Mendelian randomization of individual sleep traits associated with major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies have shown that individual sleep traits habits are potential risk factors for major depression. However, it is not known whether there is a causal relationship between individual sleep traits habits such as continuous sleep duration, short sleep duration, short sleep duration, insomnia, nap during the day, snoring, and major depression. In this study, Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to predict major depressive disorder (MDD) in individuals sleep traits habits. METHODS: Data were obtained from the genome-wide association study (GWAS). Nine MR analysis methods were used: Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) [fixed effects/multiplicative random effects], simple mode, simple mode, weighted mode, simple median, weighted median, penalised weighted median, and MR-Egger, MR Egger (bootstrap). IVW was used as the main analysis method for the MR analysis of two samples, and the other methods were used as supplements. RESULTS: The results obtained through the IVW method supported a causal relationship between sleep duration and decreased risk of MDD (odds ratio, ORivw: 0.998; 95 % CI: 0.996-0.999, P<0.001). Two-Sample MR, results showed that short sleep duration has a causal effect on the increased risk of MDD (odds ratio, ORivw: 1.179; 95 % CI: 1.108-1.255, P<0.001). However, there were no sufficient evidence supported that long sleep duration has a causal effect on the decreased risk of MDD (odds ratio, ORivw: 0.991; 95 % CI: 0.924-1.062, P = 0.793). A significant causal relationship between insomnia and increased risk of MDD was observed (OR: 1.233; 95 % CI: 1.214-1.253, P<0.001). Interestingly, our study also found that daytime napping has a causal effect on the increased risk of MDD (odds ratio, ORivw: 1.519; 95 % CI: 1.376-1.678, P<0.001). The present results did not show a significant causal relationship between snoring and the risk of MDD (ORivw: 1.000; 95 % CI: 0.998-1.002, P = 0.906). Obstructive sleep apnea (odds ratio, ORivw: 1.021; 95 % CI: 0.972-1.072, P = 0.407) and morning person (odds ratio, ORivw: 1.021; 95 % CI: 0.972-1.072, P = 0.407) have no causal effect on the increased risk of MDD. LIMITATIONS: The study could not ascertain whether there were genetic differences among different ethnicities, nations, and regions, as it only included participants of European ancestry. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our research provides genetic evidence for the relationship between individual sleep traits (short sleep duration, insomnia, daytime napping) and the increased risk of MDD. Interventions targeting lifestyle factors may reduce the risk of MDD.

Differential Diagnosis of Pathological Type of Peripheral Lung Cancer with Multimodal Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of the work described here was to investigate the role of multimodal contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of peripheral lung cancer. METHODS: From April 2017 to July 2021, 109 patients with confirmed pulmonary malignant lesions who underwent CEUS examination were involved in our study. Seven patients were excluded because of the short duration of CEUS video or unsatisfactory imaging. Finally,102 patients with peripheral lung cancer were enrolled in this study. The maximum diameter of the lesions ranged from 1.6 to 13.0 cm (mean 6.2 ± 2.3 cm). On the basis of the pathological results, the patients were divided into the small cell lung cancer (SCLC) group and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) group (including adenocarcinoma, lung squamous cell carcinoma and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma). A Logiq E9 ultrasonic machine equipped with a 3.5 to 5.0 MHz C5-1 probe was used. Patient clinical information, CEUS features, CPI patterns and TIC parameters were analyzed and compared between different groups. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS software and MedCalc software. The receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted. RESULTS: In the differential diagnosis of SCLC and NSCLC, color parametric imaging indicated great performance. NSCLC exhibited a centripetal enhancement pattern more frequently (72.7%), while SCLC exhibited an eccentric enhancement pattern more frequently (92.9%) (p < 0.001). In the differential diagnosis of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, logistic regression analysis revealed that patient age of onset ≤60 y, difference in arrival time between lung and tumor ≤3.8 s, drop time of the time-intensity curve >23.2 s and absence of internal necrosis on CEUS were independent predictors for adenocarcinoma (area under the curve = 0.861). CONCLUSION: In our study, multimodal contrast-enhanced ultrasound provided useful information in the differential diagnosis between small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, especially between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

