbon nanotubes (ETP-uCNTs). Dicyanate ester of bisphenol E (CER-E monomer) is cured to polycyanurate at a lower temperature to achieve a high conversion, promoting a uniform blend with ETP-uCNTs, providing the fluorescence environment with high color purity. Studies show the ETP-uCNTs solve the agglomeration of MWCNTs and improve the interface binding ability. Compared with the pure CER-E, the tensile strength, bending strength and impact strength of CER-E/0.8 wt.% ETP-uCNT hybrid nanocomposites are increased by 94.6%, 92.8% and 101.1%, respectively. The carbon residue rate of CER-E/ETP-uCNTs is up to 47.14% at 800 °C, the temperature of the maximum reaction rate decreases by 67.81 °C, and the partial absorption of ultraviolet light is realized between 200 and 400 nm.

Structure, luminescence properties and energy transfer of terbium and samarium co-doped barium based apatite phosphor with tunable emission colour.

Ba2La2.85-x Tb0.15Sm x (SiO4)3F (BLSOF:0.15Tb3+,xSm3+) is a polychromatic phosphor with an apatite structure that was manufactured through a solid-state process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) were utilized to examine the phosphor's phase and morphology. Using the Rietveld technique, the as-prepared phosphor structure was validated. By progressively raising the doping contents of the samarium, the phosphors emitted multicoloured luminescence from short to long wavelengths as indicated by analysis of the optical performance. Overall, the data provide strong evidence that the transfer of energy in BLSOF:0.15Tb3+,xSm3+ is responsible for the phosphor's colour-tunable property.