Spectral intelligent detection for aflatoxin B1 via contrastive learning based on Siamese network.

Aflatoxins, harmful substances found in peanuts, corn, and their derivatives, pose significant health risks. Addressing this, the presented research introduces an innovative MSGhostDNN model, merging contrastive learning with multi-scale convolutional networks for precise aflatoxin detection. The method significantly enhances feature discrimination, achieving an impressive 97.87% detection accuracy with a pre-trained model. By applying Grad-CAM, it further refines the model to identify key wavelengths, particularly 416 nm, and focuses on 40 key wavelengths for optimal performance with 97.46% accuracy. The study also incorporates a task dimensionality reduction approach for continuous learning, allowing effective ongoing aflatoxin spectrum monitoring in peanuts and corn. This approach not only boosts aflatoxin detection efficiency but also sets a precedent for rapid online detection of similar toxins, offering a promising solution to mitigate the health risks associated with aflatoxin exposure.

Association of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances with constipation: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2010).

BACKGROUND: The impact of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on constipation, as mediated through gastrointestinal absorption and perturbations to the intestinal microecology, remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to explain the relationship between PFAS and constipation. METHODS: A total of 2945 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2010 were included in this study. Constipation was defined using the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) based on stool consistency. The relationship between PFAS and constipation was evaluated using weighted logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, while adjusting for confounding variables. RESULTS: The weighted median concentration of total PFAS (ΣPFAS) was significantly lower in individuals with constipation (19.01 µg/L) compared to those without constipation (23.30 µg/L) (p < 0.0001). Subgroup analysis revealed that the cumulative effect of PFAS was more pronounced in the elderly, men, individuals with obesity, high school education or equivalent, and high-income individuals (p < 0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, multivariable analysis demonstrated an inverse association between PFOA [OR (95% CI), 0.666(0.486,0.914)] and PFHxS [OR (95% CI), 0.699(0.482,1.015)], and constipation. None of the personal and lifestyle factors showed a significant correlation with this negative association, as confirmed by subgroup analysis and interaction testing (p for interaction > 0.05). The RCS analysis demonstrated a linear inverse relationship between PFAS levels and constipation. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study provide evidence of a significant inverse correlation between serum concentrations of PFAS, particularly PFOA and PFHxS, and constipation.

Discovery of a Novel Orally Bioavailable FLT3-PROTAC Degrader for Efficient Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Overcoming Resistance of FLT3 Inhibitors.

Fms-like tyrosine receptor kinase 3 (FLT3) proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) represent a promising approach to eliminate the resistance of FLT3 inhibitors. However, due to the poor druggability of PROTACs, the development of orally bioavailable FLT3-PROTACs faces great challenges. Herein, a novel orally bioavailable FLT3-ITD degrader A20 with excellent pharmacokinetic properties was discovered through reasonable design. A20 selectively inhibited the proliferation of FLT3-ITD mutant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells and potently induced FLT3-ITD degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Notably, oral administration of A20 resulted in complete tumor regression on subcutaneous AML xenograft models. Furthermore, on systemic AML xenograft models, A20 could completely eliminate the CD45+CD33+ human leukemic cells in murine and significantly prolonged the survival time of mice. Most importantly, A20 exerted significantly improved antiproliferative activity against drug-resistant AML cells compared to existing FLT3 inhibitors. These findings suggested that A20 could serve as a promising drug candidate for relapsed or refractory AML.

The application of small intestinal submucosa in tissue regeneration.

The distinctive three-dimensional architecture, biological functionality, minimal immunogenicity, and inherent biodegradability of small intestinal submucosa extracellular matrix materials have attracted considerable interest and found wide-ranging applications in the domain of tissue regeneration engineering. This article presents a comprehensive examination of the structure and role of small intestinal submucosa, delving into diverse preparation techniques and classifications. Additionally, it proposes approaches for evaluating and modifying SIS scaffolds. Moreover, the advancements of SIS in the regeneration of skin, bone, heart valves, blood vessels, bladder, uterus, and urethra are thoroughly explored, accompanied by their respective future prospects. Consequently, this review enhances our understanding of the applications of SIS in tissue and organ repair and keeps researchers up-to-date with the latest research advancements in this area.

