Comparative analysis of supervised learning algorithms for prediction of cardiovascular diseases.

BACKGROUND: With the advent of artificial intelligence technology, machine learning algorithms have been widely used in the area of disease prediction. OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) seriously jeopardizes human health worldwide, thereby needing the establishment of an effective CVD prediction model that can be of great significance for controlling the risk of the disease and safeguarding the physical and mental health of the population. METHODS: Considering the UCI heart disease dataset as an example, initially, a single machine learning prediction model was constructed. Subsequently, six methods such as Pearson, chi-squared, RFE and LightGBM were comprehensively used for the feature screening. On the basis of the base classifiers, Soft Voting fusion and Stacking fusion was carried out to build a prediction model for cardiovascular diseases, in order to realize an early warning and disease intervention for high-risk populations. To address the data imbalance problem, the SMOTE method was adopted to process the data set, and the prediction effect of the model was analyzed using multi-dimensional and multi-indicators. RESULTS: In the single classifier model, the MLP algorithm performed optimally on the preprocessed heart disease dataset. After feature selection, five features eliminated. The ENSEM_SV algorithm that combines the base classifiers to determine the prediction results by soft voting on the results of the classifiers achieved the optimal value on five metrics such as Accuracy, Jaccard_Score, Hamm_Loss, AUC, etc., and the AUC value reached 0.951. The RF, ET, GBDT, and LGB algorithms were employed in the first stage sub-model composed of base classifiers. The AB algorithm was selected as the second stage model, and the ensemble algorithm ENSEM_ST, obtained by Stacking fusion of the two stages exhibited the best performance on 7 indicators such as Accuracy, Sensitivity, F1_Score, Mathew_Corrcoef, etc., and the AUC reached 0.952. Furthermore, a comparison of the algorithms' classification effects based on different training set occupancy was carried out. The results indicated that the prediction performance of both the fusion models was better than the single models, and the overall effect of ENSEM_ST fusion was stronger than the ENSEM_SV fusion. CONCLUSIONS: The fusion model established in this study improved the overall classification accuracy and stability of the model to a significant extent. It has a good application value in the predictive analysis of CVD diagnosis, and can provide a valuable reference in the disease diagnosis and intervention strategies.

Se-methylselenocysteine ameliorates mitochondrial function by targeting both mitophagy and autophagy in the mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) exerts tremendous pressure on families and society due to its unknown etiology and lack of effective treatment options. Our previous study had shown that Se-methylselenocysteine (SMC) improved the cognition and synaptic plasticity of triple-transgenic AD (3 × Tg-AD) mice and alleviated the related pathological indicators. We are dedicated to investigating the therapeutic effects and molecular mechanisms of SMC on mitochondrial function in 3 × Tg-AD mice. Methods: Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), western blotting (WB), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), mitochondrial swelling test, and mitochondrial oxygen consumption test were used to evaluate the mitochondrial morphology and function. Mitophagy flux and autophagy flux were assessed with immunofluorescence, TEM and WB. The Morris water maze test was applied to detect the behavioral ability of mice. Results: The destroyed mitochondrial morphology and function were repaired by SMC through ameliorating mitochondrial energy metabolism, mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial fusion/fission balance in 3 × Tg-AD mice. In addition, SMC ameliorated mitochondria by activating mitophagy flux via the BNIP3/NIX pathway and triggering autophagy flux by suppressing the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK/mTOR pathway. SMC remarkably increased the cognitive ability of AD mice. Conclusions: This research indicated that SMC might exert its therapeutic effect by protecting mitochondria in 3 × Tg-AD mice.

[Development and in vivo biomechanics of goat mobile artificial lumbar spine complex].