The Clinical Characteristics and Manifestation of Anxious Depression Among Patients With Major Depressive Disorders-Results From a Taiwan Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVE: Anxious depression is a prevalent characteristic observed in Asian psychiatric patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). This study aims to investigate the prevalence and clinical presentation of anxious depression in Taiwanese individuals diagnosed with MDD. METHODS: We recruited psychiatric outpatients aged over 18 who had been diagnosed with MDD through clinical interviews. This recruitment took place at five hospitals located in northern Taiwan. We gathered baseline clinical and demographic information from the participants. Anxious depression was identified using a threshold of an anxiety/somatization factor score ≥7 on the 21-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). RESULTS: In our study of 399 patients (84.21% female), 64.16% met the criteria for anxious depression. They tended to be older, married, less educated, with more children, and an older age of onset. Anxious depression patients had higher HAM-D and Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale score, more panic disorder (without agoraphobia), and exhibited symptoms like agitation, irritability, concentration difficulties, psychological and somatic anxiety, somatic complaints, hypochondriasis, weight loss, and increased insight. Surprisingly, their suicide rates did not significantly differ from non-anxious depression patients. This highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing these unique characteristics. CONCLUSION: Our study findings unveiled that the prevalence of anxious depression among Taiwanese outpatients diagnosed with MDD was lower compared to inpatients but substantially higher than the reported rates in European countries and the United States. Furthermore, patients with anxious depression exhibited a greater occurrence of somatic symptoms.

Exploring keratin composition variability for sustainable thermal insulator design.

In pursuing sustainable thermal insulation solutions, this study explores the integration of human hair and feather keratin with alginate. The aim is to assess its potential in thermal insulation materials, focusing on the resultant composites' thermal and mechanical characteristics. The investigation uncovers that the type and proportion of keratin significantly influence the composites' porosity and thermal conductivity. Specifically, higher feather keratin content is associated with lesser sulfur and reduced crosslinking due to shorter amino acids, leading to increased porosity and pore sizes. This, in turn, results in a decrease in ß-structured hydrogen bond networks, raising non-ordered protein structures and diminishing thermal conductivity from 0.044 W/(m·K) for pure alginate matrices to between 0.033 and 0.038 W/(m·K) for keratin-alginate composites, contingent upon the specific ratio of feather to hair keratin used. Mechanical evaluations further indicate that composites with a higher ratio of hair keratin exhibit an enhanced compressive modulus, ranging from 60 to 77 kPa, demonstrating the potential for tailored mechanical properties to suit various applications. The research underscores the critical role of sulfur content and the crosslinking index within keratin's structures, significantly impacting the thermal and mechanical properties of the matrices. The findings position keratin-based composites as environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional insulation materials.

Analysis of optical properties and response mechanism of H2S fluorescent probe based on rhodamine derivatives.

H2S plays a crucial role in numerous physiological and pathological processes. In this project, a new fluorescent probe, SG-H2S, for the detection of H2S, was developed by introducing the recognition group 2,4-dinitrophenyl ether. The combination of rhodamine derivatives can produce both colorimetric reactions and fluorescence reactions. Compared with the current H2S probes, the main advantages of SG-H2S are its wide pH range (5-9), fast response (30 min), and high selectivity in competitive species (including biological mercaptan). The probe SG-H2S has low cytotoxicity and has been successfully applied to imaging in MCF-7 cells, HeLa cells, and BALB/c nude mice. We hope that SG-H2S will provide a vital method for the field of biology.

Theoretical insights into the reduction of Azurin metal site with unnatural amino acid substitutions.

