Physico-Chemical Characteristics of pH-Driven Active Film Loading with Curcumin Based on the Egg White Protein and Sodium Alginate Matrices.

The low solubility and stability of fat-soluble curcumin in water limit its application in active packaging. This study explored the use of a pH-driven method to investigate the preparation and enhancement of the performance of films loaded with curcumin in a matrix of sodium alginate (Alg) and egg white protein (EWP). In this study, the EWP, Alg, and curcumin primarily bind through hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and hydrophobic interactions. Compared to EWP films, the films loaded with curcumin through the pH-driven method exhibited enhanced extensibility and water resistance, with an elongation at break (EB) of 103.56 ± 3.13% and a water vapor permeability (WVP) of 1.67 ± 0.03 × 10-10 g·m/m2·Pa·s. The addition of Alg improved the encapsulation efficiency and thermal stability of curcumin, thereby enhancing the antioxidant activity of the film through the addition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals, which resulted in 106.95 ± 2.61 µg TE/g and 144.44 ± 8.89 µg TE/g, respectively. It is noteworthy that the detrimental effect of Alg on the color responsiveness of films containing curcumin has also been observed. This study provides a potential strategy and consideration for the loading of low water-soluble active substances and the preparation of active packaging.

Lead-induced liver fibrosis and inflammation in mice by the AMPK/MAPKs/NF-κB and STAT3/TGF-ß1/Smad2/3 pathways: the role of Isochlorogenic acid a.

Lead (Pb) is a nonessential heavy metal, which can cause many health problems. Isochlorogenic acid A (ICAA), a phenolic acid present in tea, fruits, vegetables, coffee, plant-based food products, and various medicinal plants, exerts multiple effects, including anti-oxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic functions. Thus, the purpose of our study was to determine if ICAA could prevent Pb-induced hepatotoxicity in ICR mice. An evaluation was performed on oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis, and related signaling. The results indicate that ICAA attenuates Pb-induced abnormal liver function. ICAA reduced liver fibrosis, inflammation and oxidative stress caused by Pb. ICAA abated Pb-induced fibrosis and decreased inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). ICAA abrogated reductions in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Masson staining revealed that ICAA reduced collagen fiber deposition in Pb-induced fibrotic livers. Western blot and immunohistochemistry analyses showed ICAA increased phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) expression. ICAA also reduced the expression of collagen I, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), phosphorylated c-jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), p-p38, phosphorylated signal transducer and phosphorylated activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3), transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1), and p-Smad2/3 in livers of mice. Overall, ICAA ameliorates Pb-induced hepatitis and fibrosis by inhibiting the AMPK/MAPKs/NF-κB and STAT3/TGF-ß1/Smad2/3 pathways.

Cumulative Systolic Blood Pressure and Incident Stroke Type Variation by Race and Ethnicity.

Importance: Stroke risk varies by systolic blood pressure (SBP), race, and ethnicity. The association between cumulative mean SBP and incident stroke type is unclear, and whether this association differs by race and ethnicity remains unknown. Objective: To examine the association between cumulative mean SBP and first incident stroke among 3 major stroke types-ischemic stroke (IS), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)-and explore how these associations vary by race and ethnicity. Design, Setting, and Participants: Individual participant data from 6 US longitudinal cohorts (January 1, 1971, to December 31, 2019) were pooled. The analysis was performed from January 1, 2022, to January 2, 2024. The median follow-up was 21.6 (IQR, 13.6-31.8) years. Exposure: Time-dependent cumulative mean SBP. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was time from baseline visit to first incident stroke. Secondary outcomes consisted of time to first incident IS, ICH, and SAH. Results: Among 40 016 participants, 38 167 who were 18 years or older at baseline with no history of stroke and at least 1 SBP measurement before the first incident stroke were included in the analysis. Of these, 54.0% were women; 25.0% were Black, 8.9% were Hispanic of any race, and 66.2% were White. The mean (SD) age at baseline was 53.4 (17.0) years and the mean (SD) SBP at baseline was 136.9 (20.4) mm Hg. A 10-mm Hg higher cumulative mean SBP was associated with a higher risk of overall stroke (hazard ratio [HR], 1.20 [95% CI, 1.18-1.23]), IS (HR, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.17-1.22]), and ICH (HR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.25-1.38]) but not SAH (HR, 1.13 [95% CI, 0.99-1.29]; P = .06). Compared with White participants, Black participants had a higher risk of IS (HR, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.09-1.33]) and ICH (HR, 1.67 [95% CI, 1.30-2.13]) and Hispanic participants of any race had a higher risk of SAH (HR, 3.81 [95% CI, 1.29-11.22]). There was no consistent evidence that race and ethnicity modified the association of cumulative mean SBP with first incident stroke and stroke type. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this cohort study suggest that cumulative mean SBP was associated with incident stroke type, but the associations did not differ by race and ethnicity. Culturally informed stroke prevention programs should address modifiable risk factors such as SBP along with social determinants of health and structural inequities in society.

