Photoactivated Hydrogel Therapeutic System with MXene-Based Nanoarchitectonics Potentiates Endogenous Bone Repair Through Reshaping the Osteo-Vascularization Network.

The repair and reconstruction of large-scale bone defects face enormous challenges because of the failure to reconstruct the osteo-vascularization network. Herein, a near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive hydrogel system is reported to achieve programmed tissue repair and regeneration through the synergetic effects of on-demand drug delivery and mild heat stimulation. The spatiotemporal hydrogel system (HG/MPa) composed of polydopamine-coated Ti3C2Tx MXene (MP) nanosheets decorated with acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF, a potent angiogenic drug) and hydroxypropyl chitosan/gelatin (HG) hydrogel is developed to orchestrate the reconstruction of the osteo-vascularization network and boost bone regeneration. Upon exposure to NIR light irradiation, the engineered HG/MPa hydrogel can achieve the initial complete release of aFGF to induce rapid angiogenesis and provide sufficient blood supply, maximizing its biofunction in the defect area. This integrated hydrogel system demonstrated good therapeutic efficacy in promoting cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and osteogenic differentiation through periodic NIR irradiation. In vivo, animal experiments further revealed that the spatiotemporalized hydrogel platform synergized with mild photothermal treatment significantly accelerated critical-sized bone defect healing by increasing the osteo-vascularization network density, recruiting endogenous stem cells, and facilitating the production of osteogenesis/angiogenesis-related factors. Overall, smart-responsive hydrogel could enhance the reconstruction of the osteo-vascularization network in bone regeneration.

Super-resolution of biomedical volumes with 2D supervision.

Volumetric biomedical microscopy has the potential to increase the diagnostic information extracted from clinical tissue specimens and improve the diagnostic accuracy of both human pathologists and computational pathology models. Unfortunately, barriers to integrating 3-dimensional (3D) volumetric microscopy into clinical medicine include long imaging times, poor depth/z-axis resolution, and an insufficient amount of high-quality volumetric data. Leveraging the abundance of high-resolution 2D microscopy data, we introduce masked slice diffusion for super-resolution (MSDSR), which exploits the inherent equivalence in the data-generating distribution across all spatial dimensions of biological specimens. This intrinsic characteristic allows for super-resolution models trained on high-resolution images from one plane (e.g., XY) to effectively generalize to others (XZ, YZ), overcoming the traditional dependency on orientation. We focus on the application of MSDSR to stimulated Raman histology (SRH), an optical imaging modality for biological specimen analysis and intraoperative diagnosis, characterized by its rapid acquisition of high-resolution 2D images but slow and costly optical z-sectioning. To evaluate MSDSR's efficacy, we introduce a new performance metric, SliceFID, and demonstrate MSDSR's superior performance over baseline models through extensive evaluations. Our findings reveal that MSDSR not only significantly enhances the quality and resolution of 3D volumetric data, but also addresses major obstacles hindering the broader application of 3D volumetric microscopy in clinical diagnostics and biomedical research.

The effect of age on aqueous humor of humans with high myopia.

Background: High myopia is a common cause of vision loss. Age is an important factor in the development of high myopia. However, the effect of age on aqueous humor proteins in the context of high myopia is unknown. This study explored the effect of age on the aqueous humor protein of humans with high myopia. Methods: The aqueous humor of high myopia patients of different ages with implantable collamer lens implantation (ICL) was collected. Data-independent acquisition proteomic analysis was employed to explore differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Two different bioinformatics analysis methods were used to interpret the proteomic results. Furthermore, three proteins were confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The study showed 18 upregulated and 20 downregulated proteins. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that the upregulated DEPs were highly enriched in coagulation and complement cascades. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis showed that the blue module was identified as a key module for high myopia and that the plasminogen (PLG) protein is a hub protein. ELISA confirmed that the expression levels of Alpha-1-antitrypsin were significantly upregulated in the aqueous humor of older patients presenting with high myopia. Conclusions: This is the first study to investigate the effect of age on the level of aqueous humor protein in high myopia. Our study provided a comprehensive data set on the overall protein changes of different ages of human high myopia, shedding light on its potential molecular mechanism in high myopia damage to the eyeball.

Cyclic di-GMP as an antitoxin regulates bacterial genome stability and antibiotic persistence in biofilms.

