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1.
Cardiovasc Diabetol ; 23(1): 117, 2024 Apr 02.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38566082

BACKGROUND: Identifying reliable prognostic markers is crucial for the effective management of hypertension. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has emerged as a potential inflammatory marker linked to cardiovascular outcomes. This study aims to investigate the association of NLR with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among patients with hypertension. METHODS: This study analyzed data from 3067 hypertensive adults in the National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys (NHANES) from 2009 to 2014. Mortality details were obtained from the National Death Index (NDI). Restricted cubic spline (RCS) was deployed to visualize the association of the NLR with mortality risk. Weighted Cox proportional hazards models were employed to assess the independent association of NLR with mortality risk. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was conducted to access the predictive ability of NLR for survival. Mediation analysis was used to explore the indirect impact of NLR on mortality mediated through eGFR. RESULTS: Over a median 92.0-months follow-up, 538 deaths occurred, including 114 cardiovascular deaths. RCS analysis revealed a positive association between NLR and both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Participants were stratified into higher (> 3.5) and lower (≤ 3.5) NLR groups. Weighted Cox proportional hazards models demonstrated that individuals with higher NLR had a significantly increased risk of all-cause (HR 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.52-2.52, p < 0.0001) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 2.33, 95% CI 1.54-3.51, p < 0.0001). Stratified and interaction analysis confirmed the stability of the core results. Notably, eGFR partially mediated the association between NLR and both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by a 5.4% and 4.7% proportion, respectively. Additionally, the areas under the curve (AUC) of the 3-, 5- and 10- year survival was 0.68, 0.65 and 0.64 for all-cause mortality and 0.68, 0.70 and 0.69 for cardiovascular mortality, respectively. CONCLUSION: Elevated NLR independently confers an increased risk for both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in individuals with hypertension.


Cardiovascular System , Hypertension , Adult , Humans , Neutrophils , Nutrition Surveys , Lymphocytes , Hypertension/diagnosis , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies
2.
Int J Biol Macromol ; 268(Pt 2): 131905, 2024 Apr 29.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38688346

Gelatin and sodium alginate (SA) are two important biological macromolecules, exhibiting excellent biocompatibility and gel-forming ability. However, traditional SA and gelatin hydrogel displays limited mass transport, low porosity, instability, and poor mechanical properties extremely restricted their therapeutic effect and application scenarios. Herein, microbial fermentation and synergistic toughening strategies were used for preparing macroporous and tough hydrogel. The study investigated the fermentation and toughening conditions of hydrogel. The hydrogel composed of CaCl2 cross-linked physically network and EDC/NHS cross-linked covalently network, exhibiting significantly improved mechanical properties, and excellent recovery efficiency. In addition, the hydrogel has a hierarchical macroporous structure of 100-500 µm, demonstrating high porosity of 10 times, swelling rate of 1541.0 %, and high mass infiltration capability. Further, after Ag+ treatment, the macroporous hydrogel dressing showed outstanding biocompatibility. Compared with non-porous hydrogel, the resulting macroporous hydrogel dressing displayed high antibacterial and antioxidant properties. It could effectively alleviate intracellular ROS formation induced by H2O2.In vivo experiments indicated that it has significantly better effect than non-porous hydrogel in accelerating wound healing. The overall results suggest that the gelatin/SA-based macroporous and tough hydrogel proposed in this study holds excellent prospects for application in wound dressings.