Simultaneous methane mitigation and nitrogen removal by denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation in lake sediments.

Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas, with lake ecosystems significantly contributing to its global emissions. Denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation (DAMO) process, mediated by NC10 bacteria and ANME-2d archaea, links global carbon and nitrogen cycles. However, their potential roles in mitigating methane emissions and removing nitrogen from lake ecosystems remain unclear. This study explored the spatial variations in activities of nitrite- and nitrate-DAMO and their functional microbes in Changdanghu Lake sediments (Jiangsu Province, China). The results showed that although the average abundance of ANME-2d archaea (5.0 × 106 copies g-1) was significantly higher than that of NC10 bacteria (2.1 × 106 copies g-1), the average potential rates of nitrite-DAMO (4.59 nmol 13CO2 g-1 d-1) and nitrate-DAMO (5.01 nmol 13CO2 g-1 d-1) showed no significant difference across all sampling sites. It is estimated that nitrite- and nitrate-DAMO consumed approximately 6.46 and 7.05 mg CH4 m-2 d-1, respectively, which accordingly achieved 15.07-24.95 mg m-2 d-1 nitrogen removal from the studied lake sediments. Statistical analyses found that nitrite- and nitrate-DAMO activities were both significantly related to sediment nitrate contents and ANME-2d archaeal abundance. In addition, NC10 bacterial and ANME-2d archaeal community compositions showed significant correlations with sediment organic carbon content and water depth. Overall, this study underscores the dual roles of nitrite- and nitrate-DAMO processes in CH4 mitigation and nitrogen elimination and their key environmental impact factors (sediment organic carbon and inorganic nitrogen contents, and water depth) in shallow lake, enhancing the understanding of carbon and nitrogen cycles in freshwater aquatic ecosystems.

Vertically spliced tabletop light field cave display with extended depth content and separately optimized compound lens array.

Tabletop three-dimensional light field display is a kind of compelling display technology that can simultaneously provide stereoscopic vision for multiple viewers surrounding the lateral side of the device. However, if the flat panel light field display device is simply placed horizontally and displayed directly above, the visual frustum will be tilted and the 3D content outside the display panel will be invisible, the large oblique viewing angle will also lead to serious aberrations. In this paper, we demonstrate what we believe to be a new vertical spliced light field cave display system with an extended depth content. A separate optimization of different compound lens array attenuates the aberration from different oblique viewing angles, and a local heating fitting method is implemented to ensure the accuracy of fabrication process. The image coding method and the correction of the multiple viewpoints realize the correct construction of spliced voxels. In the experiment, a high-definition and precisely spliced 3D city terrain scene is demonstrated on the prototype with a correct oblique perspective in 100-degree horizontal viewing range. We envision that our research will provide more inspiration for future immersive large-scale glass-free virtual reality display technologies.

Smooth motion parallax method for 3D light-field displays with a narrow pitch based on optimizing the light beam divergence angle.

The three-dimensional (3D) light field display (LFD) with dense views can provide smooth motion parallax for the human eye. Increasing the number of views will widen the lens pitch, however, resulting in a decrease in view resolution. In this paper, an approach to smooth motion parallax based on optimizing the divergence angle of the light beam (DALB) for 3D LFD with narrow pitch is proposed. DALB is controlled by lens design. A views-fitting optimization algorithm is established based on a mathematical model between DALB and view distribution. Subsequently, the lens is reversely designed based on the optimization results. A co-designed convolutional neural network (CNN) is used to implement the algorithm. The optical experiment shows that a smooth motion parallax 3D image is achievable through the proposed method.

Pneumocystis Jiroveci Pneumonia Secondary to Blinatumomab Therapy: A Case Report.