Copper-containing proteins play crucial roles in biological systems. Azurin is a copper-containing protein which has a Type 1 copper site that facilitates electron transfer in the cytochrome chain. Previous research has highlighted the significant impact of mutations in the axial Met121 of the copper site on the reduction potential. However, the mechanism of this regulation has not been fully established. In this study, we employed theoretical modeling to investigate the reduction of the Type 1 copper site, focusing on how unnatural amino acid substitutions at Met121 influence its behavior. Our findings demonstrated a strong linear correlation between electrostatic interactions and the reduction potential of the copper site, which indicates that the perturbation of the reduction potential is primarily influenced by electrostatic interactions between the metal ion and the ligating atom. Furthermore, we found that CF/π and CF…H interactions could induce subtle changes in geometry and hence impact the electronic properties of the systems under study. In addition, our calculations suggest the coordination mode and ion-ligand distance could significantly impact the reduction potential of a copper site. Overall, this study offers valuable insights into the structural and electronic properties of the Type 1 copper site, which could potentially guide the design of future artificial catalysts.

Olfactory Impairment and Frailty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Importance: Olfactory impairment (OI) and frailty are prevalent conditions associated with aging, but studies investigating their association with each other have been discordant. Objective: To summarize current evidence surrounding the association between OI and frailty. Data Sources: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, and CINAHL from inception to November 28, 2023. Study Selection: This study included observational studies investigating the association between objectively or subjectively assessed OI and objectively evaluated frailty among adults. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Two independent authors extracted data into a structured template. Maximally adjusted estimates were pooled using a random-effects model, and statistical heterogeneity was evaluated using I2 values. Additional prespecified subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. This study used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for bias assessment and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework for overall evidence quality evaluation. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the cross-sectional association between OI and frailty, for which the odds of frailty were compared between participants with and without OI. The secondary outcome was the cross-sectional association between frailty and OI, for which the odds of OI were compared between participants with and without frailty. Results: This study included 10 studies with 10 624 patients (52.9% female; mean [SD] age, 62.9 [9.6] years). The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale score of studies ranged from low to moderate. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation scores ranged from low to moderate. OI was associated with a 2.32-fold (odds ratio [OR], 2.32; 95% CI, 1.63-3.31; I2 = 0%) greater odds of frailty compared with individuals with healthy olfactory function. The odds of OI was progressively greater with categorical frailty status, with a 1.55-fold (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.32-1.82; I2 = 0%), 2.28-fold (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.96-2.65; I2 = 0%), and 4.67-fold (OR, 4.67; 95% CI, 2.77-7.86; I2 = 0%) increase in odds for individuals with prefrailty, frailty, and the most frailty, respectively, compared with robust individuals. The results demonstrated stability in subgroup analyses (geographical continent of study, objective vs subjective olfactory assessment) and sensitivity tests. Conclusions and Relevance: The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that there is an association between OI and frailty, with an increase in the odds of OI with worsening categorical frailty status among individuals with prefrailty, frailty, and the most frailty. OI may be a potential biomarker for frailty. Future studies could delve into whether OI may be a modifiable risk factor for frailty.

Modulating Neuromorphic Behavior of Organic Synaptic Electrolyte-Gated Transistors Through Microstructure Engineering and Potential Applications.

Organic synaptic transistors are a promising technology for advanced electronic devices with simultaneous computing and memory functions and for the application of artificial neural networks. In this study, the neuromorphic electrical characteristics of organic synaptic electrolyte-gated transistors are correlated with the microstructural and interfacial properties of the active layers. This is accomplished by utilizing a semiconducting/insulating polyblend-based pseudobilayer with embedded source and drain electrodes, referred to as PB-ESD architecture. Three variations of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) PB-ESD-based organic synaptic transistors are fabricated, each exhibiting distinct microstructures and electrical characteristics, thus serving excellent samples for exploring the critical factors influencing neuro-electrical properties. Poor microstructures of P3HT within the active layer and a flat active layer/ion-gel interface correspond to typical neuromorphic behaviors such as potentiated excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC), paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), and short-term potentiation (STP). Conversely, superior microstructures of P3HT and a rough active layer/ion-gel interface correspond to significantly higher channel conductance and enhanced EPSC and PPF characteristics as well as long-term potentiation behavior. Such devices were further applied to the simulation of neural networks, which produced a good recognition accuracy. However, excessive PMMA penetration into the P3HT conducting channel leads to features of a depressed EPSC and paired-pulse depression, which are uncommon in organic synaptic transistors. The inclusion of a second gate electrode enables the as-prepared organic synaptic transistors to function as two-input synaptic logic gates, performing various logical operations and effectively mimicking neural modulation functions. Microstructure and interface engineering is an effective method to modulate the neuromorphic behavior of organic synaptic transistors and advance the development of bionic artificial neural networks.