OBJECTIVE: Mobile artificial lumbar complex (MALC) which suitable for reconstruction after subtotal lumbar resection in goats was developed,and to test stability of the complex and postoperative lumbar segmental motor function. METHODS: Eighteen male boer goats aged from 1 to 2 years old (weighted from 35 to 45 kg) were selected and divided into control group,fusion group and non-fusion group,with 6 goats in each group. According to preoperative CT scans and MRI examinations of lumbar,the goat MALC was designed and performed by 3D printed for non-fusion group. Operation was performed on three groups respectively,and only vertebral body and disc were exposed in control group. In fusion group,L4 part of vertebral body and the upper and lower complete disc tissues were removed,and the lumbar spine bone plate fixation was performed with titanium mesh bone grafting. In non-fusion group,vertebral body and disc were removed in the same way,and MALC was implanted. AP and lateral X-rays of lumbar vertebrae in goat were taken at 6 months after surgery,in order to understand whether the plant was dislocated,displaced and fractured. Biomechanical tests were performed on the specimens by mechanical instrument to measure range of motion (ROM) of L2,3,L3,4,L4,5 intervertebral space and the overall ROM of L2-5 lumbar vertebrae. RESULTS: MALC of lumbar vertebra was designed by 3D printing,and its component artificial vertebrae and upper and lower artificial end plates were manufactured. The semi-spherical structure was fabricated by precision lathe using high-crosslinked polyethylene material,and the prosthesis was assembled. Postoperative AP and lateral X-rays of lumbar vertebra at 6 months showed the implant position of implant and MALC were good without displacement and dislocation. In vitro biomechanical test of lumbar vertebrae specimens:(1) There were no statistical significance in ROM of lumbar intervertebral space flexion and extension,lateral flexion and rotation on L3,4 and L4,5,between non-fusion group and control group (P>0.05),while ROM of fusion group was significantly reduced compared with the other two groups (P<0.05). There were no significant difference in ROM of L2,3 intervertebral flexion and extension,lateral flexion and rotation between non-fusion group and control group (P>0.05),while fusion group was significantly increased compared with the other two groups (P<0.001). (2) There was no significant difference in overall lumbar ROM of L2-5 (P> 0.05). CONCLUSION: The individual MALC could restore intervertebral height of lumbar vertebra while maintaining the stability of lumbar vertebra and re-establishing motor function of lumbar space.

Silk-Fabric Reinforced Silk for Artificial Bones.

Bone implants for different body parts require varying mechanical properties, dimensions, and biodegradability rates. Currently, it is still challenging to produce artificial bones with perfect compatibility with human bones. In this study, a silk-fabric reinforced silk material (SFS) composed of pure silk with exceptional biocompatibility, osteogenesis, and biodegradability is reported, and demonstrates its outstanding performance as a bone implant material. The SFS is fabricated using a simple hot-pressing technique, with degummed silk fabric as the reinforcement and silk fibroin as the matrix. The SFS as a self-reinforced composite, has exceptional mechanical properties due to the almost perfect interface between the matrix and reinforcement. More importantly, its mechanical properties, biodegradability rates, and density can be tailored by adjusting the reinforcement structure and the ratio of the reinforcement to the matrix to align with the requirements for bone implantation in different parts of the human body. Besides, the SFS can improve osteoblastic proliferation and increase osteogenic activity, which is not the case with clinically used titanium alloy artificial bone. Therefore, the SFS holds significant potential to replace conventional metal or ceramic implants in the field of medical fracture repair.

Combining near infrared fluorescence and laser speckle imaging with optical tissue clearing for in vivo transcranial monitoring of cerebral blood vessels damaged by photodynamic nanoformulation.

In vivo near infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging and laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) are emerging optical bioimaging modalities, which can provide information on blood vessels morphology, volume and the blood flow velocity. Optical tissue clearing (OTC) technique addresses a light scattering problem in optical bioimaging, which is imperative for the transcranial brain imaging. Herein, we report an approach combining NIR fluorescence and LSC microscopy imaging with OTC. A liposomal nanoformulation comprising NIR fluorescent dye ICG and photosensitizer BPD was synthesized and injected intravenously into mouse with OTC treated skull. Transcranial excitation of BPD in nanoliposomes resulted in the localized, irradiation dose dependent photodynamic damage of the brain blood vessels, which was manifested both in NIR fluorescence and LSC transcranial imaging, revealing changes in the vessels morphology, volume and the blood flow rate. The developed approach allows for bimodal imaging guided, localized vascular PDT of cancer and other diseases.

Resveratrol alleviates heat-stress-induced impairment of the jejunal mucosa through TLR4/MAPK signaling pathway in black-boned chicken.

