BACKGROUND Early detection of precancerous lesions is of vital importance for reducing the incidence and mortality of upper gastrointestinal(UGI)tract cancer.However,traditional endoscopy has certain limitations in de...BACKGROUND Early detection of precancerous lesions is of vital importance for reducing the incidence and mortality of upper gastrointestinal(UGI)tract cancer.However,traditional endoscopy has certain limitations in detecting precancerous lesions.In contrast,real-time computer-aided detection(CAD)systems enhanced by artificial intelligence(AI)systems,although they may increase unnecessary medical procedures,can provide immediate feedback during examination,thereby improving the accuracy of lesion detection.This article aims to conduct a meta-analysis of the diagnostic performance of CAD systems in identifying precancerous lesions of UGI tract cancer during esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD),evaluate their potential clinical application value,and determine the direction for further research.AIM To investigate the improvement of the efficiency of EGD examination by the realtime AI-enabled real-time CAD system(AI-CAD)system.METHODS PubMed,EMBASE,Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases were searched by two independent reviewers to retrieve literature with per-patient analysis with a deadline up until April 2025.A meta-analysis was performed with R Studio software(R4.5.0).A random-effects model was used and subgroup analysis was carried out to identify possible sources of heterogeneity.RESULTS The initial search identified 802 articles.According to the inclusion criteria,2113 patients from 10 studies were included in this meta-analysis.The pooled accuracy difference,logarithmic difference of diagnostic odds ratios,sensitivity,specificity and the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve(area under the curve)of both AI group and endoscopist group for detecting precancerous lesion were 0.16(95%CI:0.12-0.20),-0.19(95%CI:-0.75-0.37),0.89(95%CI:0.85-0.92,AI group),0.67(95%CI:0.63-0.71,endoscopist group),0.89(95%CI:0.84-0.93,AI group),0.77(95%CI:0.70-0.83,endoscopist group),0.928(95%CI:0.841-0.948,AI group),0.722(95%CI:0.677-0.821,endoscopist group),respectively.CONCLUSION The present studies further provide evidence that the AI-CAD is a reliable endoscopic diagnostic tool that can be used to assist endoscopists in detection of precancerous lesions in the UGI tract.It may be introduced on a large scale for clinical application to enhance the accuracy of detecting precancerous lesions in the UGI tract.展开更多
Six new lanthanide complexes:[Ln(3,4-DEOBA)3(4,4'-DM-2,2'-bipy)]2·2C_(2)H_(5)OH,[Ln=Dy(1),Eu(2),Tb(3),Sm(4),Ho(5),Gd(6);3,4-DEOBA-=3,4-diethoxybenzoate,4,4'-DM-2,2'-bipy=4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'...Six new lanthanide complexes:[Ln(3,4-DEOBA)3(4,4'-DM-2,2'-bipy)]2·2C_(2)H_(5)OH,[Ln=Dy(1),Eu(2),Tb(3),Sm(4),Ho(5),Gd(6);3,4-DEOBA-=3,4-diethoxybenzoate,4,4'-DM-2,2'-bipy=4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine]were successfully synthesized by the volatilization of the solution at room temperature.The crystal structures of six complexes were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction technology.The results showed that the complexes all have a binuclear structure,and the structures contain free ethanol molecules.Moreover,the coordination number of the central metal of each structural unit is eight.Adjacent structural units interact with each other through hydrogen bonds and further expand to form 1D chain-like and 2D planar structures.After conducting a systematic study on the luminescence properties of complexes 1-4,their emission and excitation spectra were obtained.Experimental results indicated that the fluorescence lifetimes of complexes 2 and 3 were 0.807 and 0.845 ms,respectively.The emission spectral data of complexes 1-4 were imported into the CIE chromaticity coordinate system,and their corre sponding luminescent regions cover the yellow light,red light,green light,and orange-red light bands,respectively.Within the temperature range of 299.15-1300 K,the thermal decomposition processes of the six complexes were comprehensively analyzed by using TG-DSC/FTIR/MS technology.The hypothesis of the gradual loss of ligand groups during the decomposition process was verified by detecting the escaped gas,3D infrared spectroscopy,and ion fragment information detected by mass spectrometry.The specific decomposition path is as follows:firstly,free ethanol molecules and neutral ligands are removed,and finally,acidic ligands are released;the final product is the corresponding metal oxide.CCDC:2430420,1;2430422,2;2430419,3;2430424,4;2430421,5;2430423,6.展开更多
Border-associated macrophages are located at the interface between the brain and the periphery, including the perivascular spaces, choroid plexus, and meninges. Until recently, the functions of border-associated macro...Border-associated macrophages are located at the interface between the brain and the periphery, including the perivascular spaces, choroid plexus, and meninges. Until recently, the functions of border-associated macrophages have been poorly understood and largely overlooked. However, a recent study reported that border-associated macrophages participate in stroke-induced inflammation, although many details and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we performed a comprehensive single-cell analysis of mouse border-associated macrophages using sequencing data obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO) database(GSE174574 