Inorganic Electrolyte Additive Promoting the Interfacial Stability for Durable Zn-Ion Batteries.

The development of Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) is always hindered by the ruleless interface reactions between the solid electrode and liquid electrolyte, and seeking appropriate electrolyte additives is considered as a valid approach to stabilize the electrode/electrolyte interphases for high-performance ZIBs. Benefiting from the unique solubility of TiOSO4 in acidic solution, the composite electrolyte of 2 m ZnSO4+30 mm TiOSO4 (ZSO/TSO) is configured and its positive contribution to Zn//Zn cells, Zn//Cu cells, and Zn//NH4V4O10 batteries are comprehensively investigated by electrochemical tests and theoretical calculations. Based on the theoretical calculations, the introduction of TiOSO4 contributes to facilitating the desolvation kinetics of Zn2+ ions and guarantees the stable interface reactions of both zinc anode and NH4V4O10 cathode. As expected, Zn//Zn cells keep long-term cycling behavior for 3750 h under the test condition of 1 mA cm-2-1 mAh cm-2, Zn//Cu cells deliver high Coulombic efficiency of 99.9% for 1000 cycles under the test condition of 5 mA cm-2-1 mAh cm-2, and Zn//NH4V4O10 batteries maintain reversible specific capacity of 193.8 mAh g-1 after 1700 cycles at 5 A g-1 in ZSO/TSO electrolyte. These satisfactory results manifest that TiOSO4 additive holds great potential to improve the performances of ZIBs.

Antagonizing apolipoprotein J chaperone promotes proteasomal degradation of mTOR and relieves hepatic lipid deposition.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Overnutrition-induced activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) dysregulates intracellular lipid metabolism and contributes to hepatic lipid deposition. Apolipoprotein J (ApoJ) is a molecular chaperone and participates in pathogen-induced and nutrient-induced lipid accumulation. This study investigates the mechanism of ApoJ-regulated ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation of mTOR, and a proof-of-concept ApoJ antagonist peptide is proposed to relieve hepatic steatosis. APPROACH AND RESULTS: By using omics approaches, upregulation of ApoJ was found in high-fat medium-fed hepatocytes and livers of patients with NAFLD. Hepatic ApoJ level associated with the levels of mTOR and protein markers of autophagy and correlated positively with lipid contents in the liver of mice. Functionally, nonsecreted intracellular ApoJ bound to mTOR kinase domain and prevented mTOR ubiquitination by interfering FBW7 ubiquitin ligase interaction through its R324 residue. In vitro and in vivo gain-of-function or loss-of-function analysis further demonstrated that targeting ApoJ promotes proteasomal degradation of mTOR, restores lipophagy and lysosomal activity, thus prevents hepatic lipid deposition. Moreover, an antagonist peptide with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 2.54 µM interacted with stress-induced ApoJ and improved hepatic pathology, serum lipid and glucose homeostasis, and insulin sensitivity in mice with NAFLD or type II diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSIONS: ApoJ antagonist peptide might be a potential therapeutic against lipid-associated metabolic disorders through restoring mTOR and FBW7 interaction and facilitating ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation of mTOR.

Recent developments in the fabrication of food microparticles and nanoparticles using microfluidic systems.

Microfluidics is revolutionizing the production of microparticles and nanoparticles, offering precise control over dimensions and internal structure. This technology facilitates the creation of colloidal delivery systems capable of encapsulating and releasing nutraceuticals. Nutraceuticals, often derived from food-grade ingredients, can be used for developing functional foods. This review focuses on the principles and applications of microfluidic systems in crafting colloidal delivery systems for nutraceuticals. It explores the foundational principles behind the development of microfluidic devices for nutraceutical encapsulation and delivery. Additionally, it examines the prospects and challenges with using microfluidics for functional food development. Microfluidic systems can be employed to form emulsions, liposomes, microgels and microspheres, by manipulating minute volumes of fluids flowing within microchannels. This versatility can enhance the dispersibility, stability, and bioavailability of nutraceuticals. However, challenges as scaling up production, fabrication complexity, and microchannel clogging hinder the widespread application of microfluidic technologies. In conclusion, this review highlights the potential role of microfluidics in design and fabrication of nutraceutical delivery systems. At present, this technology is most suitable for exploring the role of specific delivery system features (such as particle size, composition and morphology) on the stability and bioavailability of nutraceuticals, rather than for large-scale production of nutraceutical delivery systems.