Heat stress in chickens caused by high temperatures in summer is a serious issue faced by the poultry industry globally, which reduces product quality. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of resveratrol in alleviating heat stress injury and inflammatory response of jejunal mucosa in black-boned chickens through TLR4/MAPK signaling pathway. In total, 240 black-boned chickens (28-day old) were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups as follows. The normal temperature (NT) and normal temperature with resveratrol (NT+Res) groups received a basal diet without and with 400 mg/kg resveratrol, respectively, and treated at 24℃ ± 2℃, 24 h/d. The high temperature (HT) and high temperature with resveratrol (HT+Res) groups received basal diet without and with 400 mg/kg resveratrol, respectively, and treated at 37℃ ± 2℃ for 8 h/d and 24°C ± 2°C for the rest of the time for 12 d. The results revealed the heat-stress responses impaired the villous structure of the jejunum, causing a rough and uneven surface of the jejunal villus, and local intestinal villi were even more prone to rupture. However, resveratrol significantly improved the morphology and structure of jejunal mucosa under heat stress. Heat stress increased the mRNA levels of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), c-Jun, c-fos, caspase-3, and p38 (P < 0.05), reduced mRNA level of Bcl-2, and reduced the expression of tight junction proteins Occludin, ZO-1, and Claudin1 (P < 0.05) in the jejunal mucosa. However, resveratrol inhibited the TLR4/ mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway via downregulating TLR4, c-Jun, p38, and caspase-3 (P < 0.05); upregulating Bcl-2 (P < 0.05); decreasing the protein levels of MKK3, p53, and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MYD88); and increasing the protein levels of Occludin, ZO-1, and Claudin1. In addition, it reduced the levels of JNK and p38 proteins (P < 0.05) and inflammatory factors like tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the jejunal mucosa of black-boned chickens under heat stress. In conclusion, resveratrol may play a regulatory role in heat-stress-induced damage and inflammatory response in the intestinal mucosa of black-boned chickens under heat stress.

In Vivo High-Contrast Biomedical Imaging in the Second Near-Infrared Window Using Ultrabright Rare-Earth Nanoparticles.

Intravital luminescence imaging in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II) enables noninvasive deep-tissue imaging with high spatiotemporal resolution of live mammals because of the properties of suppressed light scattering and diminished autofluorescence in the long-wavelength region. Herein, we present the synthesis of a downconversion luminescence rare-earth nanocrystal with a core-shell-shell structure (NaYF4@NaYbF4:Er,Ce@NaYF4:Ca). The structure efficiently maximized the doping concentration of the sensitizers and increased Er3+ luminescence while preventing cross relaxation. Furthermore, Ce3+ doping in the middle layer efficiently limited the upconversion pathway and increased downconversion by 24-fold to produce bright 1550 nm luminescence under 975 nm excitation. Finally, optimizing the inert shell coating of NaYF4:Ca and liposome encapsulation reduced the luminescence quenching impact by water and improved biological metabolism. Thus, our synthesized biocompatible, ultrabright NIR-II probes provide high contrast and resolution for through-scalp and through-skull luminescence imaging of mice cerebral vasculature without craniotomy as well as imaging of mouse hindlimb microvessels.

A comparison of the biomechanical properties of three different lumbar internal fixation methods in the treatment of lumbosacral spinal tuberculosis: finite element analysis.