3.
Int J Food Microbiol ; 415: 110642, 2024 Apr 16.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38428166

Clostridium perfringens is a zoonotic opportunistic pathogen that produces toxins that can cause necrotic enteritis and even "sudden death disease". This bacterium is widely distributed in the intestines of livestock and human, but there are few reports of distribution in aquatic animals (Hafeez et al., 2022). In order to explore the isolation rate of C. perfringens and the toxin genes they carry, 141 aquatic samples, including clams (Ruditapes philippinarum), oysters (Ostreidae), and mud snails (Bullacta exerata Philippi), were collected from the coastal areas of Shandong Province, China. C. perfringens strains were tested for cpa, cpb, etx, iap, cpb2, cpe, netB, and tpeL genes. 45 clam samples were boiled at 100 °C for 5 min before bacteria isolation. 80 strains were isolated from 141 samples with the positive rate being 57 %.And the positive rates of cooked clams was 87 % which was higher than the average. In detection of 8 toxin genes, all strains tested cpa positive, 3 strains netB positive, and 2 cpb and cpe, respectively. 64 strains were selected to analyze the antibiotic resistance phenotype of 10 antibiotics. The average antibiotic resistance rates of the strains to tetracycline, clindamycin, and ampicillin were 45 %, 20 %, and 16 % respectively, and the MIC of 4 strains to clindamycin was ≥128 µg/mL. A high isolation rate of C. perfringens from aquatic animals was shown, and it was isolated from boiled clams for the first time, in which cpe and netB toxin genes were detected for the first time too. The toxin encoded by cpe gene can cause food poisoning of human, thus the discoveries of this study have certain guiding significance for food safety. Antibiotics resistant C. perfringens of aquatic origin may arise from transmission in the terrestrial environment or from antibiotic contamination of the aquaculture environment and is of public health significance.


Clostridium Infections , Clostridium perfringens , Animals , Humans , Clostridium Infections/microbiology , Clindamycin , Drug Resistance, Microbial , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Chickens
4.
Toxics ; 12(2)2024 Feb 17.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38393251

This study presents an electrolysis system utilizing a novel self-circulation process of sulfate (SO42-) and persulfate (S2O82-) ions based on a boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode and an activated carbon fiber (ACF) cathode, which is designed to enable electrochemical remediation of environmental contaminants with reduced use of chemical reagents and minimized residues. The production of S2O82- and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on the BDD anode and ACF cathode, respectively, is identified as the source of active radicals for the contaminant degradation. The initiator, sulfate, is identified by comparing the degradation efficiency in NaSO4 and NaNO3 electrolytes. Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy confirmed that the SO4-· and ·OH generated on the ACF cathode are the main reactive radicals. A comparison of the degradation efficiency and the generated S2O82-/H2O2 of the divided/undivided electrolysis system is used to demonstrate the superiority of the synergistic effect between the BDD anode and ACF cathode. This work provides evidence of the effectiveness of the philosophy of "catalysis in lieu of supplementary chemical agents" and sheds light on the mechanism of the generation and transmission of reactive species in the BDD and ACF electrolysis system, thereby offering new perspectives for the design and optimization of electrolysis systems.

5.
Nanoscale ; 16(10): 5334-5342, 2024 Mar 07.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38374810

In this study, we propose that a molecular junction with a sharp Negative Differential Resistance (NDR) current peak could improve the selectivity, thereby functioning as a potential molecular sensor for molecule recognition. Using DFT-NEGF simulations, we investigate the connection between molecule-molecule coupling, molecule-electrode coupling and the corresponding NDR peak shape. Based on this analysis we propose three design rules to control the sensitivity of a sensor and determine that one mechanism for NDR is for a localised molecular orbital involved in resonant tunneling to enter and leave the bias window. Our findings provide useful insight into the development of single molecule sensors for molecule recognition.