Bacteria Contaminants Detected by Organic Inverter-Based Biosensors.

The importance of bacteria detection lies in its role in enabling early intervention, disease prevention, environmental protection, and effective treatment strategies. Advancements in technology continually enhance the speed, accuracy, and sensitivity of detection methods, aiding in addressing these critical issues. This study first reports the fabrication of an inverter constructed using crosslinked-poly(4-vinylphenol) (C-PVP) as the dielectric layer and an organic complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (O-CMOS) based on pentacene and N,N'-ditridecylperylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI-C13) as a diagnostic biosensor to rapidly detect bacterial concentration. Bacteria including Escherichia coli O157, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25922, and Enterococcus faecalis SH-1051210 were analysed on the inverters at an ultra-low operating voltage of 2 V. The high density of negative charge on bacteria surfaces strongly modulates the accumulated negative carriers within the inverter channel, resulting in a shift of the switching voltage. The inverter-based bacteria sensor exhibits a linear-like response to bacteria concentrations ranging from 102 to 108 CFU/mL, with a sensitivity above 60%. Compared to other bacterial detectors, the advantage of using an inverter lies in its ability to directly read the switching voltage without requiring an external computing device. This facilitates rapid and accurate bacterial concentration measurement, offering significant ease of use and potential for mass production.

Validity and reliability of a wearable blood flow restriction training device for arterial occlusion pressure assessment.

Purpose: The blood flow restriction (BFR) training is an effective approach to promoting muscle strength, muscle hypertrophy, and regulating the peripheral vascular system. It is recommended to use to the percentage of individual arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) to ensure safety and effectiveness. The gold standard method for assessing arterial occlusive disease is typically measured using Doppler ultrasound. However, its high cost and limited accessibility restrict its use in clinical and practical applications. A novel wearable BFR training device (Airbands) with automatic AOP assessment provides an alternative solution. This study aims to examine the reliability and validity of the wearable BFR training device. Methods: Ninety-two participants (46 female and 46 male) were recruited for this study. Participants were positioned in the supine position with the wearable BFR training device placed on the proximal portion of the right thigh. AOP was measured automatically by the software program and manually by gradually increasing the pressure until the pulse was no longer detected by color Doppler ultrasound, respectively. Validity, inter-rater reliability, and test-retest reliability were assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis. Results: The wearable BFR training device demonstrated good validity (ICC = 0.85, mean difference = 4.1 ± 13.8 mmHg [95% CI: -23.0 to 31.2]), excellent inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.97, mean difference = -1.4 ± 6.7 mmHg [95% CI: -14.4 to 11.7]), and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.94, mean difference = 0.6 ± 8.6 mmHg [95% CI: -16.3 to 17.5]) for the assessment of AOP. These results were robust in both male and female subgroups. Conclusion: The wearable BFR training device can be used as a valid and reliable tool to assess the AOP of the lower limb in the supine position during BFR training.

Structurally diverse diterpenoids from the seeds of Caesalpinia minax Hance and their bioactivities.

Eight previously undescribed diterpenoids, caesamins A-H (1-8), were separated and identified from the seeds of Caesalpinia minax Hance. Their structures were characterized by extensive spectroscopic data and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Structurally, caesamin A (1) is the first cassane-type diterpenoid with a C23 carbon skeleton containing an unusual isopropyl. Caesamin F (6) represents the first example of cleistanthane diterpenoid from the genus Caesalpinia. Caesamins B (2) and F (6) exhibited inhibitory activity against LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages with IC50 values of 45.67 ± 0.92 and 42.99 ± 0.24 µM, comparable to positive control 43.69 ± 2.62 µM of NG-Monomethyl-L-arginine. Furthermore, the chemotaxonomic significance of the isolates was discussed.