and GSE225948). Differentially expressed genes were identified, and enrichment analysis was performed to identify the transcription profile of border-associated macrophages. CellChat analysis was conducted to determine the cell communication network of border-associated macrophages. Transcription factors were predicted using the ‘pySCENIC' tool. We found that, in response to hypoxia, borderassociated macrophages underwent dynamic transcriptional changes and participated in the regulation of inflammatory-related pathways. Notably, the tumor necrosis factor pathway was activated by border-associated macrophages following ischemic stroke. The pySCENIC analysis indicated that the activity of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(Stat3) was obviously upregulated in stroke, suggesting that Stat3 inhibition may be a promising strategy for treating border-associated macrophages-induced neuroinflammation. Finally, we constructed an animal model to investigate the effects of border-associated macrophages depletion following a stroke. Treatment with liposomes containing clodronate significantly reduced infarct volume in the animals and improved neurological scores compared with untreated animals. Taken together, our results demonstrate comprehensive changes in border-associated macrophages following a stroke, providing a theoretical basis for targeting border-associated macrophages-induced neuroinflammation in stroke treatment.展开更多
Background:Receptor-interacting protein kinases(RIPKs)regulate cell death,inflammation,and immune responses,yet their roles in cancer are not fully understood.This study investigates the expression,genomic alterations...Background:Receptor-interacting protein kinases(RIPKs)regulate cell death,inflammation,and immune responses,yet their roles in cancer are not fully understood.This study investigates the expression,genomic alterations,and functional implications of RIPK family members across various cancers.Methods:We collected multi-omics data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and other public databases,including gene expression,copy number variation(CNV),mutation,methylation,tumor mutation burden(TMB),and microsatellite instability(MSI).Differential expression and survival analyses were performed using DESeq2 and Cox proportional hazards models.CNV and mutation data were analyzed with GISTIC2 and Mutect2,and methylation data with the ChAMP package.Correlations with TMB and MSI were assessed using Pearson coefficients,and gene set enrichment analysis was conducted with the MSigDB Hallmark gene sets.Results:RIPK family members show significant differential expression in various cancers,with RIPK1 and RIPK4 frequently altered.Survival analysis reveals heterogeneous impacts on overall survival.CNV and mutation analyses identify high alteration frequencies for RIPK2 and RIPK7,affecting gene expression.RIPK1 and RIPK7 are hypermethylated in several cancers,inversely correlating with RIPK3 expression.RIPK1,RIPK2,RIPK5,RIPK6,and RIPK7 correlate positively with TMB,while RIPK3 shows negative correlations in some cancers.MSI analysis indicates associations with DNA mismatch repair.G ene set enrichment analysis highlights immune-related pathway enrichment for RIPK1,RIPK2,RIPK3,and RIPK6,and cell proliferation and DNA repair pathways for RIPK4 and RIPK5.RIPK family members showed heterogeneous alterations across cancers:for example,RIPK7 was mutated in up to~15%of u terine c orpus e ndometrial c arcinoma and l ung s quamous c ell c arcinoma cases,and RIPK1 and RIPK7 exhibited frequent promoter hypermethylation in multiple tumor types.Several genes displayed context-dependent associations with overall survival and with TMB/MSI.Conclusion:This pan-cancer analysis of the RIPK family reveals their diverse roles and potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.The findings emphasize the importance of RIPK genes in tumorigenesis and suggest context-dependent functions across cancer types.Further studies are needed to explore their mechanisms in cancer development and clinical applications.展开更多
The sulfation and decomposition process has proven effective in selectively extracting lithium from lepidolite.It is essential to clarify the thermochemical behavior and kinetic parameters of decomposition reactions.A...The sulfation and decomposition process has proven effective in selectively extracting lithium from lepidolite.It is essential to clarify the thermochemical behavior and kinetic parameters of decomposition reactions.Accordingly,comprehensive kinetic study by employing thermalgravimetric analysis at various heating rates was presented in this paper.Two main weight loss regions were observed during heating.The initial region corresponded to the dehydration of crystal water,whereas the subsequent region with overlapping peaks involved complex decomposition reactions.The overlapping peaks were separated into two individual reaction peaks and the activation energy of each peak was calculated using isoconversional kinetics methods.The activation energy of peak 1 exhibited a continual increase as the reaction conversion progressed,while that of peak 2 steadily decreased.The optimal kinetic models,identified as belonging to the random nucleation and subsequent growth category,provided valuable insights into the mechanism of the decomposition reactions.Furthermore,the adjustment factor was introduced to reconstruct the kinetic mechanism models,and the reconstructed models described the kinetic mechanism model more accurately for the decomposition reactions.This study enhanced the understanding of the thermochemical behavior and kinetic parameters of the lepidolite sulfation product decomposition reactions,further providing theoretical basis for promoting the selective extraction of lithium.展开更多