6.
Polymers (Basel) ; 16(4)2024 Feb 18.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38399924

Conductive polymer composites (CPCs) filled with carbon-based materials are widely used in the fields of antistatic, electromagnetic interference shielding, and wearable electronic devices. The conductivity of CPCs with a carbon-based filling is reflected by their electrical percolation behavior and is the focus of research in this field. Compared to experimental methods, Monte Carlo simulations can predict the conductivity and analyze the factors affecting the conductivity from a microscopic perspective, which greatly reduces the number of experiments and provides a basis for structural design of conductive polymers. This review focuses on Monte Carlo models of CPCs with a carbon-based filling. First, the theoretical basis of the model's construction is introduced, and a Monte Carlo simulation of the electrical percolation behaviors of spherical-, rod-, disk-, and hybridfilled polymers and the analysis of the factors influencing the electrical percolation behavior from a microscopic point of view are summarized. In addition, the paper summarizes the progress of polymer piezoresistive models and polymer foaming structure models that are more relevant to practical applications; finally, we discuss the shortcomings and future research trends of existing Monte Carlo models of CPCs with carbon-based fillings.

8.
J Nanobiotechnology ; 22(1): 20, 2024 Jan 05.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38183048

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy is one of the mainstays of cancer therapy and has been used for treating 65-75% of patients with solid tumors. However, radiotherapy of tumors has two limitations: high-dose X-rays damage adjacent normal tissue and tumor metastases cannot be prevented. RESULTS: Therefore, to overcome the two limitations of radiotherapy, a multifunctional core-shell R837/BMS@Au8 nanoparticles as a novel radiosensitizer were fabricated by assembling Au8NCs on the surface of a bifunctional nanoimmunomodulator R837/BMS nanocore using nanoprecipitation followed by electrostatic assembly. Formed R837/BMS@Au8 NP composed of R837, BMS-1, and Au8 clusters. Au8NC can enhance X-ray absorption at the tumor site to reduce X-ray dose and releases a large number of tumor-associated antigens under X-ray irradiation. With the help of immune adjuvant R837, dendritic cells can effectively process and present tumor-associated antigens to activate effector T cells, meanwhile, a small-molecule PD-L1 inhibitor BMS-1 can block PD-1/PD-L1 pathway to reactivate cytotoxic T lymphocyte, resulting in a strong systemic antitumor immune response that is beneficial for limiting tumor metastasis. According to in vivo and in vitro experiments, radioimmunotherapy based on R837/BMS@Au8 nanoparticles can increase calreticulin expression on of cancer cells, reactive oxygen species generation, and DNA breakage and decrease colony formation. The results revealed that distant tumors were 78.2% inhibited depending on radioimmunotherapy of primary tumors. Therefore, the use of a novel radiosensitizer R837/BMS@Au8 NPs realizes low-dose radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy against advanced cancer. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the multifunctional core-shell R837/BMS@Au8 nanoparticles as a novel radiosensitizer effectively limiting tumor metastasis and decrease X-ray dose to 1 Gy, providing an efective strategy for the construction of nanosystems with radiosensitizing function.


Neoplasms , Radiation-Sensitizing Agents , Humans , Adjuvants, Immunologic , Imiquimod , Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Radiation-Sensitizing Agents/pharmacology , Radioimmunotherapy , Gold/chemistry
9.
Chem Biol Interact ; 390: 110873, 2024 Feb 25.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38237652

Paraquat (PQ)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) progresses rapidly and is associated with high mortality rates; however, no specific antidote for PQ has been identified. Poor understanding of toxicological mechanisms underlying PQ has hindered the development of suitable treatments to combat PQ exposure. Gasdermin D (GSDMD), a key executor of pyroptosis, has recently been shown to enhance nephrotoxicity in drug-induced AKI. To explore the role of pyroptosis in PQ-induced AKI, the plasma membrane damage of the cells was detected by LDH release assay. Western blot was performed to detect the cleavage of GSDMD. RNA sequencing analysis was performed to explore the mechanism of PQ induced nephrotoxicity. Herein, we demonstrated that PQ could induce pyroptosis in HK-2 cells and nephridial tissues. Mechanistically, PQ initiated GSDMD cleavage, and GSDMD knockout attenuated PQ-induced nephrotoxicity in vivo. Further analysis revealed that the accumulation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced p38 activation, contributing to PQ-induced pyroptosis. Furthermore, mitoquinone, a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, reduced mitochondrial ROS levels and inhibited pyroptosis. Collectively, these findings provide insights into the role of GSDMD-dependent pyroptosis as a novel mechanism of PQ-induced AKI.