Biofilms are complex bacterial communities characterized by a high persister prevalence, which contributes to chronic and relapsing infections. Historically, persister formation in biofilms has been linked to constraints imposed by their dense structures. However, we observed an elevated persister frequency accompanying the stage of cell adhesion, marking the onset of biofilm development. Subsequent mechanistic studies uncovered a comparable type of toxin-antitoxin (TA) module (TA-like system) triggered by cell adhesion, which is responsible for this elevation. In this module, the toxin HipH acts as a genotoxic deoxyribonuclease, inducing DNA double strand breaks and genome instability. While the second messenger c-di-GMP functions as the antitoxin, exerting control over HipH expression and activity. The dynamic interplay between c-di-GMP and HipH levels emerges as a crucial determinant governing genome stability and persister generation within biofilms. These findings unveil a unique TA system, where small molecules act as the antitoxin, outlining a biofilm-specific molecular mechanism influencing genome stability and antibiotic persistence, with potential implications for treating biofilm infections.

Bioinspired Glycopeptide Hydrogel Reestablishing Bone Homeostasis through Mediating Osteoclasts and Osteogenesis in Periodontitis Treatment.

Irreversible alveolar bone resorption is one of the important clinical manifestations of periodontitis, which is initiated by a plaque biofilm and exacerbated by the imbalance of osteoclast activity and osteogenesis, affecting a patient's masticatory function and resulting in a high recurrence rate of periodontitis. Herein, to reestablish bone homeostasis in periodontitis, a minocycline hydrochloride (MH)-loaded glycopeptide hydrogel (MH/GRWgel) is fabricated to mediate alveolar bone absorption through sequential antibacterial and RANKL-blocking activities. GRWgel shows an ECM-like fibrous and porous microstructure serving as a scaffold for cell proliferation and differentiation and holds the merits including injectability, self-healing properties, and good biocompatibility. After injection in situ, MH is released rapidly from the hydrogel in the early stage, demonstrating a potent antimicrobial effect to combat the biofilm in the deep periodontal pocket. Moreover, MH/GRWgel exhibits a high specific binding efficiency with RANKL to suppress osteoclast maturation by shielding the RANKL/RANK interaction and enhancing osteogenic differentiation, thereby synergistically regulating bone homeostasis. In the rat periodontitis model, MH/GRWgel significantly curtails periodontitis progression through antimicrobial activity, inhibition of alveolar bone resorption, and promotion of bone regeneration, which is superior to the treatment of a commercial gel. These findings suggest that MH/GRWgel with superiority in regulating bone homeostasis provides a promising therapeutic strategy for periodontitis.

Integrative analysis of the efficacy and pharmacological mechanism of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis via evidence-based medicine, bioinformatics, and experimental verification.

Objective: We used evidence-based medicine, bioinformatics and experimental verification to comprehensively analyze the efficacy and pharmacological mechanism of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction (XFZYD) in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Methods: Major databases were retrieved for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of XFZYD treating IPF to perform meta-analysis. Active ingredients and target genes of XFZYD were identified from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). IPF-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The RGUI software was utilized for Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. The ingredient-target and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were achieved through Cytoscape software and the STRING database to identify the key compounds and target proteins. Molecular docking was performed using AutoDockTool and AutoDock Vina software. The effect between key compounds and target proteins was verified in animal experiments. Results: Six RCTs were included for meta-analysis, which uncovered that the total effective rate of clinical efficacy was higher in the experimental group than control group. Then, 156 active ingredients and 254 target genes of XFZYD, and 1,566 IPF-related DEGs were identified. The intersection analysis identified 48 target genes correlating with 130 active ingredients of XFZYD treating IPF. GO functional enrichment, KEGG pathway enrichment, ingredient-target network and PPI network were achieved. Following the identification of key compounds and target proteins, we performed molecular docking. Ultimately, our research focused on the key compound quercetin for experimental validation to assess its interactions with two key target proteins, JUN and PTGS2. Conclusion: The effectiveness of XFZYD on IPF has been substantiated through evidence-based medicine. The pharmacological mechanism of XFZYD for IPF treatment involves a complex interplay of various compounds and targets, with quercetin exerting pronounced impacts on JUN and PTGS2 proteins.

Important fish diversity maintenance status of the tributaries in a hotspot fish conservation area in the upper Yangtze River revealed by eDNA metabarcoding.

