HIT-UAV: A high-altitude infrared thermal dataset for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-based object detection.

We present the HIT-UAV dataset, a high-altitude infrared thermal dataset for object detection applications on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The dataset comprises 2,898 infrared thermal images extracted from 43,470 frames in hundreds of videos captured by UAVs in various scenarios, such as schools, parking lots, roads, and playgrounds. Moreover, the HIT-UAV provides essential flight data for each image, including flight altitude, camera perspective, date, and daylight intensity. For each image, we have manually annotated object instances with bounding boxes of two types (oriented and standard) to tackle the challenge of significant overlap of object instances in aerial images. To the best of our knowledge, the HIT-UAV is the first publicly available high-altitude UAV-based infrared thermal dataset for detecting persons and vehicles. We have trained and evaluated well-established object detection algorithms on the HIT-UAV. Our results demonstrate that the detection algorithms perform exceptionally well on the HIT-UAV compared to visual light datasets, since infrared thermal images do not contain significant irrelevant information about objects. We believe that the HIT-UAV will contribute to various UAV-based applications and researches. The dataset is freely available at https://pegasus.ac.cn .

Clinical Study of 2 Radiotherapy Techniques for Semi-Hepatic Alternating Radiotherapy on Diffuse Liver Metastasis in Patients with Breast Cancer.

Objective: To compare the effects of 2 techniques of semi-hepatic alternating radiotherapy on diffuse hepatic metastasis in patients with breast cancer. Methodology: A total of 68 breast cancer patients with diffuse liver metastasis were randomly divided into Group A (semi-hepatic alternating radiotherapy) and Group B (semi-hepatic sequential radiotherapy). In Group A (semi-hepatic sequential radiotherapy), the liver was divided into the first semi-liver and second semi-liver and alternatively treated with semi-hepatic intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The interval between the 2 instances of semi-hepatic radiotherapy was 6 h. The average radiotherapy dose to the semi-livers was both 2 Gy/fraction, once a day, 5 times per week, with a total dose of 30 Gy for 15 days. The total radiation therapy time in Group A was 15 days in Group B (semi-hepatic sequential radiotherapy), the livers were divided into the first semi-liver and second semi-liver and treated with semi-hepatic sequential IMRT, The first semi-liver was first treated in the initial stage of radiation therapy, the average radiotherapy dose to the semi-liver was 2 Gy/fraction, once a day, 5 times per week, with a total dose of 30 Gy for 15 days. The second semi-liver was treated next in the second stage of radiation therapy, the average radiotherapy dose to the semi-liver was 2 Gy/fraction, once a day, 5 times per week, with a total dose of 30 Gy for 15 days. The total radiation therapy time in group B was 30 days. Results: The objective response rate (complete response + partial response) of Group A and Group B were 50.0% and 48.5%, respectively (p = .903). The median survival time after metastasis (median survival of recurrence) of Group A and Group B was 16.7 months and 16.2 months, respectively (p = .411). The cumulative survival rates of 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years of Group A and Group B were 90.6% (29 of 32) and 84.8% (28 of 33) (p = .478), 65.6% (21 of 32) and 60.6% (20 of 33) (p = .675), 31.2% (10 of 32) and 27.3% (9 of 33) (p = .725), and 15.6% (5 of 32) and 0 (0 of 33) (p = .018), respectively. The differences between the 2 groups showed no statistical significance in terms of cumulative survival rates in 1 year, 2 years, however, the 3-year survival rate was significantly different. The main toxic reactions were digestive tract reactions, abnormal liver functions, and myelosuppression. The incidence of I to II degree gastrointestinal reactions was 78.13% (25 of 32) in Group A and 72.73% (24 of 33) in Group B (p = .614). The incidence of I to II abnormal liver function was 53.13% (17 of 32) in Group A and 48.48% (16 of 33) in Group B (p = .708). The differences between the 2 groups showed no statistical significance. The incidence of I to II myelosuppression was 59.38% (19 of 32) in Group A and 51.52% (17 of 33) in Group B (p = .524), respectively. The differences between the 2 groups showed no statistical significance in terms of adverse effects. Conclusion: Semi-hepatic alternating IMRT was an effective palliative treatment for diffuse liver metastasis in patients with breast cancer. Semi-hepatic alternating radiotherapy showed a trend of prolonged survival time when compared with semi-hepatic sequential radiotherapy. Compared with the former, the latter showed a trend of lower incidences of side effects without any statistical differences. Moreover, the side effects from the 2 radiotherapy techniques can be controlled through appropriate management, which is worthy of further exploration and applications.