Acute Kidney Injury , Pyroptosis , Humans , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Pyroptosis/physiology , Paraquat/toxicity , Gasdermins , Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics , Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism , Acute Kidney Injury/chemically induced , Acute Kidney Injury/metabolism , Mitochondria/metabolism
10.
Br J Ophthalmol ; 108(2): 285-293, 2024 01 29.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36596662

BACKGROUND: The visual outcome of open globe injury (OGI)-no light perception (NLP) eyes is unpredictable traditionally. This study aimed to develop a model to predict the visual outcomes of vitrectomy surgery in OGI-NLP eyes using a machine learning algorithm and to provide an interpretable system for the prediction results. METHODS: Clinical data of 459 OGI-NLP eyes were retrospectively collected from 19 medical centres across China to establish a training data set for developing a model, called 'VisionGo', which can predict the visual outcome of the patients involved and compare with the Ocular Trauma Score (OTS). Another 72 cases were retrospectively collected and used for human-machine comparison, and an additional 27 cases were prospectively collected for real-world validation of the model. The SHapley Additive exPlanations method was applied to analyse feature contribution to the model. An online platform was built for real-world application. RESULTS: The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of VisionGo was 0.75 and 0.90 in previtrectomy and intravitrectomy application scenarios, which was much higher than the OTS (AUC=0.49). VisionGo showed better performance than ophthalmologists in both previtrectomy and intravitrectomy application scenarios (AUC=0.73 vs 0.57 and 0.87 vs 0.64). In real-world validation, VisionGo achieved an AUC of 0.60 and 0.91 in previtrectomy and intravitrectomy application scenarios. Feature contribution analysis indicated that wound length-related indicators, vitreous status and retina-related indicators contributed highly to visual outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: VisionGo has achieved an accurate and reliable prediction in visual outcome after vitrectomy for OGI-NLP eyes.


Eye Injuries, Penetrating , Eye Injuries , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Visual Acuity , Retina , Vitrectomy , Prognosis , Eye Injuries, Penetrating/diagnosis , Eye Injuries, Penetrating/surgery
11.
Food Chem Toxicol ; 184: 114411, 2024 Feb.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38128689

Acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by diquat (DQ) progresses rapidly, leading to high mortality, and there is no specific antidote for this chemical. Our limited knowledge of the pathogenic toxicological mechanisms of DQ has hindered the development of treatments against DQ poisoning. Pyroptosis is a form of programmed cell death and was recently identified as a novel molecular mechanism of drug-induced AKI. To explore the role of pyroptosis in HK-2 cells exposed to DQ, the plasma membrane damage of the cells was detected by LDH release assay. Western blot was performed to detect the cleavage of GSDME. Proteomics analysis was performed to explore the mechanism of DQ induced nephrotoxicity. FerroOrange probe was used to measure the intracellular Fe2+ levels. Herein, we show that DQ induces pyroptosis in HK-2 cells. Mechanistically, DQ induces the accumulation of mitochondrial ROS and initiates the cleavage of gasdermin E (GSDME) in an intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. Knockout of GSDME attenuated DQ-induced cell death. Further analysis revealed that loss of FTH1 induces Fe2+ accumulation, contributing to DQ-induced pyroptosis. Knockdown LC3B could help restore the expression of FTH1 and improve cell viability. Moreover, we found DFO, an iron chelator, could reduce cellular Fe2+ levels and inhibit pyroptosis. Collectively, these findings suggest an unrecognized mechanism for GSDME-dependent pyroptosis in DQ-induced AKI.