This study employed Environmental DNA (eDNA) barcoding technology to delve into the influence of the tributaries and mainstem on fish diversity and spatiotemporal distribution in a hotspot fish conservation area in the upper Yangtze River. A total of 123 fish species were detected, belonging to 7 orders, 19 families, and 77 genera. The composition of fish species in tributaries is similar to that in mainstem, with higher fish community diversity in tributaries during the spring and summer. Exploration of fish ecotypes revealed significant differences between mainstem and tributaries. The fish community is mainly influenced by key environmental factors such as water temperature, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and ammonia nitrogen, with a higher impact of these factors on tributaries than on mainstem. In conclusion, while tributaries and mainstem in the Jiangjin section exhibit similarities in fish community composition, there are notable differences in community structure and diversity. Therefore, the protection of not only mainstem but also tributaries and their associated fish habitats is crucial for promoting the overall health and sustainability.

A transcrestal sinus floor elevation strategy based on a haptic robot system: An in vitro study.

OBJECTIVES: To reveal the force profiles recorded by haptic autonomous robotic force feedback during the transcrestal sinus floor elevation (TSFE) process, providing a reference for the surgery strategy during TSFE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 42 maxillary sinus models with different angles of the sinus floor (30°, 40°, 50°, 60°, 70°, 80°, and 90°, compared to vertical plane) were 3D printed. Implant site preparation was performed using a robotic system, and the total force (Ft) and axial force along the drill (Fz) during the surgery were recorded by the haptic robotic arm. The actual initial breakthrough point (drill contacting sinus floor) and complete breakthrough point (drill penetrating the sinus floor) were defined visually (the actual IBP and the actual CBP). The theoretical initial breakthrough point (the theoretical IBP) and the theoretical complete breakthrough point (the theoretical CBP) defined by the robot-guided system and the CBCT were determined by real-time force feedback and imaging distance measurement, respectively. The distance from the bottom of the resin model to the actual IBP and the actual CBP was defined as Di and Dt, respectively. RESULTS: The difference in Fz began to increase significantly at 70°, while the difference in Ft became significant at 60°. When the angle was greater than 70°, there was no significant difference in the discrepancy between the actual and theoretical perforation points. Compared to judging the breakthrough point by CBCT, real-time force feedback TSFE under robotic surgery achieved more accurate initial breakthrough point detection. CONCLUSIONS: The smaller the angle, the larger the breakthrough force for the drill. The real-time force feedback of haptic robotic system during TSFE could provide reliable reference for dentists. More clinical studies are needed to further validate the application of robotic surgery assisted TSFE.

Fabrication of Co-Based Cladding Layer by Microbeam Plasma and Its Corrosion Mechanism to Molten Salt.

Corrosion of the molten salts Na2SO4 and NaCl has become one of the major factors in the failure of steel components in boilers and engines. In this study, CoNiCrAlY cobalt-based cladding layers with different NiCr-Cr3C2 ratios were prepared by microbeam plasma cladding technology. The influence of the NiCr-Cr3C2 content on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and molten salt corrosion resistance of CoNiCrAlY was investigated. The CoNiCrAlY with a 25 wt.% NiCr-Cr3C2 (NC25) cladding layer possessed the highest microhardness (348.2 HV0.3) and the smallest coefficient of friction (0.4751), exhibiting great overall mechanical properties. The generation of protective oxides Cr2O3, Al2O3, and spinel phase (Ni,Co)Cr2O4 is promoted by the addition of 25 wt.% NiCr-Cr3C2, which significantly reduces the corrosion of the cladding layer, and this effect is much more obvious at 950 °C than that at 750 °C. Furthermore, its corrosion mechanism was clarified. From the findings emerge a viable solution for the design and development of new high-temperature corrosion-resistant coatings.