Photocatalytic Asymmetric Acyl Radical Truce-Smiles Rearrangement for the Synthesis of Enantioenriched α-Aryl Amides.

The radical Truce-Smiles rearrangement is a straightforward strategy for incorporating aryl groups into organic molecules for which asymmetric processes remains rare. By employing a readily available and non-expensive chiral auxiliary, we developed a highly efficient asymmetric photocatalytic acyl and alkyl radical Truce-Smiles rearrangement of α-substituted acrylamides using tetrabutylammonium decatungstate (TBADT) as a hydrogen atom-transfer photocatalyst, along with aldehydes or C-H containing precursors. The rearranged products exhibited excellent diastereoselectivities (7 : 1 to >98 : 2 d.r.) and chiral auxiliary was easily removed. Mechanistic studies allowed understanding the transformation in which density functional theory (DFT) calculations provided insights into the stereochemistry-determining step.

Labdane-type diterpenoids with cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities from the aerial parts of Hypoestes purpurea (L.) R. Br.

Two new ent-labdane diterpenoids, hypoestesins A-B (1-2) and five new labdane diterpenoids, hypopurolides H-L (3-7), were isolated from the aerial parts of Hypoestes purpurea. All of the structures were fully determined based on extensive analysis of 1H, 13C, 2D NMR, and HRESIMS data. The absolute configurations of 1-3 was established through comparing the experimental and calculated ECD curves and the structure of 5 was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction experiment. Compounds 5-7 were unusual C23 labdane diterpenoids having a γ-acetonyl-α, ß-unsaturated γ-lactone unit and each assigned as C-15 epimeric mixture. Furthermore, cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities of 3-7 were evaluated. The results showed that 3 had remarkable cytotoxic activity against HL-60, A549, SMMC-7721, MDA-MB-231, and SW480 cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 2.35 to 17.06 µM. Compound 4 showed moderate cytotoxic activity against HL-60 and SMMC-7721 cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 15.12 ± 0.53 and 12.92 ± 0.60 µM, respectively. Furthermore, compound 4 was also found to exhibit inhibitory activity against NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages with IC50 values of 23.56 ± 0.99 µM, compared to the positive control L-NMMA with an IC50 value of 41.11 ± 1.34 µM.

Perceptual Effects of Walnut Volatiles on the Codling Moth.

The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of plant hosts allow insect localization through olfactory recognition. In this study, the oviposition behavior of the codling moth was investigated and the VOCs from different walnut organs were extracted and analyzed to systematically study their composition and content differences. The electrophysiological and behavioral responses of the codling moth to walnut VOCs were measured using gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and a four-arm olfactometer to screen the key active contents. The field investigation results indicated that 90.3% of the eggs spawned by the first generation of adult codling moths were adjacent to the walnut fruits. Walnut VOCs are mainly composed of terpenes, aromatics, and alkanes. Twelve VOCs can produce electroantennogenic (EAG) responses in the codling moths. Both adult males and females exhibit concentration dependence, with notable disparities in their EAG response levels. In the olfactory behavioral bioassay, linalool, eucalyptol, and high doses of geranyl acetate showed repellent effects on the codling moths, while myrcene, ß-ocimene, nonanal, methyl salicylate, α-farnesene, and heptaldehyde showed the opposite. The relative levels of heptaldehyde, geranyl acetate, nonanal, and methyl salicylate were high in the fruits, which is intimately related to the localization of the walnut fruit by females. These VOCs can influence the oviposition behavior of codling moths but their application in the control of this pest needs to be confirmed and improved through further field experiments.