There are various internal fixation methods in treating lumbosacral spinal tuberculosis. The study compared the stability and stress distribution in surrounding tissues/implants, such as discs, endplates and screw-rod internal fixation system, etc. when applying three different lumbar internal fixation methods to treat lumbosacral spinal tuberculosis. A finite element model was constructed and validated. The spinal stability was restored using three methods: a titanium cage with lateral double screw-rod fixation (group 1), autologous bone with posterior double screw-rod fixation (group 2), and a titanium cage with posterior double screw-rod fixation (group 3). For comparison, group 4 represented the intact L3-S1 spine. Finally, a load was applied, and the ranges of motion and Von Mises stresses in the cortical endplates, screw-rod internal fixation system and cortical bone around the screws in the different groups were recorded and analyzed. All six ranges of motion (flexion, extension, left/right lateral bending, left/right rotation) of the surgical segment were substantially lower in groups 1 (0.53° ~ 1.41°), 2 (0.68° ~ 1.54°) and 3 (0.55° ~ 0.64°) than in group 4 (4.48° ~ 10.12°). The maximum stress in the screw-rod internal fixation system was clearly higher in group 2 than in groups 1 and 3 under flexion, left/right lateral bending, and left/right rotation. However, in extension, group 1 had the highest maximum stress in the screw-rod internal fixation system. Group 2 had the lowest peak stresses in the cortical endplates in all directions. The peak stresses in the cortical bone around the screws were higher in group 1 and group 2 than in group 3 in all directions. Thus, titanium cage with posterior double screw-rod fixation has more advantages in immediate reconstruction of lumbosacral spinal stability and prevention of screw loosening.

Modeling and exploring the coordination relationship between green infrastructure and land use eco-efficiency: an urban agglomeration perspective.

In limited land space, improving the construction of infrastructure with ecological services can help to achieve the goal of promoting land use eco-efficiency (LUEE). In view of this, this study constructed interactive coordination relationship model of green infrastructure (GI) and LUEE that involves entropy method model, super-efficiency slack-based measure (SBM) model with undesirable outputs, and coupling coordination degree model. The interactive coordination relationship model can help to study and reveal the mechanisms of interaction and the coordination relationship between GI and LUEE from a land benefit and ecological perspective. We took the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration as the study area. The results showed that the assessment results of GI showed a decreasing trend from 2000 to 2020. LUEE in different cities displayed obvious variability with efficiency values ranging from 0.5666 to 2.4437. The relationship between GI and LUEE is in the stage of uncoordinated development in 53.8% of cities, mainly concentrated in the eastern and southern parts of the study area. The unnatural human activities are the critical factors affecting interactive coupling coordination degree of LUEE and GI. It is clarified that the level of coordination relationship of the two can be used as an important indicator to judge the sustainable development of urban agglomerations. Intensive use of land, optimal connection of geographic information, and localization of policies would help improve the balance and coordination between the two. This study provides interesting research ideas and novel modeling approaches for the study of green and sustainable development of urban agglomerations.

Tough and Robust Mechanically Interlocked Gel-Elastomer Hybrid Electrode for Soft Strain Gauge.

Soft strain gauges provide a flexible and versatile alternative to traditional rigid and inextensible gauges, overcoming issues such as impedance mismatch, the limited sensing range, and fatigue/fracture. Although several materials and structural designs are used to fabricate soft strain gauges, achieving multi-functionality for applications remains a significant challenge. Herein, a mechanically interlocked gel-elastomer hybrid material is exploited for soft strain gauge. Such a material design provides exceptional fracture energy of 59.6 kJ m-2 and a fatigue threshold of 3300 J m-2 , along with impressive strength and stretchability. The hybrid material electrode possesses excellent sensing performances under both static and dynamic loading conditions. It boasts a tiny detection limit of 0.05% strain, ultrafast time resolution of 0.495 ms, and high linearity. This hybrid material electrode can accurately detect full-range human-related frequency vibrations ranging from 0.5 to 1000 Hz, enabling the measurement of physiological parameters. Additionally, the patterned soft strain gauge, created through lithography, demonstrates superior signal-noise rate and electromechanical robustness against deformation. By integrating a multiple-channel device, an intelligent motion detection system is developed, which can classify six typical human body movements with the assistance of machine learning. This innovation is expected to drive advancements in wearable device technology.

Biocompatibility and osseointegration properties of a novel high strength and low modulus ß- Ti10Mo6Zr4Sn3Nb alloy.