AIM:To present an overview of the research on global glaucoma treatment in the last decade in terms of publication year,journals,countries/regions,organizations,references,and keywords,to investigate the current resea...AIM:To present an overview of the research on global glaucoma treatment in the last decade in terms of publication year,journals,countries/regions,organizations,references,and keywords,to investigate the current research international trends and hot topics in this area.METHODS:Bibliometric analysis was conducted on 9128 articles in the Web of Science Core Collection(WoSCC;Clarivate)database.Quantitative and qualitative analysis was employed using VOSviewer(v1.6.18),Pajek(v1.0.0.0),and CiteSpace(v6.1.R2)software.RESULTS:The 9128 papers relating to glaucoma treatment were published from April 2013 to April 2023,of which 7482 articles(82%)were original research articles and 1464(18%)were review articles.The United States(2867)and Johns Hopkins University(166)were the most productive country and institution,respectively,but the University College London had the highest h-index(54).The Journal of Glaucoma was the most productive and Ophthalmology had the highest h-index compared with other journals.The Keywords of interest included treatment surgery,cyclophotocoagulation,minimally invasive glaucoma surgery(MIGS),trabeculectomy,baerveldt,epidemiology,medication adherence,nanoparticle,optical coherence tomography(OCT),gene therapy,and artificial intelligence(AI).Glaucoma surgery appeared as a current research hotspot through the analysis of keywords.CONCLUSION:This study provides insights into the research trends and potential research hotspots in the treatment of glaucoma.This will help researchers to evaluate research policies and to promote international cooperation.展开更多
This paper investigates the reliability of internal marine combustion engines using an integrated approach that combines Fault Tree Analysis(FTA)and Bayesian Networks(BN).FTA provides a structured,top-down method for ...This paper investigates the reliability of internal marine combustion engines using an integrated approach that combines Fault Tree Analysis(FTA)and Bayesian Networks(BN).FTA provides a structured,top-down method for identifying critical failure modes and their root causes,while BN introduces flexibility in probabilistic reasoning,enabling dynamic updates based on new evidence.This dual methodology overcomes the limitations of static FTA models,offering a comprehensive framework for system reliability analysis.Critical failures,including External Leakage(ELU),Failure to Start(FTS),and Overheating(OHE),were identified as key risks.By incorporating redundancy into high-risk components such as pumps and batteries,the likelihood of these failures was significantly reduced.For instance,redundant pumps reduced the probability of ELU by 31.88%,while additional batteries decreased the occurrence of FTS by 36.45%.The results underscore the practical benefits of combining FTA and BN for enhancing system reliability,particularly in maritime applications where operational safety and efficiency are critical.This research provides valuable insights for maintenance planning and highlights the importance of redundancy in critical systems,especially as the industry transitions toward more autonomous vessels.展开更多
To ensure the safe transportation of radioactive materials,numerous countries have established specific standards.For the transfer of fissile materials,it is imperative that the material within the packaging remains i...To ensure the safe transportation of radioactive materials,numerous countries have established specific standards.For the transfer of fissile materials,it is imperative that the material within the packaging remains in a subcritical state during routine,normal,and accidental transport conditions.In the event of an accident,the rods within the storage tank may become rearranged,introducing uncertainty that must be accounted for to ensure that criticality analysis results are conservative.Historically,this uncertainty was addressed overly conservatively due to limited research on non-uniform arrangement scenarios,which proved unsuitable for criticality safety analysis of spent fuel packages.This paper introduced three distinct methods to non-uniformly rearrange fuel rods—Uniform Arrangement by Blocks,Layer-by-Layer Determination,and Birdcage Deformation—and meticulously evaluates the influences of rod rearrangement on the effective multiplication factor of neutrons,k eff,utilizing the Monte Carlo method.Ultimately,this study presents a holistic method capable of encompassing the entire spectrum of potential effects stemming from the rearrangement of fuel rods during rods mispositioning accident.By augmenting the safety margin,this approach proves to be adeptly suited for the criticality safety analysis of nuclear fuel transport containers.展开更多