Dysregulation of peripheral and intratumoral KLRG1+ CD8+T cells is associated with immune evasion in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Killer cell lectin like receptor G1 (KLRG1) is identified as a co-inhibitory receptor for NK cells and antigen-experienced T cells. The role of KLRG1 in immune regulation in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains poorly understood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured the proportion and immune function of KLRG1+CD8+T cells derived from peripheral blood in patients with NSCLC by flow cytometry. Besides, using data from the gene expression profiles and single-cell sequencing, we explored the expression and immune role of KLRG1 in tumor tissues of patients with NSCLC. We further determined the prognostic value of KLRG1 in terms of overall survival (OS) in NSCLC patients. RESULTS: We found that the proportion of KLRG1+CD8+T cells in peripheral blood significantly increased in patients with NSCLC as compared to those with benign pulmonary nodules and healthy donors. Peripheral KLRG1+CD8+T cell proportion was increased in elder subjects compared to that in younger ones, implying an immunosenescence phenotype. Moreover, the KLRG1+CD8+T cell levels were positively correlated with tumor size and TNM stage in the NSCLC cohort. In vitro stimulation experiments demonstrated that the KLRG1+CD8+T cells from peripheral blood expressed higher levels of Granzyme B and perforin than the KLRG1-CD8+ T cells. However, single-cell RNA sequencing data revealed that the KLRG1+CD8+ T cells were less infiltrated in tumor microenvironment and exhibited impaired cytotoxicity. The KLRG1 gene expression levels were significantly lower in tumor tissues than that in normal lung tissues, and were inversely correlated with CDH1 expression levels. Moreover, higher expression of CDH1 in tumor tissues predicted worse overall survival only in patients with KLRG1-high expression, but not in the KLRG1-low subset. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that KLRG1+CD8+T cells were associated with tumor immune evasion in NSCLC and suggests KLRG1 as a potential immunotherapy target.

Key role of K+ and Ca2+ in high-yield ethanol production by S. Cerevisiae from concentrated sugarcane molasses.

BACKGROUND: Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an important microorganism in ethanol synthesis, and with sugarcane molasses as the feedstock, ethanol is being synthesized sustainably to meet growing demands. However, high-concentration ethanol fermentation based on high-concentration sugarcane molasses-which is needed for reduced energy consumption of ethanol distillation at industrial scale-is yet to be achieved. RESULTS: In the present study, to identify the main limiting factors of this process, adaptive laboratory evolution and high-throughput screening (Py-Fe3+) based on ARTP (atmospheric and room-temperature plasma) mutagenesis were applied. We identified high osmotic pressure, high temperature, high alcohol levels, and high concentrations of K+, Ca2+, K+ and Ca2+ (K+&Ca2+), and sugarcane molasses as the main limiting factors. The robust S. cerevisiae strains of NGT-F1, NGW-F1, NGC-F1, NGK+, NGCa2+ NGK+&Ca2+-F1, and NGTM-F1 exhibited high tolerance to the respective limiting factor and exhibited increased yield. Subsequently, ethanol synthesis, cell morphology, comparative genomics, and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis were performed in a molasses broth containing 250 g/L total fermentable sugars (TFS). Additionally, S. cerevisiae NGTM-F1 was used with 250 g/L (TFS) sugarcane molasses to synthesize ethanol in a 5-L fermenter, giving a yield of 111.65 g/L, the conversion of sugar to alcohol reached 95.53%. It is the highest level of physical mutagenesis yield at present. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that K+ and Ca2+ ions primarily limited the efficient production of ethanol. Then, subsequent comparative transcriptomic GO and pathway analyses showed that the co-presence of K+ and Ca2+ exerted the most prominent limitation on efficient ethanol production. The results of this study might prove useful by promoting the development and utilization of green fuel bio-manufactured from molasses.