Introduction: Ti6Al4V titanium alloy is widely used in producing orthopedic and maxillofacial implants, but drawbacks include high elastic modulus, poor osseointegration performance, and toxic elements. A new medical titanium alloy material with better comprehensive performance is urgently needed in the clinic. Methods: Ti10Mo6Zr4Sn3Nb titanium alloy (referred to as Ti-B12) is a unique medical ß titanium alloy material developed by us. The mechanical properties of Ti-B12 depict that it has advantages, such as high strength, low elastic modulus, and fatigue resistance. In our study, the biocompatibility and osseointegration properties of Ti-B12 titanium alloy are further studied to provide theoretical guidance for its clinical transformation. Results and Discussion: The titanium alloy Ti-B12 displays no significant effect on MC3T3-E1 cell morphology, proliferation, or apoptosis in vitro. Neither Ti-B12 titanium alloy nor Ti6Al4V titanium alloy depicts a significant difference (p > 0.05); Ti-B12 material extract injected into the abdominal cavity of mice does not cause acute systemic toxicity. The skin irritation test and intradermal irritation test reveal that Ti-B12 does not cause skin allergic reactions in rabbits. Compared to Ti6Al4V, Ti-B12 titanium alloy material has more advantages in promoting osteoblast adhesion and ALP secretion (p < 0.05). Although there is no significant difference in OCN and Runx2 gene expression between the three groups on the 7th and 14th days of differentiation induction (p > 0.05), the expression of Ti-B12 group is higher than that of Ti6Al4V group and blank control group. Furthermore, the rabbit in vivo test present that 3 months after the material is implanted in the lateral epicondyle of the rabbit femur, the Ti-B12 material fuses with the surrounding bone without connective tissue wrapping. This study confirms that the new ß-titanium alloy Ti-B12 not only has low toxicity and does not cause rejection reaction but also has better osseointegration performance than the traditional titanium alloy Ti6Al4V. Therefore, Ti-B12 material is expected to be further promoted in clinical practice.

Genome-wide association study for the primary feather color trait in a native Chinese duck.

Background: To reveal candidate genes and the molecular genetic mechanism underlying primary feather color trait in ducks, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for the primary feather color trait was performed based on the genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) technology for a native Chinese female duck, Longyan Shan-ma ducks. Methods: Blood genomic DNA from 314 female Longyan Shan-ma duck were genotyped using GBS technology. A GWAS for the primary feather color trait with genome variations was performed using an univariate linear mixed model based on all SNPs in autosomes. Results: Seven genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs, Bonferroni-adjusted p-value <8.03 × 10-7) within the introns of the genes STARD9, ZNF106, SLC7A5, and BANP genes were associated with the primary feather color trait. Twenty-two genome-wide suggestive SNPs (Bonferroni-adjusted p-value <1.61 × 10-5) of 17 genes (besides ZNF106 and SLC7A5) were also identified. Seven SNPs were located at one 0.22 Mb region (38.65-38.87 Mb) on chromosome 5, and six SNPs were located at one 0.31 Mb region (19.53-19.84 Mb) on chromosome 11. The functions of STARD9, SLC7A5, BANP, LOC101798015, and IPMK were involved pigmentation and follicle development, especially, STARD9 upregulated expression in black feather (haplotype-CCCC) bulb tissue compared with in pockmarked feather (haplotype-TGTT) bulb tissue, implicating these genes as candidate genes for primary feather color trait. Conclusion: The preliminarily findings suggested candidate genes and regions, and the genetic basis of primary feather color trait in a female duck.

Target integration of an exogenous ß-glucosidase enhances cellulose degradation and ethanol production in Clostridium cellulolyticum.

The bacteria Clostridium cellulolyticum is a promising candidate for consolidated bioprocessing (CBP). However, genetic engineering is necessary to improve this organism's cellulose degradation and bioconversion efficiencies to meet standard industrial requirements. In this study, CRISPR-Cas9n was used to integrate an efficient ß-glucosidase into the genome of C. cellulolyticum, disrupting lactate dehydrogenase (ldh) expression and reducing lactate production. The engineered strain showed a 7.4-fold increase in ß-glucosidase activity, a 70% decrease in ldh expression, a 12% increase in cellulose degradation, and a 32% increase in ethanol production compared to wild type. Additionally, ldh was identified as a potential site for heterologous expression. These results demonstrate that simultaneous ß-glucosidase integration and lactate dehydrogenase disruption is an effective strategy for increasing cellulose to ethanol bioconversion rates in C. cellulolyticum.

Tongguan capsule for treating myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury: integrating network pharmacology and mechanism study.