Introduction With the increasing use of Blinatumomab in relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), including MRD-positive cases, awareness of its adverse effects has gradually improved. Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) associated with Blinatumomab therapy is rare. Case Presentation We present a case of PCP in a patient undergoing Blinatumomab therapy. A 70-year-old female diagnosed with Philadelphia-like, CRLF2 overexpression B-cell precursor ALL received Blinatumomab as consolidation therapy after achieving complete remission with prior induction chemotherapy. On the second day of Blinatumomab infusion, she developed intermittent low-grade fever, and chest computed tomography revealed subtle infiltrates and nodules. Despite empiric trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) prophylaxis, she progressed to significant shortness of breath and type I respiratory failure, with increased lactate dehydrogenase and ß-D-glucan assays. Chest computed tomography showed diffuse ground-glass opacities with scattered small nodules. The dry cough prompted next-generation sequencing of peripheral blood, which tested positive for pneumocystis jiroveci without evidence of other pathogens. Consequently, the patient was diagnosed with PCP. The first cycle of Blinatumomab had to be discontinued, and therapeutic dosages of TMP-SMX and dexamethasone were administered, resulting in full recovery and stable condition during follow-ups. Conclusion PCP is rare in B-cell precursor ALL patients receiving Blinatumomab therapy but manifests with early onset and rapid disease progression. Despite prophylaxis, PCP infection cannot be ignored during Blinatumomab therapy. Therefore, heightened attention is warranted when using Blinatumomab therapy.

Edible chitosan-based Pickering emulsion coatings: Preparation, characteristics, and application in strawberry preservation.

The long-term application of plant essential oils in food preservation coatings is limited by their poor water solubility and high volatility, despite their recognized synergistic antimicrobial effects in postharvest fruit preservation. To overcome these limitations, a Pickering emulsion loaded with thyme essential oil (TEO) was developed by utilizing hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions to induce cross-linking of chitosan particles. This novel emulsion was subsequently applied in the postharvest storage of strawberries. The shear-thinning behavior (flow index <1) and elastic gel-like characteristics of the emulsion made it highly suitable for spray application. Regarding TEO release, the headspace concentration of TEO increased from 0.21 g/L for pure TEO to 1.86 g/L after two instances of gas release due to the stabilizing effect of the chitosan particles at the oil-water interface. Notably, no phase separation was observed during the 10-day storage of the emulsion. Consequently, the emulsion was successfully employed for the postharvest storage of strawberries, effectively preventing undesirable phenomena such as weight loss, a decrease in firmness, an increase in pH, and microbial growth. In conclusion, the developed Pickering emulsion coating exhibits significant potential for fruit preservation applications, particularly for extending the shelf life of strawberries.

Trajectory of Cognitive Function After Incident Heart Failure.

Background: The size/magnitude of cognitive changes after incident heart failure (HF) are unclear. We assessed whether incident HF is associated with changes in cognitive function after accounting for pre-HF cognitive trajectories and known determinants of cognition. Methods: This pooled cohort study included adults without HF, stroke, or dementia from six US population-based cohort studies from 1971-2019: Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study, Cardiovascular Health Study, Framingham Offspring Study, Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, and Northern Manhattan Study. Linear mixed-effects models estimated changes in cognition at the time of HF (change in the intercept) and the rate of cognitive change over the years after HF (change in the slope), controlling for pre-HF cognitive trajectories and participant factors. Change in global cognition was the primary outcome. Change in executive function and memory were secondary outcomes. Cognitive outcomes were standardized to a t-score metric (mean [SD], 50 [10]); a 1-point difference represented a 0.1-SD difference in cognition. Results: The study included 29,614 adults (mean [SD] age was 61.1 [10.5] years, 55% female, 70.3% White, 22.2% Black 7.5% Hispanic). During a median follow-up of 6.6 (Q1-Q3: 5-19.8) years, 1,407 (4.7%) adults developed incident HF. Incident HF was associated with an acute decrease in global cognition (-1.08 points; 95% CI -1.36, -0.80) and executive function (-0.65 points; 95% CI -0.96, -0.34) but not memory (-0.51 points; 95% CI -1.37, 0.35) at the time of the event. Greater acute decreases in global cognition after HF were seen in those with older age, female sex and White race. Individuals with incident HF, compared to HF-free individuals, demonstrated faster declines in global cognition (-0.15 points per year; 95% CI, -0.21, -0.09) and executive function (-0.16 points per year; 95% CI -0.23, -0.09) but not memory ( -0.11 points per year; 95% CI -0.26, 0.04) compared with pre-HF slopes. Conclusions: In this pooled cohort study, incident HF was associated with an acute decrease in global cognition and executive function at the time of the event and faster declines in global cognition and executive function over the following years.