Deep learning system for malignancy risk prediction in cystic renal lesions: a multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: To develop an interactive, non-invasive artificial intelligence (AI) system for malignancy risk prediction in cystic renal lesions (CRLs). METHODS: In this retrospective, multicenter diagnostic study, we evaluated 715 patients. An interactive geodesic-based 3D segmentation model was created for CRLs segmentation. A CRLs classification model was developed using spatial encoder temporal decoder (SETD) architecture. The classification model combines a 3D-ResNet50 network for extracting spatial features and a gated recurrent unit (GRU) network for decoding temporal features from multi-phase CT images. We assessed the segmentation model using sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), intersection over union (IOU), and dice similarity (Dice) metrics. The classification model's performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy score (ACC), and decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS: From 2012 to 2023, we included 477 CRLs (median age, 57 [IQR: 48-65]; 173 men) in the training cohort, 226 CRLs (median age, 60 [IQR: 52-69]; 77 men) in the validation cohort, and 239 CRLs (median age, 59 [IQR: 53-69]; 95 men) in the testing cohort (external validation cohort 1, cohort 2, and cohort 3). The segmentation model and SETD classifier exhibited excellent performance in both validation (AUC = 0.973, ACC = 0.916, Dice = 0.847, IOU = 0.743, SEN = 0.840, SPE = 1.000) and testing datasets (AUC = 0.998, ACC = 0.988, Dice = 0.861, IOU = 0.762, SEN = 0.876, SPE = 1.000). CONCLUSION: The AI system demonstrated excellent benign-malignant discriminatory ability across both validation and testing datasets and illustrated improved clinical decision-making utility. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: In this era when incidental CRLs are prevalent, this interactive, non-invasive AI system will facilitate accurate diagnosis of CRLs, reducing excessive follow-up and overtreatment. KEY POINTS: The rising prevalence of CRLs necessitates better malignancy prediction strategies. The AI system demonstrated excellent diagnostic performance in identifying malignant CRL. The AI system illustrated improved clinical decision-making utility.

Comparative analysis of machine learning algorithms for Alzheimer's disease classification using EEG signals and genetic information.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, memory impairments, and behavioral changes. The presence of abnormal beta-amyloid plaques and tau protein tangles in the brain is known to be associated with AD. However, current limitations of imaging technology hinder the direct detection of these substances. Consequently, researchers are exploring alternative approaches, such as indirect assessments involving monitoring brain signals, cognitive decline levels, and blood biomarkers. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of integrating genetic information into these approaches to enhance early detection and diagnosis, offering a more comprehensive understanding of AD pathology beyond the constraints of existing imaging methods. Our study utilized electroencephalography (EEG) signals, genotypes, and polygenic risk scores (PRSs) as features for machine learning models. We compared the performance of gradient boosting (XGB), random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM) to determine the optimal model. Statistical analysis revealed significant correlations between EEG signals and clinical manifestations, demonstrating the ability to distinguish the complexity of AD from other diseases by using genetic information. By integrating EEG with genetic data in an SVM model, we achieved exceptional classification performance, with an accuracy of 0.920 and an area under the curve of 0.916. This study presents a novel approach of utilizing real-time EEG data and genetic background information for multimodal machine learning. The experimental results validate the effectiveness of this concept, providing deeper insights into the actual condition of patients with AD and overcoming the limitations associated with single-oriented data.

Non-bracket oblique traction-hoisting construction strategy for cable-truss structures.

This study describes the non-bracket oblique traction-hoisting construction strategy for cable-truss structures, which is to assemble the upper and lower radial cables, hoop cables, sling cables, and compression rods without stress at a low altitude, then hoist the cable-strut system to a high altitude by oblique traction of the upper radial cables through the jack fixed on the upper radial anchorage nodes, and finally actively tension the lower radial cables to achieve the designed shape and prestress level of the entire structure. This strategy assembles at a low altitude, requires simple operations, results in high tensioning efficiency, and does not require brackets, which could guarantee both quality and quantity in terms of completing the construction of cable-truss structures. The semilune-shaped canopy of Yueqing Stadium is constructed using this strategy. The construction simulation and disturbance stability analyses of the structure in the traction-hoisting state and prestress tensioning state are conducted using a nonlinear dynamic finite element method. In the traction-hoisting stage, the deformation changes sharply, and the hoop cables and upper radial cables make up the primary bearing substructure, while the lower radial cables are in a suspended hanging state. In the forming process, the forces of the radial and hoop cables increase gradually, and the structure finally reaches the designed state. For cable-trusses with crossed upper and lower radial cables, the additional stabilizing tooling ropes should be tied at the top of the middle rods to ensure geometric stability because they are susceptible to excessive out-of-plane displacement or even overturning, which is the least desirable at the beginning of traction hoisting.