Sources and pollution path identification of PAHs in karst aquifers: an example from Liulin karst water system, northern China.

Karst water, with constituting major sources for water supply worldwide, is vulnerable and prone to be polluted. In this study, it is reported that karst water polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution is caused by the infiltration of surface runoff in the bared carbonate areas, which is of universal significance for the protection of groundwater resources in karst region. Hydro-geochemistry, stable isotopes (δD, δ18O and 87Sr/86Sr) and characteristic ratio method were conducted together to illustrate the concentration, distribution, sources and pollution path of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in groundwater in the Liulin karst water system of northern China. The results showed that total concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ranged from 39.25 to 16,830 ng/L in groundwater, with Naphthalene being the dominant component, and the median value increased gradually along the flow path. The highest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations in karst water were mainly observed in the coal mining and the discharge areas. Based on the characteristic ratios, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the study area mainly come from local incomplete combustion of woods, fossil fuels, coal and liquid fuels. The slight shift of δD and δ18O and moderate 87Sr/86Sr ratios suggest that the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in karst water is mainly polluted by surface runoff during rain events in the bared karst region. The leakage of river water may partly contribute to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some karst water, which normally located close to the karst water - river water mixing line. This study provides a new technical method for tracing the sources and identifying the pollution paths of organic pollution in a karst water system.

Effects of added calcium-based additives on swine manure derived biochar characteristics and heavy metals immobilization.

Although pyrolysis is a promising way for treating animal manure, the application is restricted with some limitations of biochar. To improve the quality of biochar derived from swine manure and enhance the immobilization of heavy metals (Cu and Zn) in it, swine manure was mixed with four types of Ca-based additives (CaO, CaCO3, Ca(OH)2, and Ca(H2PO4)2) prior to pyrolysis at 300-700 °C. The thermogravimetric characteristics of swine manure were obviously influenced The addition of CaO, CaCO3, and Ca(OH)2 during the whole decomposition process. Furthermore, with the addition of CaO and Ca(OH)2, the emission of CO2 and CO was substantially decreased at 200-500 °C, whereas the formation of CO, H2, CO2, and CH4 was drastically increased at 600-800 °C. The biochar produced with CaO addition had the highest pH, surface area and carbon content. Moreover, by addition of Ca-based additives, except for Ca(H2PO4)2, the transformation of labile Cu and Zn to the stable fraction was promoted, and the leachability and environmental risk of them were simultaneously reduced. In contrast, CaO and Ca(OH)2 were more favorable for the immobilization of Cu and Zn than CaCO3. Our study indicated that the catalytic pyrolysis using CaO was an effective and valuable method of animal manure treatment.

Suicide Research in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau Over Three Decades.

Background: China accounts for 15% of the global suicide death toll, yet suicide research efforts in the country are not well known by international colleagues. Aims: We aimed to outline the development of suicide research in China, appraise research findings, and identify key contributors. Method: English and Chinese research publication databases were systematically searched and relevant papers were reviewed. Chinese and English publications were compared. Results: There are almost 10 times more Chinese publications than English ones. The research focuses of and key contributors to the Chinese and English literature exhibit more differences than commonalities. The field experienced rapid expansion in the new millennium with more and higher quality publications and more funding support. Psychosocial-oriented perspectives guided most of the papers. Poisoning by pesticide as a suicide method and youth as a subpopulation group received the most research attention. Limitations: The scoping review does not provide in-depth syntheses on specific topics and does not include more recent publications. Conclusion: Research on suicide in China has been actively carried out during the 30-year period we reviewed, which might have contributed to suicide prevention in China. Research gaps identified by the review should be addressed to sustain the achievements.

DR-region of Na+/K+ ATPase is a target to treat excitotoxicity and stroke.

Na+/K+ ATPase (NKA) is important in maintaining cellular functions. We found that loss of NKA activities in NKAα1+/- mice is associated with increased susceptibility to ischemic injuries following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). This is corroborated by the neuroprotective effects of an antibody raised against an extracellular DR region (897DVEDSYGQQWTYEQR911, sequence number as in rat) of NKAα subunit (DR-Ab) in both preventive and therapeutic settings. DR-Ab protects cortical neurons against glutamate-induced toxicity by stimulating activities of NKA and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX), which resulted in accelerated Ca2+ extrusion. DR-Ab also enhanced the association between NKA and GluR2 and therefore reduced the internalization of both proteins from membrane induced by glutamate toxicity. The mechanism appears to involve suppression of GluR2 phosphorylation through PKCα/PICK pathway. Our data indicate that DR-region of NKA may be a novel therapeutic target for drug development for the treatment of ischemic stroke.