In silico identification of viral loads in cough-generated droplets - Seamless integrated analysis of CFPD-HCD-EWF.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Respiratory diseases caused by respiratory viruses have significantly threatened public health worldwide. This study presents a comprehensive approach to predict viral dynamics and the generation of stripped droplets within the mucus layer of the respiratory tract during coughing using a larynx-trachea-bifurcation (LTB) model. METHODS: This study integrates computational fluid-particle dynamics (CFPD), host-cell dynamics (HCD), and the Eulerian wall film (EWF) model to propose a potential means for seamless integrated analysis. The verified CFPD-HCD coupling model based on a 3D-shell model was used to characterize the severe acute respiratory syndrome, coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) dynamics in the LTB mucus layer, whereas the EWF model was employed to account for the interfacial fluid to explore the generation mechanism and trace the origin site of droplets exhaled during a coughing event of an infected host. RESULTS: The results obtained using CFPD delineated the preferential deposition sites for droplets in the laryngeal and tracheal regions. Thus, the analysis of the HCD model showed that the viral load increased rapidly in the laryngeal region during the peak of infection, whereas there was a growth delay in the tracheal region (up to day 8 after infection). After two weeks of infection, the high viral load gradually migrated towards the glottic region. Interestingly, the EWF model demonstrated a high concentration of exhaled droplets originating from the larynx. The coupling technique indicated a concurrent high viral load in the mucus layer and site of origin of the exhaled droplets. CONCLUSIONS: This interdisciplinary research underscores the seamless analysis from initial exposure to virus-laden droplets, the dynamics of viral infection in the LTB mucus layer, and the re-emission from the coughing activities of an infected host. Our efforts aimed to address the complex challenges at the intersection of viral dynamics and respiratory health, which can contribute to a more detailed understanding and targeted prevention of respiratory diseases.

Spatio-temporal feature attribution of European summer wildfires with Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI).

Wildfires are among the most destructive natural disasters globally. Understanding the drivers behind wildfires is a crucial aspect of preventing and managing them. Machine learning methods have gained popularity in wildfire modeling in recent years, but their algorithms are usually complex and challenging to interpret. In this study, we employed the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) value, an Explainable Artificial Intelligence method, to interpret the model and thus generate spatio-temporal feature attributions. Our research focuses on the forest, shrub and herbaceous vegetated areas of Europe during the summers from 2018 to 2022. Using burned areas, meteorology, vegetation, topography, and anthropogenic activity data, we established a wildfire occurrence model using random forest classification. The model was highly accurate, with an Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve of 0.940. The SHAP results revealed six features that significantly influence wildfire occurrences: land surface temperature (LST), solar radiation (SR), Temperature Condition Index (TCI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), precipitation (Prep), and soil moisture (SM). The tipping points for the positive or negative shifts in contributions are around 30 °C (LST), 2.20e7 J/m^2 (SR), 0.2 (TCI), 0.78 (NDVI), 2 mm/h (Prep), and 0.18 (SM). These predictors display strong spatial variability in their contribution levels. In Southern Europe, LST and SR emerge as the primary contributors to wildfires, making substantial impacts. Conversely, in regions at mid and high latitudes in Europe, NDVI, Prep, and SM assume a more prominent role in promoting wildfires, albeit with relatively smaller contributions. Furthermore, the disparities in SHAP values for TCI and SMCI across different years provide valuable insights into the effects of variation in regional meteorological conditions on wildfires. Our study provides a new approach to uncovering the spatio-temporal variations of feature contributions, which will help to better understand the mechanism of wildfire occurrence and enhance prevention and mitigation.

3D Printing of smart labels with curcumin-loaded soy protein isolate.

A two-step method for preparing smart labels that can monitor food freshness through color change is presented. The conventional casting method for such labels is not cost-effective, as it uses organic solvents and requires additional cutting processes. Our method is more eco-friendly and customizable, as it uses water as the sole solvent and 3D printing as the fabrication technique. First, curcumin was encapsulated with soy protein isolate (SPI) by a pH-driven method involving hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Subsequently, the SPI-curcumin complex was blended with gelatin to create a printable ink. The ink has suitable rheological properties for extrusion, with a yield stress of 400-600 Pa and a viscosity of 122.93-142.82 Pa·s at the optimal printing temperature. The complex modulus of the ink increases to above 2 × 103 Pa when cooled to 25 °C, indicating rapid gel formation. The application of these smart labels to minced meat demonstrated their ability to reflect its freshness by transitioning from yellow to red. Furthermore, the printability and mechanical properties of the labels can be adjusted by changing the glycerol/water ratio. This innovative approach is a promising solution for producing environmentally friendly and customizable smart labels for food freshness monitoring.