Industrial waste salts are commonly used to make value-added snow-melting agents to ensure traffic safety in northern China during winter and spring after snowfall.However,heavy metals in industrial waste salts may po...Industrial waste salts are commonly used to make value-added snow-melting agents to ensure traffic safety in northern China during winter and spring after snowfall.However,heavy metals in industrial waste salts may pose certain environmental risks.Snow-melting agents and snow samples were collected and analyzed from highways,arterial roads,footbridges,and other locations in Beijing after the snowstorm in December 2023.It was found that the main component of snow-melting agents was sodium chloride with high concentrations of Cu,Mn,and Zn,which are not regulated in the current policies,despite the recent promotion of environmentally friendly snow-melting agents.The Pb,Zn and Cr contents of some snow samples exceeded the limitation value of surface water quality standards,potentially affecting the soil and water environment near roadsides,although the snow-melting agents comply with relevant standards,which indicates the policy gap in the management of recycled industrial salts.We reviewed and analyzed the relevant standards for snow-melting agents and industrial waste salts proposed nationally and internationally over the past 30 years.Through comparative analysis,we proposed relevant policy recommendations to the existing quality standards of snow-melting agents and the management regulations of industrial waste salts,and the formulation of corresponding usage strategies,aimed at reducing the potential environmental release of heavy metals from the use of snow-melting agents,thereby promoting more sustainable green urban development and environmentally sound waste management.展开更多
Background:Epidemiological studies have confirmed that longer exposure to insecticides like cypermethrin(CYP)significantly increases the risk of male reproductive toxicity.Crocus sativus L.has been recognized due to i...Background:Epidemiological studies have confirmed that longer exposure to insecticides like cypermethrin(CYP)significantly increases the risk of male reproductive toxicity.Crocus sativus L.has been recognized due to its therapeutic properties,but its exact role and molecular mechanisms in treatment of reproductive dysfunction remain unclear.Methods:During this study,36 rats were randomly divided into six groups(n=6):control,CYP-induced(60 mg/kg),standard(leuprolide 3 mg/kg)and three treatment groups receiving aqueous,ethanolic,and oil extracts(50 mg/kg or 20 mL/kg)for post-toxicity induction.Results:The finding represented that exposure of CYP significantly increased oxidative stress,disrupted testicular architecture,and markedly reduced testosterone levels(P<0.05).Importantly,Crocus sativus L.treatment alleviated these changes by increasing the expression of Nrf2(nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2),restoring the activity of antioxidant enzymes,and enhancing testicular histomorphology.Surprisingly,molecular docking established a high binding affinity of Crocus sativus L.phytoconstituents such as gallic acid,cinnamic acid and quercetin to the Nrf2-Keap1 complex.It is worth noting that,Crocus sativus L.exhibited a high level of protection against reproductive toxicity caused by CYP in male rats,which was mediated by the activation of Nrf2 pathway,reduction of oxidative damage,and favorable ADMET characteristics.Conclusion:Notably,this research provides a more valid,safe,and effective method of developing new drugs for reproductive disorders,however,further investigation is needed to support the research findings and implement it in clinical practice.展开更多
AIM: To further improve the endoscopic detection of intestinal mucosa alterations due to celiac disease(CD).METHODS: We assessed a hybrid approach based on the integration of expert knowledge into the computerbased cl...AIM: To further improve the endoscopic detection of intestinal mucosa alterations due to celiac disease(CD).METHODS: We assessed a hybrid approach based on the integration of expert knowledge into the computerbased classification pipeline. A total of 2835 endoscopic images from the duodenum were recorded in 290 children using the modified immersion technique(MIT). These children underwent routine upper endoscopy for suspected CD or non-celiac upper abdominal symptoms between August 2008 and December 2014. Blinded to the clinical data and biopsy results, three medical experts visually classified each image as normal mucosa(Marsh-0) or villous atrophy(Marsh-3). The experts' decisions were further integrated into state-of-the-arttexture recognition systems. Using the biopsy results as the reference standard, the classification accuracies of this hybrid approach were compared to the experts' diagnoses in 27 different settings.RESULTS: Compared to the experts' diagnoses, in 24 of 27 classification settings(consisting of three imaging modalities, three endoscopists and three classification approaches), the best overall classification accuracies were obtained with the new hybrid approach. In 17 of 24 classification settings, the improvements achieved with the hybrid approach were statistically significant(P < 0.05). Using the hybrid approach classification accuracies between 94% and 100% were obtained. Whereas the improvements are only moderate in the case of the most experienced expert, the results of the less experienced expert could be improved significantly in 17 out of 18 classification settings. Furthermore, the lowest classification accuracy, based on the combination of one database and one specific expert, could be improved from 80% to 95%(P < 0.001).CONCLUSION: The overall classification performance of medical experts, especially less experienced experts, can be boosted significantly by integrating expert knowledge into computer-aided diagnosis systems.展开更多