Prediction of ventilator weaning failure in postoperative cardiac surgery patients using vasoactive-ventilation-renal score and nomogram analysis.

Objective: This study evaluated the predictive value of the vasoactive-ventilation-renal (VVR) score in identifying the risk of weaning failure after cardiac surgery and developing a nomogram model to help physicians improve the success rate of weaning from mechanical ventilation in adult patients undergoing postoperative cardiac surgery. Methods: Clinical data were retrospectively collected from adult patients who underwent extracorporeal circulation cardiac surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between August 2022 and April 2023 and who were subsequently transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and treated with vasoactive drugs. Patients were divided into successful and unsuccessful weaning groups based on first-attempt weaning success. Variable selection was regularized using univariate logistic regression and Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regularization. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify predictors and a nomogram was created to predict the risk of weaning failure. Results: A total of 519 patients were included in the study. After selecting multiple stepwise variables, the VVR score before weaning, the modified Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (mSOFA) score on weaning day, and mechanical ventilation duration before weaning were determined as predictive indicators of weaning failure in adult patients after cardiac surgery. The optimal cut-off values for these indicators were 18.46 points, 4.33 points, and 20.50 h, respectively. The predictive model constructed using these three factors demonstrated good predictive performance. Conclusions: The VVR score before weaning accurately predicts the probability of weaning failure in adult patients after cardiac surgery. The weaning risk-predictive nomogram model, established based on the VVR score, mSOFA score, and mechanical ventilation duration before weaning, demonstrated robust predictive ability.

Land Resources for Wind Energy Development Requires Regionalized Characterizations.

Estimates of the land area occupied by wind energy differ by orders of magnitude due to data scarcity and inconsistent methodology. We developed a method that combines machine learning-based imagery analysis and geographic information systems and examined the land area of 318 wind farms (15,871 turbines) in the U.S. portion of the Western Interconnection. We found that prior land use and human modification in the project area are critical for land-use efficiency and land transformation of wind projects. Projects developed in areas with little human modification have a land-use efficiency of 63.8 ± 8.9 W/m2 (mean ±95% confidence interval) and a land transformation of 0.24 ± 0.07 m2/MWh, while values for projects in areas with high human modification are 447 ± 49.4 W/m2 and 0.05 ± 0.01 m2/MWh, respectively. We show that land resources for wind can be quantified consistently with our replicable method, a method that obviates >99% of the workload using machine learning. To quantify the peripheral impact of a turbine, buffered geometry can be used as a proxy for measuring land resources and metrics when a large enough impact radius is assumed (e.g., >4 times the rotor diameter). Our analysis provides a necessary first step toward regionalized impact assessment and improved comparisons of energy alternatives.

MOF-mediated dual energy transfer nanoprobe integrated with exonuclease III amplification strategy for highly sensitive detection of DNA.

Accurate quantitative detection of DNA is an advanced strategy in various fields (such as disease diagnosis and environmental monitoring), but the classical DNA detection method usually suffers from low sensitivity, expensive thermal cyclers, or strict annealing conditions. Herein, a MOF-ERA platform for ultrasensitive HBV-DNA detection is constructed by integrating metal-organic framework (MOF)-mediated double energy transfer nanoprobe with exonuclease III (Exo III)-assisted target recycling amplification. The proposed double energy transfer containing a donor and two receptors is simply composed of MOFs (UiO-66-NH2, a well-studied MOF) modified with a signal probe formed by the hybridization of carboxyuorescein (FAM)-labeled DNA (FDNA) and black hole quencher (BHQ1)-terminated DNA (QDNA), resulting in low fluorescence signal. After the addition of HBV-DNA, Exo III degradation to FDNA is activated, leading to the liberation of the numerous FAM molecules, followed by the generation of a significant fluorescence signal owing to the negligible binding of MOFs with free FAM molecules. The results certify that the MOF-ERA platform can be successfully used to assay HBV-DNA in the range of 1.0-25.0 nM with a detection limit of 97.2 pM, which is lower than that without BHQ1 or Exo III. The proposed method with the superiorities of low background signal and high selectivity holds promise for early disease diagnosis and clinical biomedicine applications.