[Application of rafting K-wire technique for tibial plateau fractures].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize application of rafting K-wires technique for tibial plateau fractures. METHODS: From January 2013 to January 2015,45 patients with tibial plateau fractures were treated by locking plate with rafting K-wires, including 33 males and 12 females with an average of 44.2 years old ranging from 22 to 56 years old. According to Schatzker classification, 6 cases were type II, 8 were type Ill, 4 were type IV, 4 were type V, and 5 were type VI. Allogeneic bone graft were performed for bone defects. All patients were fixed with two to five K-wires. Part of weight loading were encouraged at 3 months after operation,and full weight-loading were done at 5 months after operation. Postoperative complications were observed,and Rasmussen clinical and radiological assessment were used to evaluate clinical results. RESULTS: All Patients were followed up from 10 to 23 months with average of 14 months. According to Rasmussen clinical and radiological assessment, clinical scores 23.58 ± 6.33, radiological scores were 14.00 ± 6.33; and excellent and good rates were 82.2% and 77.8% respectively. Four patients occurred severe osteoporosis and collapse of articular surface; 5 patients occurred traumatic arthritis. CONCLUSION: Rafting K-wires technique with anatomized armor plate could effective fix and support platform collapse and joint bone fragments, increase support surface area and reduce postoperative reduction loss rate.

Hydrogen sulfide: a neuromodulator and neuroprotectant in the central nervous system.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) used to be known as a toxic gas. However, in the last two decades, accumulating evidence has revealed its role as a bioactive molecule in the biological systems. H2S has relatively high expression in the brain, exerting multiple functions in both health and diseases. It modulates neurotransmission by influencing behaviors of NMDA receptors and second messenger systems including intracellular Ca(2+) concentration and intracellular cAMP levels and so forth. H2S shows potential therapeutic value in several CNS diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ischemic stroke, and traumatic brain injury. As a neuroprotectant, H2S produces antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects in pathological situations. Sulfhydration of target proteins is an important mechanism underlying these effects. This Review summarizes the current understanding of H2S in the central nervous system, with emphasis on its role as a neuromodulator and a neuroprotectant.

Histamine H3 receptors aggravate cerebral ischaemic injury by histamine-independent mechanisms.

The role of the histamine H3 receptor (H3R) in cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains unknown. Here we show that H3R expression is upregulated after I/R in two mouse models. H3R antagonists and H3R knockout attenuate I/R injury, which is reversed by an H3R-selective agonist. Interestingly, H1R and H2R antagonists, a histidine decarboxylase (HDC) inhibitor and HDC knockout all fail to compromise the protection by H3R blockade. H3R blockade inhibits mTOR phosphorylation and reinforces autophagy. The neuroprotection by H3R antagonism is reversed by 3-methyladenine and siRNA for Atg7, and is diminished in Atg5⁻/⁻ mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Furthermore, the peptide Tat-H3R(CT414-436), which blocks CLIC4 binding with H3Rs, or siRNA for CLIC4, further increases I/R-induced autophagy and protects against I/R injury. Therefore, H3R promotes I/R injury while its antagonism protects against ischaemic injury via histamine-independent mechanisms that involve suppressing H3R/CLIC4 binding-activated autophagy, suggesting that H3R inhibition is a therapeutic target for cerebral ischaemia.

[Latest advances of the cause and preventive strategies of adjacent vertebral body fracture after percutaneous vertebroplasty].

Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is widely used as an effective treatment for compression fracture, additional adjacent vertebral body fractures are frequently reported after operation, but the relationship between the vertebroplasty and adjacent vertebral body fracture remains unknown. The possible causes of refracture after operation include mechanical force factor, bone cement and clinical factors. Except for the changes of stress and stiffness of the adjacent vertebral bodies, the extravasation of cement and osteoporosis itself of the vertebral bodies should be concerned about. To aim at above-mentioned reasons, simultaneously, preventive strategies, such as prophylactic cement injection into adjacent non-fractured vertebrae, additional PVP and injectable copolymer hydrogel are approached in this review.