The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the accuracy gain of Bayesian analysis-based computeraided diagnosis(CAD) vs human judgment alone in characterizing solitary pulmonary nodules(SPNs) at computed tomogr...The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the accuracy gain of Bayesian analysis-based computeraided diagnosis(CAD) vs human judgment alone in characterizing solitary pulmonary nodules(SPNs) at computed tomography(CT). The study included 100 randomly selected SPNs with a definitive diagnosis. Nodule features at first and follow-up CT scans as well as clinical data were evaluated individually on a 1 to 5 points risk chart by 7 radiologists, firstly blinded then aware of Bayesian Inference Malignancy Calculator(BIMC) model predictions. Raters' predictions were evaluated by means of receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve analysis and decision analysis. Overall ROC area under the curve was 0.758 before and 0.803 after the disclosure of CAD predictions(P = 0.003). A net gain in diagnostic accuracy was found in 6 out of 7 readers. Mean risk class of benign nodules dropped from 2.48 to 2.29, while mean risk class of malignancies rose from 3.66 to 3.92. Awareness of CAD predictions also determined a significant drop on mean indeterminate SPNs(15 vs 23.86 SPNs) and raised the mean number of correct and confident diagnoses(mean 39.57 vs 25.71 SPNs). This study provides evidence supporting the integration of the Bayesian analysis-based BIMC model in SPN characterization.展开更多
Preoperative and postoperative sperm parameter values from infertile men with varicocele were analyzed by computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) to assess if sperm characteristics improved after varicocelectomy. Semen...Preoperative and postoperative sperm parameter values from infertile men with varicocele were analyzed by computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) to assess if sperm characteristics improved after varicocelectomy. Semen samples of men with proven fertility (n = 38) and men with varicocele-related infertility (n = 61) were also analyzed. Conventional semen analysis was performed according to WHO (2010) criteria and a CASA system was employed to assess kinetic parameters and sperm concentration. Seminal parameters values in the fertile group were very far above from those of the patients, either before or after surgery. No significant improvement in the percentage normal sperm morphology (P = 0. 10), sperm concentration (P = 0.52), total sperm count (P = 0.76), subjective motility (%) (P = 0.97) nor kinematics (P = 0.30) was observed after varicocelectomy when all groups were compared. Neither was significant improvement found in percentage normal sperm morphology (P = 0.91), sperm concentration (P =0. 10), total sperm count (P = 0.89) or percentage motility (P = 0.77) after varicocelectomy in paired comparisons of preoperative and postoperative data. Analysis of paired samples revealed that the total sperm count (P = 0.01) and most sperm kinetic parameters: curvilinear velocity (P = 0.002), straight-line velocity (P = 0.0004), average path velocity (P = 0.0005), linearity (P = 0.02), and wobble (P = 0.006) improved after surgery. CASA offers the potential for accurate quantitative assessment of each patient's response to varicocelectomy.展开更多
Aim: To establish a rat and mouse epididymal map based on the use of the Epiquatre automatic software for histologic image analysis. Methods: Epididymides from five adult rats and five adult mice were fixed in alcoh...Aim: To establish a rat and mouse epididymal map based on the use of the Epiquatre automatic software for histologic image analysis. Methods: Epididymides from five adult rats and five adult mice were fixed in alcoholic Bouin's fixative and embedded in paraffin. Serial longitudinal sections through the medial aspect of the organ were cut at 10 jam and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. As determined from major connective tissue septa, nine subdivisions of the rat epididymis and seven for the mouse were determined, consisting of five sub-regions in the caput (rat and mouse), one (mouse) or three (rat) in the corpus and one in the cauda (rat and mouse). Using the Epiquatre software, several tubular, luminal and epithelial morphometric parameters were evaluated. Results: Statistical comparison of the quantitative parameters revealed regional differences (2-5 in the rat, 3-6 in the mouse, dependent on parameters) with caput regions 1 and 2 being largely distinguishable from the similar remaining caput and corpus, which were in turn recognizable from the cauda regions in both species. Conclusion: The use of the Epiquatre software allowed us to establish regression curves for different morphometric parameters that can permit the detection of changes in their values under different pathological or experimental conditions. (Asian J Androl 2005 Sep; 7: 267-275)展开更多
Partially filled pipeflows were encountered in drainage systems belonging to a family of unsteady flow problems. Basic equations were developed and numerically solved also by the characteristic different methods with ...Partially filled pipeflows were encountered in drainage systems belonging to a family of unsteady flow problems. Basic equations were developed and numerically solved also by the characteristic different methods with time-line interpolation scheme. The boundary conditions for the inflow, outflow, moving hydraulic jump and junctions were developed experimentally and numerically. Full scale model experiments were carried out. It is consequently clarified that numerical model is capable of predicting flow characteristics in realistic drainage networks.展开更多