Pingchuanning Decotion Alleviates Bronchial Asthma Airway Inflammation Through ROS/HMGB1/Beclin-1 Mediated Cell Autophagy.

Objective: Bronchial asthma is a prevalent respiratory disorder characterized by airway inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Pingchuanning decoction (PCN) on airway inflammation in bronchial asthma, focusing on the role of autophagy and its underlying molecular mechanism. Methods: Using an in vitro lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory damage model of human airway epithelial cells (16HBE), we assessed the effect of PCN. Various experiments were performed to evaluate the expression of autophagy-related genes, autophagosome and vesicle counts, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Results: First, PCN reduced LPS-induced cellular inflammation. Second, PCN decreased the number of autophagosomes and autophagic vesicles. And third, PCN significantly reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Most importantly, PCN also down-regulated LPS-induced expression of HMGB1, Beclin-1, and autophagy-related gene 5 (ATG5) while enhancing the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), which further reduced the LC3II/I ratio. Conclusion: PCN reduces the 16HBE inflammatory response by inhibiting the overexpression of ROS/HMGB1/Beclin-1 mediated cell autophagy. Therefore, it may serve as a potential drug for treating bronchial asthma.

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry method based on a four-step analysis strategy to investigate metabolites of Qi-Yu-San-Long decoction in rat plasma.

Metabolism is undoubtedly significantly correlated with the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine. In clinic, Qi-Yu-San-Long decoction (QYSLD) has achieved good results in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Nevertheless, a detailed understanding of the compounds (prototypes and metabolites) of QYSLD and its dynamic metabolic profile in plasma has not been revealed. METHODS: In this study, a rapid and sensitive method based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MSE ), combined with a four-step analysis strategy, was established to investigate QYSLD metabolic profile in rat plasma. RESULTS: In all, 101 xenobiotics (41 prototypes and 60 QYSLD-related metabolites) were identified in rat plasma. The research uncovered metabolic profiles of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, iridoids, anthraquinones, and phenylpropanoids of QYSLD in rat plasma. The dynamic changes in these xenobiotics were also observed at different time intervals. At 0.5 h after oral administration, only 15 prototypes and 11 metabolites were detected. Within 24 h, 4 prototypes and 20 metabolites can still be detected. Four prototypes and 10 metabolites had the phenomenon of emergence-disappearance-reappearance in vivo. CONCLUSION: In rat plasma, 101 xenobiotics of QYSLD were identified and their dynamic metabolic profiles were systematically delineated, which laid a material basis for further research of the pharmacodynamic substances of QYSLD inhibiting NSCLC.

Carbon dots with hydrogen bond-controlled aggregation behavior.

Here, hydrophilic carbon dots (H-CDs) are prepared by a facile room temperature method. The strength of hydrogen bonds can be controlled by introducing proton and aprotic solvents, respectively, so as to realize the tunable aggregation state of H-CDs. Because of the ultrasensitive response to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), H-CDs can serve as optical probes for detecting DMSO in a linear range of 0.005% to 0.75% and with a detection limit of 0.001%.

Development and preliminary testing of the cancer-related fatigue comprehensive assessment scale in cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Tailored management of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is important for effective coping; however, it has been hindered by the lack of a comprehensive tool that assesses both symptoms and treatable influencing factors. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim was to develop a cancer-related fatigue comprehensive assessment scale (CRF-CAS) and assess its psychometric properties. DESIGN: This was a mixed-method study. METHODS: The study included two phases which were conducted in Zhejiang Province, China. In phase one, a literature search, brainstorming sessions, Delphi studies, cognitive interviews and a pilot study were conducted to construct and revise CRF-CAS indicators. In phase two, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted among cancer survivors. Item analysis was used to select and optimize indicators. Cronbach's α was calculated for reliability analysis. Validity analysis included concurrent validity and structural validity. RESULTS: A 93-item tool was initially constructed. Phase one ended with revision and optimization. The preliminary scale included five dimensions (CRF symptoms, physical activity, cognitive-emotional status, sleep status, nutritional status) and 30 items. The mean item-content validity index (I-CVI) and scale-level CVI universal agreement (S-CVI/UA) were .98, and the adjusted mean values of Kappa for indicators ranged from .91-1, as evaluated by the expert group. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the CRF-CAS and criterion scales ranged from .337-.862. Cronbach's α coefficient ranged from .624-.728. Respondents agreed that the scale was acceptable for administration and that it contributed to decision-making in fatigue management. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated that the CRF-CAS fit well. CONCLUSIONS: The construction process of the CRF-CAS, involving panel discussion and expert and participant evaluations, was shown to be scientific and feasible. The CRF-CAS had relatively good validity and reliability in version 5 of its preliminary scale, which requires further improvement in future studies.