Isochronic development of cortical synapses in primates and mice.

The neotenous, or delayed, development of primate neurons, particularly human ones, is thought to underlie primate-specific abilities like cognition. We tested whether synaptic development follows suit-would synapses, in absolute time, develop slower in longer-lived, highly cognitive species like non-human primates than in shorter-lived species with less human-like cognitive abilities, e.g., the mouse? Instead, we find that excitatory and inhibitory synapses in the male Mus musculus (mouse) and Rhesus macaque (primate) cortex form at similar rates, at similar times after birth. Primate excitatory and inhibitory synapses and mouse excitatory synapses also prune in such an isochronic fashion. Mouse inhibitory synapses are the lone exception, which are not pruned and instead continuously added throughout life. The monotony of synaptic development clocks across species with disparate lifespans, experiences, and cognitive abilities argues that such programs are likely orchestrated by genetic events rather than experience.

Curved fiber compound eye camera inspired by the Strepsiptera vision.

The Strepsiptera vision possesses intriguing features of a large field of view (FOV) and relatively high resolution compared to normal compound eyes. However, it presents a significant challenge of the mismatch between the curved compound eyelet lens array and the planar image sensor to image in a large FOV for artificial compound eyes (ACE). We propose what we believe to be a novel curved fiber compound eye camera (CFCEC) here, which employs coherent fiber bundles as the optical relay system to transmit sub-images curvilinearly. A total of 106 eyelets are arranged based on a scheme similar to the Goldberg polyhedron, with the advantages of uniform interval and minor edge blindness. Then, a prototype of the CFCEC is fabricated and assembled. A series of experiments are conducted to assess the FOV, contrast, resolution, and overlap rate of FOV of the prototype. The results prove that the CFCEC has a total FOV of up to 160°×160° and a total overlap rate of FOV of approximately 65%, demonstrating the promising potential of the CFCEC in various applications, such as panoramic surveillance, 3D detection, and motion tracking.

Deformation Characteristics of Three-Dimensional Spiral Soft Actuator Driven by Water Hydraulics for Underwater Manipulator.

The emergence of bionic soft robots has led to an increased demand for bionic soft actuating ends. In this study, a three-dimensional spiral water hydraulic soft actuator (3D-SWHSA), inspired by the winding action of an elephant's trunk, is proposed to provide a more targeted soft actuator catching method. The 3D-SWHSA is composed of multiple bending and twisting units (BATUs), which can produce winding deformation after being pressed. By using the principles of virtual work and integrating the Yeoh 3rd order model, a predictive model for winding was established to investigate the bending and twisting characteristics of BATUs with varying structural parameters through finite element simulation. Following the selection of an optimal set of structural parameters for the 3D-SWHSA, its bending and deformation capabilities were simulated using finite element analysis and subsequently validated experimentally. To validate its flexibility, adaptability, and biocompatibility, successful catching experiments were conducted in both air and underwater environments. Underwater organisms, including organisms with soft appearance such as starfish and sea cucumbers, and organisms with hard shell, such as sea snails and crabs, can also be caught harmlessly. In cases where a single 3D-SWHSA is insufficient for capturing objects with unstable centers of gravity or when the capture range is exceeded, the double 3D-SWHSAs can be utilized for cooperative winding. This study affirms the great potential of 3D-SWHSA in diverse marine applications, including but not limited to marine exploration, fishing, and operations.

Intelligent packaging based on chitosan/fucoidan incorporated with coleus grass (Plectranthus scutellarioides) leaves anthocyanins and its application in monitoring the spoilage of salmon (Salmo salar L.).