Multi-centers experience using therapeutic plasma exchange for corticosteroid/tocilizumab-refractory cytokine release syndrome following CAR-T therapy.

The chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy significantly enhances the prognosis of various hematologic malignancies; however, the systemic expansion of CAR-T cells also gives rise to severe cytokine release syndrome (CRS), and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Despite the successful application of corticosteroids and tocilizumab in alleviating severe CRS in most patients, there are still individuals who experience life-threatening CRS without responding to the aforementioned therapies. In our retrospective cohort, we conducted an analysis of clinical and laboratory parameters, including inflammatory cytokines, in 17 patients from three centers who underwent therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) for refractory CRS with or without ICANS following CAR-T products treatment. Our findings demonstrate a significant improvement in both clinical symptoms and laboratory parameters subsequent to TPE treatment. The rapid decrease in temperature and levels of inflammatory indexes indicates the remarkable scavenging efficacy of TPE against cytokine storm following CAR-T therapy. In conclusion, TPE may serve as a valuable and safe adjunct to corticosteroids and tocilizumab in the management of severe CRS resulting from CAR-T cell infusion. We eagerly await further prospective studies to validate this finding.

Utility of marking and fusion image-guided technique with cone-beam CT in kidney ruptured haemorrhage without extravascular leakage in angiography: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of using marking and fusion image-guided technique with cone-beam CT (CBCT) in cases of kidney ruptured haemorrhage without extravascular leakage in digital subtraction angiography (DSA) images. METHODS: This is a retrospective case-control study that included 43 patients who underwent transcatheter arterial embolization for kidney ruptured haemorrhage and difficult haemostasis. The patients were divided into two groups: the CBCT group (cases without extravascular leakage observed in angiography) and the control group (cases with clearly identifiable target vessels in angiography). The baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were collected and analysed. RESULTS: The results showed no statistically significant differences in the duration of the procedure and intraoperative blood transfusion between the control and CBCT groups (P > .05). The study clarified that the CBCT group had a significantly higher rate of improvement of gross haematuria compared to the control group (P < .05). The CBCT group showed a greater increase in haemoglobin and a lesser increase in creatinine. The clinical success rates were 87.5% in the control group and 90.9% in the CBCT group (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: The marking and fusion image-guided technique is useful in cases of kidney ruptured haemorrhage without extravascular leakage of contrast agent. The technique is safe, feasible, and effective, and we believe it is superior to purely DSA-guidance. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The use of the marking and fusion image-guided technique is recommended to overcome the challenge of undetectable target vessels during interventional procedures. This technique is considered as non-inferior to purely DSA-guided interventional procedures where the target vessels are clearly identifiable.

Association of organ damage with predicted fat mass in a community-dwelling elderly: the Northern Shanghai study.