Acute Kidney Injury , Pyroptosis , Humans , Diquat , Gasdermins , Autophagy , Acute Kidney Injury/chemically induced , Kidney , Caspase 3 , Ferritins , Oxidoreductases
12.
ACS Nano ; 17(23): 23299-23316, 2023 Dec 12.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37992209

Bubble behaviors play crucial roles in mass transfer and energy efficiency in gas evolution reactions. Combining multiscale structures and surface chemical compositions, micro-/nanostructured electrodes have drawn increasing attention. With the aim to identify the exciting opportunities and rationalize the electrode designs, in this review, we present our current comprehension of bubble engineering on micro-/nanostructured electrodes, focusing on water splitting. We first provide a brief introduction of gas wettability on micro-/nanostructured electrodes. Then we discuss the advantages of micro-/nanostructured electrodes for mass transfer (detailing the lowered overpotential, promoted supply of electrolyte, and faster bubble growth kinetics), localized electric field intensity, and electrode stability. Following that, we outline strategies for promoting bubble detachment and directional transportation. Finally, we offer our perspectives on this emerging field for future research directions.

13.
BMC Cardiovasc Disord ; 23(1): 569, 2023 11 20.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37986143

BACKGROUND: This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the treat-repair-treat (TRT) strategy in the treatment of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension with congenital heart disease (PAH-CHD). METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane and Web of Science online databases were searched by two independent investigators for studies that used the TRT strategy for PAH-CHD, and the retrieved studies were reviewed by a third investigator. The main outcomes were pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), and transcutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2). The changes were compared between follow-up and baseline. Stata version 14.0 was used for data analysis. A random-effects model was selected for meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were used to find the source of heterogeneity. RESULTS: A total of 335 patients from 9 single-arm studies were included. Meta-analysis showed significant reductions in PAP and PVR and improvements in 6MWD and SpO2 (PAP: SMD -2.73 95% CI -2.97, - 2.50 p = < 0.001; PVR: SMD -1.27 95% CI -1.53, - 1.02 p = < 0.001; 6MWD: SMD 1.88 95% CI 1.49, 2.27 p = < 0.001; SpO2: SMD 3.72 95% CI 3.13, 4.32 p = < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that younger patients had better efficacy, and the change in SpO2 was an indication for patient selection. The combined mortality rate was 5% at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In this meta-analysis, we demonstrated that the TRT strategy may have positive effects on haemodynamics and cardiac function in patients with severe PAH-CHD at short-term follow-up. Our analysis suggests that changes in age and SpO2 may be related to patient prognosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The protocol was registered on the PROSPERO website with the registration number CRD42022366552. The relevant registration information can be obtained from the website https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#searchadvanced .


Heart Defects, Congenital , Hypertension, Pulmonary , Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension , Humans , Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension/diagnosis , Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension/drug therapy , Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension/complications , Hypertension, Pulmonary/complications , Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension , Heart Defects, Congenital/complications , Heart Defects, Congenital/diagnosis , Arteries
14.
Anal Chem ; 95(48): 17533-17540, 2023 12 05.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37993803

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the major energy carrier in organisms, and there are many cellular proteins that can bind to ATP. Among these proteins, kinases are key regulators in several cell signaling processes, and aberrant kinase signaling contributes to the development of many human diseases, including cancer. Hence, small-molecule kinase inhibitors have been successfully used for the treatment of various diseases. Since the ATP-binding pockets are similar for many kinases, it is very important to evaluate the selectivity of different kinase inhibitors. We report here a clickable ATP photoaffinity probe for the global profiling of ATP-binding proteins. After incubating the protein lysate with the ATP probe followed by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, ATP-binding proteins were labeled with an alkyne handle for subsequent biotin conjugation through click chemistry. Labeled proteins were enriched with streptavidin beads, digested with trypsin, and analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). More than 400 ATP-binding proteins, including approximately 200 kinases, could be identified in a single LC-MS/MS run in the data-dependent acquisition mode. We then applied this method to the analysis of targets of three selected ATP-competitive kinase inhibitors. We were able to successfully identify some of their reported target proteins from label-free quantification results and validated the results using Western blot analyses. Together, we developed a clickable ATP photoaffinity probe for proteome-wide profiling of ATP-binding proteins and demonstrated that this chemoproteomic method is amenable to high-throughput target identification of kinase inhibitors.