Construction of an artificial neural network diagnostic model and investigation of immune cell infiltration characteristics for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a severe lung condition, and finding better ways to diagnose and treat the disease is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Our study sought to develop an artificial neural network (ANN) model for IPF and determine the immune cell types that differed between the IPF and control groups. METHODS: From the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, we first obtained IPF microarray datasets. To conduct protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and enrichment analyses, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened between tissues of patients with IPF and tissues of controls. Afterward, we identified the important feature genes associated with IPF using random forest (RF) analysis, and then constructed and validated a prediction ANN mode. In addition, the proportions of immune cells were quantified using cell-type identification by estimating relative subsets of RNA transcripts (CIBERSORT) analysis, which was performed on microarray datasets based on gene expression profiling. RESULTS: A total of 11 downregulated and 36 upregulated DEGs were identified. PPI networks and enrichment analyses were carried out; the immune system and extracellular matrix were the subjects of the enrichments. Using RF analysis, the significant feature genes LRRC17, COMP, ASPN, CRTAC1, POSTN, COL3A1, PEBP4, IL13RA2, and CA4 were identified. The nine feature gene scores were integrated into the ANN to develop a diagnostic prediction model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated the strong diagnostic ability of the ANN in predicting IPF in the training and testing sets. An analysis of IPF tissues in comparison to normal tissues revealed a reduction in the infiltration of natural killer cells resting, monocytes, macrophages M0, and neutrophils; conversely, the infiltration of T cells CD4 memory resting, mast cells, and macrophages M0 increased. CONCLUSION: LRRC17, COMP, ASPN, CRTAC1, POSTN, COL3A1, PEBP4, IL13RA2, and CA4 were determined as key feature genes for IPF. The nine feature genes in the ANN model will be extremely important for diagnosing IPF. It may be possible to use differentiated immune cells from IPF samples in comparison to normal samples as targets for immunotherapy in patients with IPF.

Scatterer spacing based on Gabor atoms matched from harmonic ultrasound echoes to improve assessment of microwave-induced thermal lesions.

BACKGROUND: Microwave ablation (MWA) is a minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of unresectable liver tumors. To verify the effectiveness and safety of MWA, it is critical to measure the temperature variation and assess the regions of the microwave-induced thermal lesions. PURPOSE: Recent studies have indicated that the locations of optimally matched Gabor atoms (LOMGA) from ultrasound radiofrequency (RF) echo signals allow accurate and stable scatterer spacing estimation. Herein, a harmonic-based LOMGA method is proposed to estimate the scatterer spacing for improving the assessment of microwave-induced thermal lesions. METHODS: The mean scatterer spacing (MSS) is estimated via the LOMGA method incorporating the selection of concise atoms from separated second-harmonic RF echo signals with the pulse-inversion algorithm for thermal lesion evaluation. In vitro experiments, 10 fresh porcine liver samples were ablated at different time nodes during the ablation period, and 200 sets of second-harmonic and fundamental RF echo signals were randomly selected from the regions of interest in the coagulated liver samples for MSS estimation. The means and standard deviations of the MSSs, as well as the linear regression for the mean MSSs, were calculated from fundamental and second-harmonic signals for comparison and evaluation, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for the 200 sets of fundamental-based and harmonic-based MSS estimates from the 10 liver samples at five pairs of adjacent time nodes were calculated, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests were performed for the five pairs of adjacent time nodes. The fundamental and harmonic-based p-values in the ANOVA tests and the areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) were calculated to statistically analyze the differences in the MSSs between adjacent time nodes. RESULTS: The harmonic-based increments in the intensity variation and coherent components were larger than the fundamental-based increments with the increasing ablation time. The harmonic-based MSSs from the 10 liver samples at five pairs of adjacent time nodes were found to be highly statistically significant (p < 0.01). Thus, the harmonic-based MSSs had greater variations. Compared with the fundamental-based results, for the five preset ST values, the average increment in the harmonic-based mean slopes was 69.22% and the average decrement in the mean standard deviations was 11.67% for the linear-fitting MSS results, and the results were statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Harmonic-based MSSs are more sensitive and robust to variations in coagulated tissues, which is advantageous for the assessment of microwave-induced thermal lesions.

Organic Materials with Ultrabright Phosphorescence at Room Temperature under Physiological Conditions for Bioimaging.