[Research Progress on the Application of Intervention Mapping in Tertiary Prevention of Cancer].

Intervention mapping (IM) is a framework for formulating theory-and evidence-based health education projects with participatory approaches from ecological perspectives.The intervention program designed via IM plays a role in reducing the exposure of cancer risk factors,increasing cancer prevention behaviors,and promoting early cancer screening and rehabilitation of cancer patients.This study summarizes the characteristics,implementation steps,and application status of IM in tertiary prevention of cancer,aiming to provide reference for the application of IM in the health education projects for cancer in China.

Schiff Base Reaction in a Living Cell: In Situ Synthesis of a Hollow Covalent Organic Polymer To Regulate Biological Functions.

Artificially performing chemical reactions in living biosystems to attain various physiological aims remains an intriguing but very challenging task. In this study, the Schiff base reaction was conducted in cells using Sc(OTf)3 as a catalyst, enabling the in situ synthesis of a hollow covalent organic polymer (HCOP) without external stimuli. The reversible Schiff base reaction mediated intracellular Oswald ripening endows the HCOP with a spherical, hollow porous structure and a large specific surface area. The intracellularly generated HCOP reduced cellular motility by restraining actin polymerization, which consequently induced mitochondrial deactivation, apoptosis, and necroptosis. The presented intracellular synthesis system inspired by the Schiff base reaction has strong potential to regulate cell fate and biological functions, opening up a new strategic possibility for intervening in cellular behavior.

Topographic Cues Guiding Cell Polarization via Distinct Cellular Mechanosensing Pathways.

Cell polarization exists in a variety of tissues to regulate cell behaviors and functions. Space constraint (spatially limiting cell extension) and adhesion induction (guiding adhesome growth) are two main ways to induce cell polarization according to the microenvironment topographies. However, the mechanism of cell polarization induced by these two ways and the downstream effects on cell functions are yet to be understood. Here, space constraint and adhesion induction guiding cell polarization are achieved by substrate groove arrays in micro and nano size, respectively. Although the morphology of polarized cells is similar on both structures, the signaling pathways to induce the cell polarization and the downstream functions are distinctly different. The adhesion induction (nano-groove) leads to the formation of focal adhesions and activates the RhoA/ROCK pathway to enhance the myosin-based intracellular force, while the space constraint (micro-groove) only activates the formation of pseudopodia. The enhanced intracellular force caused by adhesion induction inhibits the chromatin condensation, which promotes the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells. This study presents an overview of cell polarization and mechanosensing at biointerface to aid in the design of novel biomaterials.

The targets of aspirin in bladder cancer: bioinformatics analysis.

BACKGROUND: The anti-carcinogenic properties of aspirin have been observed in some solid tumors. However, the molecular mechanism of therapeutic effects of aspirin on bladder cancer is still indistinct. We introduced a bioinformatics analysis approach, to explore the targets of aspirin in bladder cancer (BC). METHODS: To find out the potential targets of aspirin in BC, we analyzed direct protein targets (DPTs) of aspirin in Drug Bank 5.0. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and signaling pathway of aspirin DPTs were then analyzed subsequently. A detailed analysis of the KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway has shown that aspirin is linked to BC. We identified overexpressed genes in BC comparing with normal samples by Oncomine and genes that interlinked with aspirin target genes in BC by STRING. RESULTS: Firstly, we explored 16 direct protein targets (DPT) of aspirin. We analyzed the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and signaling pathways of aspirin DPT. We found that aspirin is closely associated with a variety of cancers, including BC. Then, we classified mutations in 3 aspirin DPTs (CCND1, MYC and TP53) in BC using the cBio Portal database. In addition, we extracted the top 50 overexpressed genes in bladder cancer by Oncomine and predicted the genes associated with the 3 aspirin DPTs (CCND1, MYC and TP53) in BC by STRING. Finally, 5 exact genes were identified as potential therapeutic targets of aspirin in bladder cancer. CONCLUSION: The analysis of relevant databases will improve our mechanistic understanding of the role of aspirin in bladder cancer. This will guide the direction of our next drug-disease interaction studies.