BACKGROUND: Body fat mass (FM) is associated with multiple organ damage. However, data regarding the relationship between various organ damage and FM are rare in the elderly. Therefore, we aim to perform an analysis on the relationship between organ damage and FM in a geriatric cohort. METHODS: 3331 participants were included in this analysis. Based on age, body height, body weight, waist circumference, and race, we calculated FM with the established formula. Organ damage, including arterial stiffening, lower extremity atherosclerosis, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), micro-albuminuria, and chronic kidney disease (CKD), were measured and calculated with standard methods. RESULTS: All organ damage parameters were significantly related to FM (all p < 0.001). In univariate logistics regression, the highest quartile of FM was tied to the increased risk of arterial stiffening, lower extremity atherosclerosis, LVH, micro-albuminuria, and CKD (all p < 0.05). After adjustment, participants with higher quantiles of FM had a significantly increased odd ratio (OR) for arterial stiffening [OR = 1.51, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15-1.99, p = 0.002] and LVH (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.48-2.67, p < 0.001). Moreover, FM was linearly associated with arterial stiffening and LVH in total population and gender subgroups. Independent of confounders, FM was significantly correlated with arterial stiffening, lower extremity atherosclerosis, LVH and CKD in female, while was only related to LVH in male. CONCLUSIONS: Among various organ damage, elevated FM is significantly and independently associated with arterial stiffening and LVH in the elderly. Compared with men, women with increased FM are more likely to have multiple organ damage.

Flexible pressure sensors with ultrahigh stress tolerance enabled by periodic microslits.

Stress tolerance plays a vital role in ensuring the effectiveness of piezoresistive sensing films used in flexible pressure sensors. However, existing methods for enhancing stress tolerance employ dome-shaped, wrinkle-shaped, and pyramidal-shaped microstructures in intricate molding and demolding processes, which introduce significant fabrication challenges and limit the sensing performance. To address these shortcomings, this paper presents periodic microslits in a sensing film made of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and polydimethylsiloxane to realize ultrahigh stress tolerance with a theoretical maximum of 2.477 MPa and a sensitivity of 18.092 kPa-1. The periodic microslits permit extensive deformation under high pressure (e.g., 400 kPa) to widen the detection range. Moreover, the periodic microslits also enhance the sensitivity based on simultaneously exhibiting multiple synapses within the sensing interface and between the periodic sensing cells. The proposed solution is verified by experiments using sensors based on the microslit strategy for wind direction detection, robot movement sensing, and human health monitoring. In these experiments, vehicle load detection is achieved for ultrahigh pressure sensing under an ultrahigh pressure of over 400 kPa and a ratio of the contact area to the total area of 32.74%. The results indicate that the proposed microslit strategy can achieve ultrahigh stress tolerance while simplifying the fabrication complexity of preparing microstructure sensing films.

A Gas Therapy Strategy for Intestinal Flora Regulation and Colitis Treatment by Nanogel-Based Multistage NO Delivery Microcapsules.

Current approaches to treating inflammatory bowel disease focus on the suppression of overactive immune responses, the removal of reactive intestinal oxygen species, and regulation of the intestinal flora. However, owing to the complex structure of the gastrointestinal tract and the influence of mucus, current small-molecule and biologic-based drugs for treating colitis cannot effectively act at the site of colon inflammation, and as a result, they tend to exhibit low efficacies and toxic side effects. In this study, nanogel-based multistage NO delivery microcapsules are developed to achieve NO release at the inflammation site by targeting the inflammatory tissues using the nanogel. Surprisingly, oral administration of the microcapsules suppresses the growth of pathogenic bacteria and increases the abundance of probiotic bacteria. Metabolomics further show that an increased abundance of intestinal probiotics promotes the production of metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids and indole derivatives, which modulate the intestinal immunity and restore the intestinal barrier via the interleukin-17 and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. This work reveals that the developed gas therapy strategy based on multistage NO delivery microcapsules modulates the intestinal microbial balance, thereby reducing inflammation and promoting intestinal barrier repair, ultimately providing a new therapeutic approach for the clinical management of colitis.

Silkworm pupae protein co-degradation by magnetic nanoparticles immobilized proteinase K and Mucor circinelloides aspartic protease for further utilization of sericulture by-products.