In contrast to the high efficiency of room temperature phosphorescence in crystal states, the generally utilized nanoparticles of organic materials in bioimaging demonstrated sharply decreased performance by orders of magnitude under physiological conditions, badly limiting the realization of their unique advantages. This case, especially for organic red/near-infrared (NIR) phosphorescence materials, is not only the challenge present in reality but more importantly, for the theoretical problem of deeply understanding and avoiding the quenching effect by oxygen and water toward excited triplet states. Herein, thanks to the intelligent molecular design by the introduction of abundant hydrophobic chains and highly-branched structures, bright and persistent red/NIR phosphorescence under physiological conditions has been realized, which demonstrated the shielding effect towards oxygen, and strengthened the intermolecular interactions to suppress the non-radiative transitions. Accordingly, the record phosphorescence intensity of nanoparticles in bioimage, up to 8.21 ± 0.36 × 108 p s-1 cm-2 sr-1, was achieved, to realize the clear phosphorescence imaging of liver and tumors in living mice, even lymph nodes in rabbit models with high SBRs. This work afforded an efficient way to achieve the bright red/NIR phosphorescence nanoparticles, guiding their further applications in biology and medicine.

Influence of dental implant clinical experience on the accuracy of robot-assisted immediate implant placement: an in vitro study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the accuracy and effectiveness among operators with different levels of experience in a robot-assisted immediate implant surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included four participants who had received dental training at the same institution but have varying levels of clinical experience in implant dentistry, denoted as undergraduate student (UG), dental resident (DR), specialist with no robot experience (IS) and specialist with robot experience (RS). Following comprehensive theoretical training in robot-assisted implant operation, each operator participated in five robotic-assisted implant procedures at 21 sites, resulting in the implant surgery of a total of 20 implants. Subsequently, the accuracy of the implants was assessed by analyzing the preoperative planning and the postoperative CBCT scans, and the time required for each procedure was also recorded. RESULTS: Angular deviation in UG, DR, IS and RS group was 0.82 ± 0.27°, 0.55 ± 0.27°, 0.83 ± 0.27°, and 0.56 ± 0.36°, respectively. The total deviation of the implant platform point was 0.28 ± 0.10 mm, 0.26 ± 0.16 mm, 0.34 ± 0.08 mm and 0.31 ± 0.06 mm, respectively. The total deviation of the apical point was 0.30 ± 0.08 mm, 0.25 ± 0.18 mm, 0.31 ± 0.09 mm, and 0.31 ± 0.05 mm, respectively. The time spent was 10.37 ± 0.57 min, 10.56 ± 1.77 min, 9.93 ± 0.78 min, and 11.76 ± 0.78 min for each operator. As the number of operations increased, the operation time decreased, but there was no significant difference in implant accuracy between the different groups. CONCLUSIONS: Within the scope of this study, robot-assisted implant surgery demonstrated high accuracy, with no significant differences in performance between operators with varying levels of clinical experience or implant robot-user experience. Furthermore, the learning curve for robotic implant surgery is steep and consistent. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Robot-assisted implant surgery demonstrates consistent high accuracy across operators of varying clinical and robotic experience levels, highlighting its potential to standardize procedures and enhance predictability in clinical outcomes.

siRNA Nanoparticle Dry Powder Formulation with High Transfection Efficiency and Pulmonary Deposition for Acute Lung Injury Treatment.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe inflammatory syndrome, which was caused by diverse factors. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a higher mortality rate of these conditions. Currently, effective treatments are lacking. Although siRNA nucleotide-based drugs are promising therapeutic approaches, their poor stability and inability to efficiently reach target cells limit their clinical translation. This study identified a peptide from known cell-penetrating peptides that can form an efficient anti-inflammatory complex with TNF-α siRNA, termed SAR6EW/TNF-α siRNA. This complex can effectively transport TNF-α siRNA into the cytoplasm and achieve potent gene silencing in vitro as well as in vivo. By using lactose and triarginine as coexcipients and optimizing the spray-drying process, a powder was produced with micrometer-scale spherical and porous structures, enhancing aerosol release and lung delivery efficiency. The dry powder formulation and process preserve the stability and integrity of the siRNA. When administered intratracheally to ALI model mice, the complex powder demonstrated specific pulmonary gene silencing activity and significantly reduced inflammation symptoms caused by ALI, suggesting a potential strategy for the clinical therapeutic approach of respiratory diseases.