Improved direct compression properties of Gardeniae fructus water extract powders via fluid bed-mediated surface engineering.

Direct compression (DC) attracts increasing attention for tablet manufacturing; however, its application in medicinal plant tablets is still extremely limited. In this work, eight kinds of the Gardeniae fructus water extract powder (GF)-based composite particles (CPs) were prepared with different cohesive surface engineering materials, including dextran, inulin, hypromellose, and povidone, alone or in combination with mannitol and colloidal silica. Their physical properties and compacting parameters were characterized comprehensively. All the CPs showed marked improvement in tabletability, which is about 2-4 times higher than that of GF and physical mixtures (PMs). Specifically, the CPs showed a 7.45-26.48 times higher hardness (Ha) value and a 1.26-2.74 times higher cohesiveness (Co) value than PMs. In addition, all the CPs (angle of repose being from 34.27° to 38.46°) showed better flowability than PMs (35.49° to 53.53°) and GF (51.86°). These results demonstrated that (i) fluid-bed coating was not a simple process of superposition and transmission of the physical properties of raw materials; and (ii) all the surface engineering materials studied could improve the DC properties of problematic GF to some degree. As a whole, through the design of fluid-bed coating CPs, qualified tablets with high GF loadings (up to 93%) were produced via DC.

Multifunctional Role of Silica in Pharmaceutical Formulations.

Due to the high surface area, adjustable surface and pore structures, and excellent biocompatibility, nano- and micro-sized silica have certainly attracted the attention of many researchers in the medical fields. This review focuses on the multifunctional roles of silica in different pharmaceutical formulations including solid preparations, liquid drugs, and advanced drug delivery systems. For traditional solid preparations, it can improve compactibility and flowability, promote disintegration, adjust hygroscopicity, and prevent excessive adhesion. As for liquid drugs and preparations, like volatile oil, ethers, vitamins, and self-emulsifying drug delivery systems, silica with adjustable pore structures is a good adsorbent for solidification. Also, silica with various particle sizes, surface characteristics, pore structure, and surface modification controlled by different synthesis methods has gained wide attention owing to its unparalleled advantages for drug delivery and disease diagnosis. We also collate the latest pharmaceutical applications of silica sorted out by formulations. Finally, we point out the thorny issues for application and survey future trends pertaining to silica in an effort to provide a comprehensive overview of its future development in the medical fields. Graphical Abstract.

[Improvement on compactibility of the alcoholic extract of Zingiberis Rhizoma by co-spray drying with HPMC].

Aiming to solve the poor compactibility of the alcoholic extract of Zingiberis Rhizoma(ZR), this study explored the feasibility of its physical modification using co-spray drying with a small amount of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose(HPMC). Based on the univariate analysis, the influence of two independent variables(the HPMC content in the product and the solid content of spray material) on the powder properties and tablet properties of the dried product was investigated by the central composite design. With the tensile strength and disintegration time of the tablets as the evaluation indexes, the optimal prescription was determined as follows: the HPMC content was 15% and the solid content of spray material was 25.6%. The accuracy of the regression model established for predicting tensile strength and disintegration time of tablets was verified, and the results revealed that the measured values were close to the predicted ones with deviations of 0.47% and-8.2%, indicating good prediction and reproducibility of the model. The tensile strength(4.24 MPa) of tablets prepared with the optimal prescription was 3.59 times that(1.18 MPa, far lower than the baseline of 2 MPa for qualified tablets) with the spray-dried powder of the ZR. On the other hand, due to the addition of HPMC, the disintegration time of tablets increased from 7.3 min to 24.6 min. On the whole, this study provided a new strategy to solve the common problem of poor compactibility of raw Chinese medicinal materials, which facilitated the successful preparation of Chinese medicinal tablets with high drug loads.

[Research Progress of Adaptive Intervention].

Adaptive intervention(AI)is a methodology which dynamically evaluates adaptive variables at decision points and timely adjusts and develops tailored strategies to meet individual needs.The study reviewed the origin and development and elaborated the core elements(including intervention outcomes,intervention options,decision points,tailoring variables,and decision rules)and the classification of AI.Based on the literature,the key points of the design and implementation of AI were prospected,which can provide evidence for the research and development of health behavior intervention.