Breast cancer is one of the most common and deadliest types of cancer among women and early detection is of major importance to decrease mortality rates. Microcalcification clusters and masses are two major indicators...Breast cancer is one of the most common and deadliest types of cancer among women and early detection is of major importance to decrease mortality rates. Microcalcification clusters and masses are two major indicators of malignancy in the early stages of this disease, when mammography is typically used as the screening technology. Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) systems can support the radiologists’ work, by performing a double-reading process, which provides a second opinion that the physician can take into account in the detection process. This paper presents a CAD model based on computer vision procedures for locating suspicious regions that are later analyzed by artificial neural networks, support vector machines and linear discriminant analysis, to classify them into benign or malignant, based on a set of features that are extracted from lesions to characterize their visual content. A genetic algorithm is used to find the subset of features that provide the greatest discriminant power. Our results show that the SVM presented the highest overall accuracy and specificity for classifying microcalcification clusters, while the NN outperformed the rest for mass-classification in the same parameters. Overall accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were measured.展开更多
A compressive design and analysis of a turbofan engine is presented in this paper. The components of jet engine have been analyzed based on mechanical design concept. An attempt has been to select materials based on s...A compressive design and analysis of a turbofan engine is presented in this paper. The components of jet engine have been analyzed based on mechanical design concept. An attempt has been to select materials based on sustainability and green design considerations. The energy content (e) of the materials has been one of the parameters for material selection. The choice of material has a substantial impact on cost, manuthcturing process, and the life cycle efficiency. All components nose cone, fan blade, inlet shaft, including compressor has been solid modeled using Siemens NX 11.0 CAD software. The finite element analysis of every component was performed and found safe. A tolerance analysis was performed before assembly of the turbofan engine. A numerical analysis was completed on blade and inlet geometries to determine a more efficient turbofan engine. Thermal analysis was executed oi1 the cone and suitable corrections were made. Finally, the cost and the total energy were estimated to show how much energy is needed to manufacture a turbofan jet engine.展开更多
The growing need for sustainable energy solutions,driven by rising energy shortages,environmental concerns,and the depletion of conventional energy sources,has led to a significant focus on renewable energy.Solar ener...The growing need for sustainable energy solutions,driven by rising energy shortages,environmental concerns,and the depletion of conventional energy sources,has led to a significant focus on renewable energy.Solar energy,among the various renewable sources,is particularly appealing due to its abundant availability.However,the efficiency of commercial solar photovoltaic(PV)modules is hindered by several factors,notably their conversion efficiency,which averages around 19%.This efficiency can further decline to 10%–16%due to temperature increases during peak sunlight hours.This study investigates the cooling of PV modules by applying water to their front surface through Computational fluid dynamics(CFD).The study aimed to determine the optimal conditions for cooling the PV module by analyzing the interplay between water film thickness,Reynolds number,and their effects on temperature reduction and heat transfer.The CFD analysis revealed that the most effective cooling condition occurred with a 5 mm thick water film and a Reynolds number of 10.These specific parameters were found to maximize the heat transfer and temperature reduction efficiency.This finding is crucial for the development of practical and efficient cooling systems for PV modules,potentially leading to improved performance and longevity of solar panels.Alternative cooling fluids or advanced cooling techniques that might offer even better efficiency or practical benefits.展开更多
The SKP1 gene is an important component of the SCF(SKP1-Cullin1-F-box)complex and serves as a bridge connecting the F-box and Cullin1genes(F-box-SKP1-Cullin1).The pattern of S-RNase being ubiquitously labelled by the ...The SKP1 gene is an important component of the SCF(SKP1-Cullin1-F-box)complex and serves as a bridge connecting the F-box and Cullin1genes(F-box-SKP1-Cullin1).The pattern of S-RNase being ubiquitously labelled by the SCF complex and degraded by the 26S protease accounts for the bulk of the available self-incompatibility studies.In this study,15 ClSKP1s from the‘Xiangshui'lemon genome and ubiquitome exist in the same SKP1 conserved domain(CD)as SKP1s in other species.The q PCR results showed that SKP1-6 and SKP1-14 have tissue expression patterns specific for expression in pollen.In addition,SKP1-6 and SKP1-14 in the stigma,style and ovary were significantly upregulated after self-pollination compared to those after cross-pollination.A subcellular location showed that SKP1-6 and SKP1-14 