Silkworm pupae, by-product of sericulture industry, is massively discarded. The degradation rate of silkworm pupae protein is critical to further employment, which reduces the impact of waste on the environment. Herein, magnetic Janus mesoporous silica nanoparticles immobilized proteinase K mutant T206M and Mucor circinelloides aspartic protease were employed in the co-degradation. The thermostability of T206M improved by enhancing structural rigidity (t1/2 by 30 min and T50 by 5 °C), prompting the degradation efficiency. At 65 °C and pH 7, degradation rate reached the highest of 61.7%, which improved by 26% compared with single free protease degradation. Besides, the immobilized protease is easy to separate and reuse, which maintains 50% activity after 10 recycles. Therefore, immobilized protease co-degradation was first applied to the development and utilization of silkworm pupae resulting in the release of promising antioxidant properties and reduces the environmental impact by utilizing a natural and renewable resource.

Interface-induced superconductivity in magnetic topological insulators.

The interface between two different materials can show unexpected quantum phenomena. In this study, we used molecular beam epitaxy to synthesize heterostructures formed by stacking together two magnetic materials, a ferromagnetic topological insulator (TI) and an antiferromagnetic iron chalcogenide (FeTe). We observed emergent interface-induced superconductivity in these heterostructures and demonstrated the co-occurrence of superconductivity, ferromagnetism, and topological band structure in the magnetic TI layer-the three essential ingredients of chiral topological superconductivity (TSC). The unusual coexistence of ferromagnetism and superconductivity is accompanied by a high upper critical magnetic field that exceeds the Pauli paramagnetic limit for conventional superconductors at low temperatures. These magnetic TI/FeTe heterostructures with robust superconductivity and atomically sharp interfaces provide an ideal wafer-scale platform for the exploration of chiral TSC and Majorana physics.

Electrically Controlled Anomalous Hall Effect and Orbital Magnetization in Topological Magnet MnBi_{2}Te_{4}.

We propose an intrinsic mechanism to understand the even-odd effect, namely, opposite signs of anomalous Hall resistance and different shapes of hysteresis loops for even and odd septuple layers (SLs), of MBE-grown MnBi_{2}Te_{4} thin films with electron doping. The nonzero hysteresis loops in the anomalous Hall effect and magnetic circular dichroism for even-SLs MnBi_{2}Te_{4} films originate from two different antiferromagnetic (AFM) configurations with different zeroth Landau level energies of surface states. The complex form of the anomalous Hall hysteresis loop can be understood from two magnetic transitions, a transition between two AFM states followed by a second transition to the ferromagnetic state. Our model also clarifies the relationship and distinction between axion parameter and magnetoelectric coefficient, and shows an even-odd oscillation behavior of magnetoelectric coefficients in MnBi_{2}Te_{4} films.

Modified EASIX scores predict severe CRS/ICANS in patients with acute myeloid leukemia following CLL1 CAR-T cell therapy.

Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy targeting CLL1 has been considered a potent weapon for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of CLL1 CAR-T cell therapy in a larger cohort, with particular attention to cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Among the 32 patients assessed for efficacy, complete remission occurred in 71.88% (23/32) of cases and undetectable minimal residual disease in 14 patients. The CRS developed in all patients, with 8 individuals experiencing ICANS. Severe CRS and ICANS were observed in 11 and 2 patients, respectively. Furthermore, the Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) and its derivatives measured before and after CLL1 CAR-T cell infusion were employed for predicting the severe complications. Significant differences were observed in EASIX scores on the day before lymphodepletion (Day BL, P = 0.023), -1 (P < 0.001), +1 (P < 0.001), and +3(P = 0.014); sEASIX scores on Day BL (P = 0.007), -1 (P < 0.001), +1 (P < 0.001), and +3 (P < 0.001); and mEASIX score on Day -1 (P = 0.004) between patients with mild and severe CRS/ICANS. Additionally, there was a significant difference in mEASIX scores between responders and non-responders on Day BL (P = 0.004) and Day -1 (P = 0.044). Our findings indicate that pre- and post-infusion assessments of EASIX/mEASIX/sEASIX scores serve as reliable prognostic indicators for severe CRS/ICANS and treatment response following CLL1 CAR-T cell therapy, which can assist physicians in implementing preemptive treatment strategies for potential severe complications and screening patients who are suitable candidates for CLL1 CAR-T cell therapy. EASIX/mEASIX/sEASIX scores serve as reliable prognostic indicators for severe CRS/ICANS following CLL1 CAR-T cell therapy. The preinfusion mEASIX scores of CLL1 CAR-T cells can effectively predict treatment response.