Case-Control Study on the Interaction Effects of rs10757278 Polymorphisms at 9p21 Locus and Traditional Risk Factors on Coronary Heart Disease in Xinjiang, China.

OBJECTIVE: To study the interaction effects of rs10757278 polymorphisms at 9p21 locus and traditional risk factors on coronary heart disease (CHD) in Xinjiang, China. METHODS: This case-control study consecutively enrolled 310 unrelated consecutive CHD patients aged 18-70 years old. All study participants were recruited between January and December 2017 from The Heart Center of The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University. CHD patients were confirmed by coronary angiography (≥50% diameter stenosis in at least one of the major coronary arteries) according to the American Heart Association criteria for the confirmation of CHD. Healthy subjects were randomly selected from the occupational population, who received physical examination in our hospital and matched to cases on the basis of age (±3 years) and sex, those without medical history of cardiovascular diseases, and 536 subjects were selected as the control group after medical history inquiry, physical examination, cardiac ultrasound, electrocardiogram, and other blood biochemical examinations in the hospital. The occupational stress was evaluated by an effort-reward imbalance questionnaire. An epidemiological survey was conducted to collect clinical data. Chi-squared test, analysis of variance, and binary logistic regression analysis were adopted. RESULTS: Both the case and the control groups showed significant difference in smoking, drinking, physical activity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, family history of CHD, and body mass index (BMI) (all P < 0.05); prevalence of CHD was not related to occupational stress. There was no significant difference in occupational stress level between the 2 groups (P > 0.05); Differences in rs10757278 genotype between the case group and the control groups were statistically significant; binary logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk factors of CHD. After adjustment for age and sex, significant increased risk effects for CHD were found to be associated with smoking [odds ratio (OR) = 2.311; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04-2.499; P < 0.001], physical exercise (OR = 1.365; 95% CI: 1.137-1.639; P < 0.001), hypertension (OR = 4.627; 95% CI: 2.165-10.764; P < 0.001), family history of CHD (OR = 4.103; 95% CI: 3.169-6.892; P < 0.001), BMI (OR = 2.484; 95% CI: 2.036-3.03; P < 0.001), and GG genotype at rs10757278 (OR = 1.978; 95% CI: 1.413-2.769; P < 0.001); We noted that a significant interaction association between GG genotype at rs10757278 and CHD differs across categories of smoking, hypertension, family history of CHD, and BMI. CONCLUSION: GG genotype at rs10757278 may be a risk factor for CHD. And there are interaction effects between GG genotype of rs10757278 in region 9p21 gene and traditional risk factors.

Pingchuanning decoction attenuates airway inflammation by suppressing autophagy via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway in rat models of asthma.

BACKGROUND: Pingchuanning decoction is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of airway inflammatory diseases, including asthma. However, the potential mechanism by which Pingchuanning decoction contributes to the amelioration of airway inflammation remains unknown. METHODS: A rat model of asthma was well established by inducing ovalbumin. Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cells were used as cellular model. Lung histopathology and goblet cell hyperplasia were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and periodic acid Schiff staining, respectively. Total inflammatory cells count and RTE cell apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. The autophagic activities were evaluated by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence analysis and Western blot analysis of autophagy-related proteins. We also detected the effects of Pingchuanning decoction on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1)-mediated toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/NF-κB pathways-related proteins and inflammatory cytokines using the Western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Pingchuanning decoction effectively attenuated pulmonary pathology and autophagy. Treatment with Pingchuanning decoction activated PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and inhibited HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB pathway, which could be overturned by LY294002, a PI3K antagonist, or rapamycin (Rapa), an autophagy inducer. CONCLUSION: Pingchuanning decoction exerted a therapeutic effect on asthma by inhibiting autophagy via PI3K/Akt /mTOR signaling pathway.