CONTEXT: Although Tongguan capsule (TGC) is used in the treatment of coronary atherosclerotic disease, the exact mechanism remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: Network pharmacology and experimental validation were applied to examine the mechanism of TGC for treating myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The components and candidate targets were searched based on various databases such as TCMSP, TCMID, BATMAN-TCM. The binding ability was determined by molecular docking. The ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) model was constructed by ligating the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. APOE-/- mice were divided into three groups (n = 6): Sham group, I/R group, and TGC group (1 g/kg/d). To further verification, HCAEC cells were subjected to hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) to establish in vitro model. RESULTS: The compounds, such as quercetin, luteolin, tanshinone IIA, kaempferol and bifendate, were obtained after screening. The affinity values of the components with GSK-3ß, mTOR, Beclin-1, and LC3 were all <-5 kcal/mol. In vivo, TGC improved LVEF and FS, reducing infarct size. In vitro, Hoechst 33258 staining result showed TGC inhibited apoptosis. Compare with the H/R model, TGC treatment increased the levels of GSK-3ß, LC3, and Beclin1, while decreasing the expression of mTOR and p62 (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The findings revealed that TGC exerted a cardioprotective effect by up regulating autophagy-related proteins through the mTOR pathway, which may be a therapeutic option for MIRI. However, there are still some limitations in this research. It is necessary to search more databases to obtain information and further demonstrated through randomized controlled trials for generalization.

Tough hydrogel with high water content and ordered fibrous structures as an artificial human ligament.

Natural biological tissues such as ligaments, due to their anisotropic across scale structure, have high water content, while still maintaining high strength and flexibility. Hydrogels are ideal artificial materials like human ligaments. However, conventional gel materials fail to exhibit high strength or fatigue resistance at high water content in human tissues. To address this challenge, we propose a simple integrated strategy to prepare an anisotropic hierarchical hydrogel architecture for artificial ligaments by combining freeze-casting assisted compression annealing and salting-out treatments. The hybrid polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels are of water content up to 79.5 wt%. Enhanced by the added carbon nanotubes, the hydrogels exhibit high strength of 4.5 MPa and a fatigue threshold of 1467 J m-2, as well as excellent stress sensitivity. The outstanding durability of the artificial ligament provides an all-around solution for biomedical applications.

Posterior malleolus fracture: a mid-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of posterior malleolar fractures is changing rapidly, and the evidence base is still catching up. This study aimed to assess the mid-term prognosis of posterior malleolar fractures based on different morphological types and provides evidence for the treatment of posterior malleolar fractures. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of inpatients with posterior malleolar fractures from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2019 at one high-volume tertiary trauma center. Fracture morphology was classified into small-shell fragment, single-fragment (small-fragment and large-fragment) and multifragment (double-fragment and compressive-fragment) by computed tomography according to our previous study. All patients were followed up at an average of 5.06 (range, 2.21-8.70) years. The Olerud-Molander Ankle Score (OMAS), EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score were recorded. RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients were included, and 7 patients were classified into the small-shell group, 52 patients into the single-fragment group and 20 patients into the multifragment group. Of all the patients, the average OMAS, EQ-5D and AOFAS scores were 85.9, 82.8 and 92.5, respectively. In the single-fragment group, patients who underwent surgical fixation in the posterior malleolus had significantly better scores (P = 0.037, 0.033 and 0.027). Among the patients with small fragments, the surgical fixation group also had higher OMAS (93.1 ± 7.5 vs. 83.5 ± 19.5, P = 0.042) and AOFAS scores (98.1 ± 3.1 vs. 91.0 ± 14.1, P = 0.028). The mean OMAS, EQ-5D and AOFAS scores were 85.5, 85.7 and 91.7, respectively, in patients with multiple fragments who underwent surgical fixation. CONCLUSION: This study shows that in fractures with a single fragment, surgical fixation of the posterior malleolar fragment led to a better prognosis in the midterm. All single fragments should be fixed regardless of size. Fixation of the posterior region in all single- and multi-fragments in posterior malleolar fractures led to satisfactory outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, follow-up study.