were located in the nucleus.In addition,yeast two-hybrid(Y2H)assays,bimolecular fluorescence complementation(BiFC)and luciferase complementation imaging(LCI)assays showed that SKP1-6 interacted with F-box1,F-box33,F-box34,F-box17,F-box19,Cullin1-2 and 26S proteasome subunit 4 homolog A(26S PS4HA).SKP1-14 interacted with F-box17,F-box19,F-box35,Cullin1-2 and 26S PS4HA.The interaction of Cullin1-2 and the F-box with SKP1 as a bridge was verified by a yeast three-hybrid experiment.The ability of S3-RNase to inhibit pollen and pollen tube growth and development was assessed using in vitro pollen co-culture experiments with recombinant S3-RNase proteins.Overall,this study provides important experimental evidence and theoretical basis for understanding the mechanism of self-incompatibility in plants by revealing the key role of the SCF complex in‘Xiangshui'lemon,which is bridged by ClSKP1-6,in self-incompatibility.The results of this study are of great significance for the future indepth exploration of the molecular mechanism of the SCF complex and its wide application in the self-incompatibility of plants.展开更多
Peripheral nerve injury is a common neurological condition that often leads to severe functional limitations and disabilities.Research on the pathogenesis of peripheral nerve injury has focused on pathological changes...Peripheral nerve injury is a common neurological condition that often leads to severe functional limitations and disabilities.Research on the pathogenesis of peripheral nerve injury has focused on pathological changes at individual injury sites,neglecting multilevel pathological analysis of the overall nervous system and target organs.This has led to restrictions on current therapeutic approaches.In this paper,we first summarize the potential mechanisms of peripheral nerve injury from a holistic perspective,covering the central nervous system,peripheral nervous system,and target organs.After peripheral nerve injury,the cortical plasticity of the brain is altered due to damage to and regeneration of peripheral nerves;changes such as neuronal apoptosis and axonal demyelination occur in the spinal cord.The nerve will undergo axonal regeneration,activation of Schwann cells,inflammatory response,and vascular system regeneration at the injury site.Corresponding damage to target organs can occur,including skeletal muscle atrophy and sensory receptor disruption.We then provide a brief review of the research advances in therapeutic approaches to peripheral nerve injury.The main current treatments are conducted passively and include physical factor rehabilitation,pharmacological treatments,cell-based therapies,and physical exercise.However,most treatments only partially address the problem and cannot complete the systematic recovery of the entire central nervous system-peripheral nervous system-target organ pathway.Therefore,we should further explore multilevel treatment options that produce effective,long-lasting results,perhaps requiring a combination of passive(traditional)and active(novel)treatment methods to stimulate rehabilitation at the central-peripheral-target organ levels to achieve better functional recovery.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Early detection of precancerous lesions is of vital importance for reducing the incidence and mortality of upper gastrointestinal(UGI)tract cancer.However,traditional endoscopy has certain limitations in detecting precancerous lesions.In contrast,real-time computer-aided detection(CAD)systems enhanced by artificial intelligence(AI)systems,although they may increase unnecessary medical procedures,can provide immediate feedback during examination,thereby improving the accuracy of lesion detection.This article aims to conduct a meta-analysis of the diagnostic performance of CAD systems in identifying precancerous lesions of UGI tract cancer during esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD),evaluate their potential clinical application value,and determine the direction for further research.AIM To investigate the improvement of the efficiency of EGD examination by the realtime AI-enabled real-time CAD system(AI-CAD)system.METHODS PubMed,EMBASE,Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases were searched by two independent reviewers to retrieve literature with per-patient analysis with a deadline up until April 2025.A meta-analysis was performed with R Studio software(R4.5.0).A random-effects model was used and subgroup analysis was carried out to identify possible sources of heterogeneity.RESULTS The initial search identified 802 articles.According to the inclusion criteria,2113 patients from 10 studies were included in this meta-analysis.The pooled accuracy difference,logarithmic difference of diagnostic odds ratios,sensitivity,specificity and the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve(area under the curve)of both AI group and endoscopist group for detecting precancerous lesion were 0.16(95%CI:0.12-0.20),-0.19(95%CI:-0.75-0.37),0.89(95%CI:0.85-0.92,AI group),0.67(95%CI:0.63-0.71,endoscopist group),0.89(95%CI:0.84-0.93,AI group),0.77(95%CI:0.70-0.83,endoscopist group),0.928(95%CI:0.841-0.948,AI group),0.722(95%CI:0.677-0.821,endoscopist group),respectively.CONCLUSION The present studies further provide evidence that the AI-CAD is a reliable endoscopic diagnostic tool that can be used to assist endoscopists in detection of precancerous lesions in the UGI tract.It may be introduced on a large scale for clinical application to enhance the accuracy of detecting precancerous lesions in the UGI tract.