Predicting rare earth elements concentration in coal ashes with multi-task neural networks.

The increasing demand for rare earth elements (REEs) makes them a scarce strategic resource for technical developments. In that regard, harvesting REEs from coal ashes-a waste byproduct from coal power plants-offers an alternative solution to conventional ore-based extraction. However, this approach is bottlenecked by our ability to screen coal ashes bearing large concentrations of REEs from feedstocks-since measuring the REE content in ashes is a time-consuming and costly task requiring advanced analytical tools. Here, we propose a machine learning approach to predict the REE contents based on the bulk composition of coal ashes, easily measurable under the routine testing protocol. We introduce a multi-task neural network that simultaneously predicts the contents of different REEs. Compared to the single-task model, this model exhibits notably improved accuracy and reduced sensitivity to noise. Further model analyses reveal key data patterns for screening coal ashes with high REE concentrations. Additionally, we showcase the utilization of transfer learning to improve the adaptability of our model to coal ashes from a distinct source.

Fast analysis of straw proximates based on partial least squares using near-infrared spectroscopy.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a rapid measurement technique based on the spectroscopic absorption bands of specific functional groups within biomass. Its main advantages include simple preparation, precise analysis, and the ability to analyze multiple components simultaneously. Fast analysis of straw proximates (moisture, ash, and fixed carbon) has been investigated by means of NIRS. A total of 144 samples were collected, the spectral data were analyzed by partial least squares (PLS) regression and support vector regression (SVR) with four wavelength selection methods. PLS combined with competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) provided excellent predictive performance for moisture, ash, and fixed carbon. For moisture prediction, the values of RP2, RMSEP and RPD were 0.7202, 0.8196, and 2.11, respectively. For ash prediction, the values of RP2, RMSEP and RPD were 0.9307, 0.5901, and 3.69, respectively. For fixed carbon prediction, the values of RP2, RMSEP and RPD were 0.8504, 0.2735, and 2.76, respectively. Fast analysis of proximates of corn stover was possible using this NIRS system.

Are EFI data valuable? Evidence from the 2022 FIFA World Cup group stage.

The 2022 World Cup used new Enhanced Football Intelligence (EFI) data, stoppage time calculation methods and substitution rules that were introduced by FIFA. The aim of this study is to explore the effectiveness of EFI in match analysis and to identify the key indicators that influence the match and provide a reference for coaches' tactical design and training. Data were derived from the FIFA website, including EFI data for 48 matches at the group stage of the Qatar World Cup. A total of 46 indicators were used for analysis and the average values of the corresponding indicators for the different competition results were used in the analysis to identify the key index that determines the outcome of the competition. Apart from scoring more goals and having more assists, winning teams had significantly more attempts on target than drawing and losing teams (p < 0.05); Winning teams had significantly more attempts inside the penalty area, completed defensive line breaks and receptions behind the defensive line than losing teams (p < 0.05). There is no difference in possession between matches with different results (p > 0.05). Goals were significantly correlated with completed defensive line breaks and receptions behind the defensive line (r = 0.27-0.30, p < 0.01). Attempts on target was significantly positively correlated with receptions, final third entries and line breaks (r = 0.31-0.67, p < 0.01) and negatively correlated with defensive pressures applied (r = -0.35, p < 0.01). The efficiency of the offense is more important. Teams need to have more receptions, final third entries and line breaks to get more shots on target rather than possession. This study may help coaches to interpret the game from a multi-dimensional perspective and coaches can use EFI to help their teams improve their match performance.