HydraMarker: Efficient, Flexible, and Multifold Marker Field Generation.

An n-order marker field is a special binary matrix whose n×n subregions are all distinct from each other in four orientations. It is commonly used to guide the composing process of position-sensing markers, which can be detected and identified in a camera image with very limited scope or severe visibility problems. Despite the advantages, position-sensing markers are rare and overlooked because generating marker fields is difficult. In this article, we broaden the definition of marker field, making it more powerful and flexible. Then, we propose bWFC (binary wave function collapse) and its high-speed version, fast-bWFC, to solve the generation problem. The methods are packaged into an open-sourced toolkit named HydraMarker, with which, users not only can generate marker fields on laptops within a short period of time, but also can highly customize them: preset values; fields and subregions in any shape; multifold local uniqueness. Comparative results indicate that the proposed method has superior efficiency, quality, and capability. It makes marker field generation accessible to common marker designers, opening up more possibilities for fiducial markers.

Resistance to dinotefuran in Bemisia tabaci in China: status and characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is a serious agricultural pest worldwide. Neonicotinoids are the most important new class of synthetic insecticides used in the management of B. tabaci. However, B. tabaci populations have developed resistance to various active ingredients in neonicotinoids following long-term and widespread application. RESULTS: Dinotefuran exhibited high toxicity against most B. tabaci field populations. One population (Din-R) with a high level of resistance to dinotefuran (255.6-fold) was first identified in the field. The Din-R population exhibited medium to high levels of resistance to all the tested neonicotinoid insecticides and a high level of resistance to spinetoram. Genetic inheritance analysis revealed that resistance to dinotefuran was incompletely recessive and polygenic. The synergist piperonyl butoxide significantly increased the toxicity of dinotefuran to Din-R. P450 activity in the Din-R population was 2.19-fold higher than in the susceptible population. RNA-sequencing analysis showed that 12 P450 genes were significantly upregulated in the Din-R population, of which CYP6DW5, CYP6JM1 and CYP306A1 were found to exhibit more than 3.00-fold higher expression in Din-R when using a reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Expression of eight P450 genes was obviously induced by dinotefuran, and CYP6DW5 showed the highest expression level. After knockdown of CYP6DW5 in Din-R, the toxicity of dinotefuran increased significantly. CONCLUSION: P450 had a crucial role in dinotefuran resistance in B. tabaci, and CYP6DW5 was involved in the resistance. These results provide important information for the management of resistance in B. tabaci and improve our understanding of the resistance mechanism of dinotefuran. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

An Accurate and Convenient Method of Vehicle Spatiotemporal Distribution Recognition Based on Computer Vision.

The Convenient and accurate identification of the traffic load of passing vehicles is of great significance to bridge health monitoring. The existing identification approaches often require prior environment knowledge to determine the location of the vehicle load, i.e., prior information of the road, which is inconvenient in practice and therefore limits its application. Moreover, camera disturbance usually reduces the measurement accuracy in case of long-term monitoring. In this study, a novel approach to identify the spatiotemporal information of passing vehicles is proposed based on computer vision. The position relationship between the camera and the passing vehicle is established, and then the location of the passing vehicle can be calculated by setting the camera shooting point as the origin. Since the angle information of the camera is pre-determined, the identification result is robust to camera disturbance. Lab-scale test and field measurement have been conducted to validate the reliability and accuracy of the proposed method.

Correlation between Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Heat-Treated Novel Powder Metallurgy Superalloy.

In this work, the quantification of key microstructural features like γ' size morphology distribution, grain size, and localized stress distribution, especially near a fracture, were coupled with mechanical properties under various temperatures in Ni-base powder metallurgy superalloys subjected to sub-solvus or super-solvus heat treatments. Compared to super-solvus heat-treated alloy, sub-solvus heat-treated superalloy with a finer grain size exhibited higher ductility/strength at 550 °C, whilst adverse trend was observed at higher temperatures (750 and 830 °C). Besides, for both alloys, the strength and ductility decreased with the decrease in strain rate, resulting from oxidation behavior. Larger grain size or less grain boundary density can facilitate the retardation of oxidation behavior and weaken the propensity of early failure at higher temperatures.