The innovation of this study was to develop a novel biodegradable intelligent packaging based on chitosan/fucoidan combined with different amounts (1, 3 and 5 wt% on chitosan basis) of coleus grass (Plectranthus scutellarioides) leaves anthocyanins (CGL) to monitor the spoilage of salmon (Salmo salar L.). The addition of fucoidan improved the barrier and mechanical properties of the chitosan films (CS) due to hydrogen bonds and intermolecular electrostatic interactions. Moreover, the addition of CGL not only improved the physical properties but also improved the biological activity of chitosan/fucoidan film (CF). The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity of CF contained 5 wt% CGL was 1.83 and 1.75 times than CF, respectively. The inhibition zone size of CF films containing 5 wt% CGL (CF-5%CGL) was approximately 2.04 (Escherichia coli) and 2.16 (Staphylococcus aureus) times higher than that of CF. Moreover, CF-CGL displayed obvious color changes in different pH environments and is highly sensitive to ammonia gas. The CF-CGL has visible color changes during the monitoring of salmon spoilage and extended the shelf life of salmon. According to our findings, CF-CGL film might be employed as a possible intelligent packaging material for monitoring and preserving salmon in the future.

WISP2 downregulation inhibits the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in congenital scoliosis by regulating Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

OBJECTIVES: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are instrumental in bone development, metabolism, and marrow microenvironment homeostasis. Despite this, the relevant effects and mechanisms of BMSCs on congenital scoliosis (CS) remain undefined. Herein, it becomes our focus to reveal the corresponding effects and mechanisms implicated. METHODS: BMSCs from CS patients (hereafter referred as CS-BMSCs) and healthy donors (NC-BMSCs) were observed and identified. Differentially expressed genes in BMSCs were analyzed utilizing scRNA-seq and RNA-seq profiles. The multi-differentiation potential of BMSCs following the transfection or infection was evaluated. The expression levels of factors related to osteogenic differentiation and Wnt/ß-catenin pathway were further determined as appropriate. RESULTS: A decreased osteogenic differentiation ability was shown in CS-BMSCs. Both the proportion of LEPR+ BMSCs and the expression level of WNT1-inducible-signaling pathway protein 2 (WISP2) were decreased in CS-BMSCs. WISP2 knockdown suppressed the osteogenic differentiation of NC-BMSCs, while WISP2 overexpression facilitated the osteogenesis of CS-BMSCs via acting on the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Our study collectively indicates WISP2 knockdown blocks the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in CS by regulating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, thus providing new insights into the aetiology of CS.

Image edge smoothing method for light-field displays based on joint design of optical structure and elemental images.

Image visual quality is of fundamental importance for three-dimensional (3D) light-field displays. The pixels of a light-field display are enlarged after the imaging of the light-field system, increasing the graininess of the image, which leads to a severe decline in the image edge smoothness as well as image quality. In this paper, a joint optimization method is proposed to minimize the "sawtooth edge" phenomenon of reconstructed images in light-field display systems. In the joint optimization scheme, neural networks are used to simultaneously optimize the point spread functions of the optical components and elemental images, and the optical components are designed based on the results. The simulations and experimental data show that a less grainy 3D image is achievable through the proposed joint edge smoothing method.

Visual prediction and parameter optimization of viral dynamics in the mucus milieu of the upper airway based on CFPD-HCD analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Respiratory diseases caused by viruses are a major human health problem. To better control the infection and understand the pathogenesis of these diseases, this paper studied SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus outbreak, as an example. METHODS: Based on coupled computational fluid and particle dynamics (CFPD) and host-cell dynamics (HCD) analyses, we studied the viral dynamics in the mucus layer of the human nasal cavity-nasopharynx. To reproduce the effect of mucociliary movement on the diffusive and convective transport of viruses in the mucus layer, a 3D-shell model was constructed using CT data of the upper respiratory tract (URT) of volunteers. Considering the mucus environment, the HCD model was established by coupling the target cell-limited model with the convection-diffusion term. Parameter optimization of the HCD model is the key problem in the simulation. Therefore, this study focused on the parameter optimization of the viral dynamics model, divided the geometric model into multiple compartments, and used Monolix to perform the nonlinear mixed effects (NLME) of pharmacometrics to discuss the influence of factors such as the number of mucus layers, number of compartments, diffusion rate, and mucus flow velocity on the prediction results. RESULTS: The findings showed that sufficient experimental data can be used to estimate the corresponding parameters of the HCD model. The optimized convection-diffusion case with a two-layer multi-compartment low-velocity model could accurately predict the viral dynamics. CONCLUSIONS: Its visualization process could explain the symptoms of the disease in the nose and contribute to the prevention and targeted treatment of respiratory diseases.