Multimodal MRI-based radiomics models for the preoperative prediction of lymphovascular space invasion of endometrial carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the predictive capabilities of MRI-based radiomics for detecting lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) in patients diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma (EC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 160 female patients diagnosed with EC. The radiomics model including T2-weighted and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) images was established. Additionally, a conventional MRI model, which incorporated MRI-reported FIGO stage, deep myometrial infiltration (DMI), adnexal involvement, and vaginal/parametrial involvement, was established. Finally, a combined model was created by integrating the radiomics signature and conventional MRI characteristics. The predictive performance was validated by the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. A stratified analysis was conducted to compare the differences between the three models by Delong test. RESULTS: In predicting LVSI, the radiomics model outperformed the clinical model in the training cohort (AUC: 0.899 vs. 0.8862) but not in the test cohort (AUC: 0.812 vs. 0.8758). The combined model demonstrated superior performance in both the training and test cohorts (training cohort: AUC = 0.934, 95% CI: 0.8807-0.9873; testing cohort: AUC = 0.905, 95% CI: 0.7679-1). CONCLUSIONS: The combined model exhibited utility in preoperatively predicting LVSI in patients with EC, offering potential benefits for clinical decision-making.

Fragmentation Characteristics of Bubbles in a Throttling Hole Pipe.

To enhance the performance of tubular microbubble generators, the Volume of Fluid (VOF) multiphase flow model in COMSOL Multiphysics was used to simulate the bubble fragmentation characteristics within a throttling hole microbubble generator. The effects of the inlet speed of the throttling hole pipe, the diameter of the throttling hole, and the length of the expansion section on bubble fragmentation performance were analyzed. The results indicated that an increase in the inlet speed of the throttling hole pipe gradually improved the bubble fragmentation performance. However, an increase in the throttling hole diameter significantly reduced the bubble fragmentation performance. Changes in the length of the expansion section had a minor impact on the bubble fragmentation performance. Experimental methods were used to verify the characteristics of bubble fragmentation, and it was found that the simulation and experimental results were consistent. This provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance for the design optimization of tubular microbubble generators.

Effect of Dry Processing of Coconut Oil on the Structure and Physicochemical Properties of Coconut Isolate Proteins.

The effects of the dry processing of coconut oil on the amino acid composition, molecular weight, secondary structure, solubility, surface hydrophobicity, microstructure, total sulfhydryl and free sulfhydryl content, free amino acid content, thermal properties, and water-holding, oil-holding, foaming, and emulsifying properties of coconut isolate protein were investigated. The results showed that the dry processing altered the amino acid composition of coconut isolate proteins as well as resulted in fewer irregular structural regions and more homogeneous particle sizes, leading to an improvement in the thermal stability of the proteins. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that globular proteins located at ~34 kDa in coconut isolate proteins underwent slight degradation during the dry processing of coconut oil. The dry processing reduced the surface hydrophobicity, total and free sulfhydryl groups, solubility, and free amino acid content of coconut isolate proteins. In addition, the water-holding capacity, oil-holding capacity, and foam stability of coconut isolate proteins were improved to different degrees after the dry processing. Therefore, the development and utilization of copra meal protein is of great significance to increase its added value.

Three-Stage Framework for Accurate Pediatric Chest X-ray Diagnosis Using Self-Supervision and Transfer Learning on Small Datasets.

Pediatric respiratory disease diagnosis and subsequent treatment require accurate and interpretable analysis. A chest X-ray is the most cost-effective and rapid method for identifying and monitoring various thoracic diseases in children. Recent developments in self-supervised and transfer learning have shown their potential in medical imaging, including chest X-ray areas. In this article, we propose a three-stage framework with knowledge transfer from adult chest X-rays to aid the diagnosis and interpretation of pediatric thorax diseases. We conducted comprehensive experiments with different pre-training and fine-tuning strategies to develop transformer or convolutional neural network models and then evaluate them qualitatively and quantitatively. The ViT-Base/16 model, fine-tuned with the CheXpert dataset, a large chest X-ray dataset, emerged as the most effective, achieving a mean AUC of 0.761 (95% CI: 0.759-0.763) across six disease categories and demonstrating a high sensitivity (average 0.639) and specificity (average 0.683), which are indicative of its strong discriminative ability. The baseline models, ViT-Small/16 and ViT-Base/16, when directly trained on the Pediatric CXR dataset, only achieved mean AUC scores of 0.646 (95% CI: 0.641-0.651) and 0.654 (95% CI: 0.648-0.660), respectively. Qualitatively, our model excels in localizing diseased regions, outperforming models pre-trained on ImageNet and other fine-tuning approaches, thus providing superior explanations. The source code is available online and the data can be obtained from PhysioNet.