Adenosine Triphosphate , Carrier Proteins , Humans , Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism , Chromatography, Liquid , Tandem Mass Spectrometry , Proteins/metabolism , Phosphotransferases/metabolism
15.
Biochem Pharmacol ; 217: 115838, 2023 11.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37778445

M2 type tumor-associated macrophages, an essential component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), have been proved to contribute to tumor metastasis. Dauricine (Dau) has recently received widespread attention due to its multiple targets and low price. However, the effect of Dau on macrophage polarization of TME remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of Dau on prostate cancer (PCa) metastasis and specifically its correlation to macrophage polarization. Our results showed that Dau efficiently suppressed M2 polarization of macrophages induced by interleukin (IL) -4 and IL-13. Mechanistically, Dau inhibited the activity of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which subsequently suppressed macrophage differentiation to M2 type. Importantly, our study indicated that Dau decreased the release of chitinase 3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) from M2 macrophages, which ultimately inhibited the M2 macrophage-mediated progression of PCa cells in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our data demonstrated that Dau suppressed M2 polarization of macrophages via downregulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, in turn, preventing proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion of PCa cells. Thus, this study reveals a previously unrecognized function of Dau in inhibition of PCa progression via intervention in M2 polarization of macrophages.


Prostatic Neoplasms , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt , Male , Humans , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism , Macrophages , Prostatic Neoplasms/metabolism , Tumor Microenvironment , Cell Line, Tumor
16.
Animals (Basel) ; 13(17)2023 Aug 29.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37685009

CuSO4 is the most commonly used feed additive in pig production at present, but long-term ingestion of excessive copper would lead to chronic copper toxicity. High copper could reduce the reproductive efficiency of sows and seriously affect the development of the pig industry. Quercetin (QUE), a powerful antioxidant, reduces toxicity of a number of heavy metals. Porcine granulosa cells (pGCs) are crucial to the fate of follicle development. The present study found that high concentrations of CuSO4 induced ROS production, which resulted in decreased mRNA expression of antioxidant-related genes GPX4, CAT, and SOD2 and increased mRNA expression of SOD1, TRX, and HO-1. The protein expression of antioxidant enzymes SOD2 and HO-1 decreased. Moreover, the concentration of MDA increased, the activity of CAT decreased, and the content of GSH decreased. After high copper treatment, the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was decreased and the morphological structure was changed. However, the combined treatment with Quercetin (QUE) reversed these changes, and the level of cellular oxidative stress decreased. Therefore, we conclude that high copper has oxidative toxicity to pGCs, and QUE could remove the ROS induced by high copper, protect mitochondria from oxidative stress damage, and improve the function of pGCs.

17.
Comput Biol Med ; 166: 107464, 2023 Sep 07.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37734355

Peripapillary atrophy (PPA) is a clinical abnormality related to many eye diseases, such as myopia and glaucoma. The shape and area of PPA are essential indicators of disease progression. PPA segmentation is a challenging task due to blurry edge and limited labeled data. In this paper, we propose a novel semi-supervised PPA segmentation method enhanced by prior knowledge. In order to learn shape information in the network, a novel shape constraint module is proposed to restrict the PPA appearance based on active shape model. To further leverage large amount of unlabeled data, a Siamese-like model updated by exponential moving average is introduced to provide pseudo labels. The pseudo labels are further refined by region connectivity correction. Extensive experiments on a clinical dataset demonstrate that our proposed PPA segmentation method provides good qualitative and quantitative performance.