The effect of the sub-minimal inhibitory concentration and the concentrations within resistant mutation window of ciprofloxacin on MIC, swimming motility and biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of sub-minimal inhibitory concentration (sub-MIC) and concentrations within resistant mutation window (MSW) of ciprofloxacin (CIP) on minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), swimming motility and biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and also to investigate the correlation between swimming motility and genes expression of lasI, lasR, rhlI, rhlR and pqsR. METHODS: The collected strains were incubated under four different concentrations for 5 days. The MIC and mutant prevention concentration (MPC) were measured by the agar dilution method. The diameter of turbid cycle was used to signify the swimming motility. The biofilm formation was measured by the crystal violet stain method. The genes expression of lasI, lasR, rhlI, rhlR and pqsR were measured by RT-PCR. RESULTS: A total of 11 P. aeruginosa which sensitive to CIP were collected. The incubation within concentrations of MSW made MICs to CIP increased more obviously than under sub-MIC (P < 0.05). The swimming motility showed a trend of being inhibited first and then promoted over time under sub-MIC (P < 0.05), whereas, it was promoted under concentrations within MSW. The biofilm formation was significantly promoted under the concentration of 4×MIC (P < 0.05). Under sub-MIC, the genes expression of rhlR and pqsR had a middle level positive correlation with the promotion of the swimming motility (P < 0.05, r = 0.788 and P < 0.05, r = 0.652, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Under the concentration of sub-MIC (0.5×MIC) and the concentrations within MSW (1×MIC, 2×MIC and 4×MIC), the effect of CIP on MICs, swimming motility and biofilm formation of P.aeruginosa was quite different. The genes expression of rhlR and pqsR had a middle level positive correlation with the promotion of the swimming motility.

Diabetes risk assessment with imaging: a radiomics study of abdominal CT.

OBJECTIVES: To identify CT markers for screening of early type 2 diabetes and assessment of the risk of incident diabetes using a radiomics method. METHODS: The medical records of 26,947 inpatients were reviewed. A total of 690 patients were selected and allocated to a primary cohort, a validation cohort, and a prediction cohort and used to build prediction models for diabetes. Three radiomics signatures were constructed using CT image features extracted from three regions of interest, i.e., in the pancreas, liver, and psoas major muscle. By incorporating radiomics signatures and other markers, we built a radiomics nomogram that could be used to screen for early diabetes and predict future diabetes. RESULTS: Of the three abdominal organs for which radiomics signature were constructed, that of the pancreas showed the best discriminatory power for early diabetes screening and prediction (C-statistics of 0.833, 0.846, and 0.899 for the primary cohort, validation cohort, and prediction cohort, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity of the nomogram for prediction of 3-year incident diabetes were 0.827 and 0.807, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents alternative radiomics markers that have potential for use in screening for undiagnosed type 2 diabetes and prediction of 3-year incident diabetes. KEY POINTS: • CT images may provide useful information to evaluate the risk of developing diabetes. • Radiomics score for diabetes prediction is based on subtle changes of abdominal organs detected by CT. • The radiomics signature of pancreas, a combination of five features of CT images, is efficient for early diabetes screening and prediction of future diabetes (AUC > 0.8).

An Opportunistic Cooperative Packet Transmission Scheme in Wireless Multi-Hop Networks.

Cooperative routing, combining cooperative communication in the physical layer and routing technology in the network layer, is one of the most widely used technologies for improving end-to-end transmission reliability and delay in the wireless multi-hop networks. However, the existing cooperative routing schemes are designed based on an optimal fixed-path routing so that the end-to-end performance is greatly restricted by the low spatial efficiency. To address this problem, in this paper an opportunistic cooperative packet transmission (OCPT) scheme is explored by combining cooperative communication and opportunistic routing. The proposed scheme divides the multi-hop route into multiple virtual multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) transmissions. Before each transmission, based on the idea of opportunistic routing, a cluster head (CH) is introduced to determine the multiple transmitters and multiple receivers to form a cluster. Then, the single-hop transmission distance is defined as the metric of forward progress to the destination. Each intra-cluster cooperative packet transmission is formulated as a transmit beamforming optimization problem, and an iterative optimal beamforming policy is proposed to solve the problem and maximize the single-hop transmission distance. CH organizes multiple transmitters to cooperatively transmit packets to multiple receivers with the optimized transmit beamforming vector. Finally, according to the transmission results, the cluster is updated and the new cooperative transmission is started. Iteratively, the transmission lasts until the destination has successfully received the packet. We comprehensively evaluate the OCPT scheme by comparing it with conventional routing schemes. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed OCPT scheme is effective on shortening the end-to-end transmission delay, increasing the number of successful packet transmissions and improving the packet arrival ratio and transmission efficiency.