18.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37729567

In real industrial processes, fault diagnosis methods are required to learn from limited fault samples since the procedures are mainly under normal conditions and the faults rarely occur. Although attention mechanisms have become increasingly popular for the task of fault diagnosis, the existing attention-based methods are still unsatisfying for the above practical applications. First, pure attention-based architectures like transformers need a substantial quantity of fault samples to offset the lack of inductive biases thus performing poorly under limited fault samples. Moreover, the poor fault classification dilemma further leads to the failure of the existing attention-based methods to identify the root causes. To develop a solution to the aforementioned problems, we innovatively propose a supervised contrastive convolutional attention mechanism (SCCAM) with ante-hoc interpretability, which solves the root cause analysis problem under limited fault samples for the first time. First, accurate classification results are obtained under limited fault samples. More specifically, we integrate the convolutional neural network (CNN) with attention mechanisms to provide strong intrinsic inductive biases of locality and spatial invariance, thereby strengthening the representational power under limited fault samples. In addition, we ulteriorly enhance the classification capability of the SCCAM method under limited fault samples by employing the supervised contrastive learning (SCL) loss. Second, a novel ante-hoc interpretable attention-based architecture is designed to directly obtain the root causes without expert knowledge. The convolutional block attention module (CBAM) is utilized to directly provide feature contributions behind each prediction thus achieving feature-level explanations. The proposed SCCAM method is testified on a continuous stirred tank heater (CSTH) and the Tennessee Eastman (TE) industrial process benchmark. Three common fault diagnosis scenarios are covered, including a balanced scenario for additional verification and two scenarios with limited fault samples (i.e., imbalanced scenario and long-tail scenario). The effectiveness of the presented SCCAM method is evidenced by the comprehensive results that show our method outperforms the state-of-the-art methods in terms of fault classification and root cause analysis.

20.
Biotechnol Biofuels Bioprod ; 16(1): 122, 2023 Aug 03.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37537682

ATP, an important cofactor, is involved in many biocatalytic reactions that require energy. Polyphosphate kinases (PPK) can provide energy for ATP-consuming reactions due to their cheap and readily available substrate polyphosphate. We determined the catalytic properties of PPK from different sources and found that PPK from Cytophaga hutchinsonii (ChPPK) had the best catalytic activity for the substrates ADP and polyP6. An extracellular-intracellular dual system was constructed to high-throughput screen for better catalytic activity of ChPPK mutants. Finally, the specific activity of ChPPKD82N-K103E mutant was increased by 4.3 times. Therefore, we focused on the production of L-theanine catalyzed by GMAS as a model of ATP regeneration. Supplying 150 mM ATP, GMAS enzyme could produce 16.8 ± 1.3 g/L L-theanine from 100 mM glutamate. When 5 mM ATP and 5 U/mL ChPPKD82N-K103E were added, the yield of L-theanine was 16.6 ± 0.79 g/L with the conversion rate of 95.6 ± 4.5% at 4 h. Subsequently, this system was scaled up to 200 mM and 400 mM glutamate, resulting in the yields of L-theanine for 32.3 ± 1.6 g/L and 62.7 ± 1.1 g/L, with the conversion rate of 92.8 ± 4.6% and 90.1 ± 1.6%, respectively. In addition, we also constructed an efficient ATP regeneration system from glutamate to glutamine, and 13.8 ± 0.2 g/L glutamine was obtained with the conversion rate of 94.4 ± 1.4% in 4 h after adding 6 U/ mL GS enzyme and 5 U/ mL ChPPKD82N-K103E, which further laid the foundation from glutamine to L-theanine catalyzed by GGT enzyme. This proved that giving the reaction an efficient ATP supply driven by the mutant enzyme enhanced the conversion rate of substrate to product and maximized the substrate value. This is a positively combination of high yield, high conversion rate and high economic value of enzyme catalysis. The mutant enzyme will further power the ATP-consuming biocatalytic reaction platform sustainably.

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