文摘Six new lanthanide complexes:[Ln(3,4-DEOBA)3(4,4'-DM-2,2'-bipy)]2·2C_(2)H_(5)OH,[Ln=Dy(1),Eu(2),Tb(3),Sm(4),Ho(5),Gd(6);3,4-DEOBA-=3,4-diethoxybenzoate,4,4'-DM-2,2'-bipy=4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine]were successfully synthesized by the volatilization of the solution at room temperature.The crystal structures of six complexes were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction technology.The results showed that the complexes all have a binuclear structure,and the structures contain free ethanol molecules.Moreover,the coordination number of the central metal of each structural unit is eight.Adjacent structural units interact with each other through hydrogen bonds and further expand to form 1D chain-like and 2D planar structures.After conducting a systematic study on the luminescence properties of complexes 1-4,their emission and excitation spectra were obtained.Experimental results indicated that the fluorescence lifetimes of complexes 2 and 3 were 0.807 and 0.845 ms,respectively.The emission spectral data of complexes 1-4 were imported into the CIE chromaticity coordinate system,and their corre sponding luminescent regions cover the yellow light,red light,green light,and orange-red light bands,respectively.Within the temperature range of 299.15-1300 K,the thermal decomposition processes of the six complexes were comprehensively analyzed by using TG-DSC/FTIR/MS technology.The hypothesis of the gradual loss of ligand groups during the decomposition process was verified by detecting the escaped gas,3D infrared spectroscopy,and ion fragment information detected by mass spectrometry.The specific decomposition path is as follows:firstly,free ethanol molecules and neutral ligands are removed,and finally,acidic ligands are released;the final product is the corresponding metal oxide.CCDC:2430420,1;2430422,2;2430419,3;2430424,4;2430421,5;2430423,6.
基金supported by Qingdao Key Medical and Health Discipline ProjectThe Intramural Research Program of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University,No. 4910Qingdao West Coast New Area Science and Technology Project,No. 2020-55 (all to SW)。
文摘Border-associated macrophages are located at the interface between the brain and the periphery, including the perivascular spaces, choroid plexus, and meninges. Until recently, the functions of border-associated macrophages have been poorly understood and largely overlooked. However, a recent study reported that border-associated macrophages participate in stroke-induced inflammation, although many details and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we performed a comprehensive single-cell analysis of mouse border-associated macrophages using sequencing data obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO) database(GSE174574 and GSE225948). Differentially expressed genes were identified, and enrichment analysis was performed to identify the transcription profile of border-associated macrophages. CellChat analysis was conducted to determine the cell communication network of border-associated macrophages. Transcription factors were predicted using the ‘pySCENIC' tool. We found that, in response to hypoxia, borderassociated macrophages underwent dynamic transcriptional changes and participated in the regulation of inflammatory-related pathways. Notably, the tumor necrosis factor pathway was activated by border-associated macrophages following ischemic stroke. The pySCENIC analysis indicated that the activity of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(Stat3) was obviously upregulated in stroke, suggesting that Stat3 inhibition may be a promising strategy for treating border-associated macrophages-induced neuroinflammation. Finally, we constructed an animal model to investigate the effects of border-associated macrophages depletion following a stroke. Treatment with liposomes containing clodronate significantly reduced infarct volume in the animals and improved neurological scores compared with untreated animals. Taken together, our results demonstrate comprehensive changes in border-associated macrophages following a stroke, providing a theoretical basis for targeting border-associated macrophages-induced neuroinflammation in stroke treatment.
基金supported by grants from the Tianjin Health Technology Project(Grant no.2022QN106).
文摘Background:Receptor-interacting protein kinases(RIPKs)regulate cell death,inflammation,and immune responses,yet their roles in cancer are not fully understood.This study investigates the expression,genomic alterations,and functional implications of RIPK family members across various cancers.Methods:We collected multi-omics data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and other public databases,including gene expression,copy number variation(CNV),mutation,methylation,tumor mutation burden(TMB),and microsatellite instability(MSI).Differential expression and survival analyses were performed using DESeq2 and Cox proportional hazards models.CNV and mutation data were analyzed with GISTIC2 and Mutect2,and methylation data with the ChAMP package.Correlations with TMB and MSI were assessed using Pearson coefficients,and gene set enrichment analysis was conducted with the MSigDB Hallmark gene sets.Results:RIPK family members show significant differential expression in various cancers,with RIPK1 and RIPK4 frequently altered.Survival analysis reveals heterogeneous impacts on overall survival.CNV and mutation analyses identify high alteration frequencies for RIPK2 and RIPK7,affecting gene expression.RIPK1 and RIPK7 are hypermethylated in several cancers,inversely correlating with RIPK3 expression.RIPK1,RIPK2,RIPK5,RIPK6,and RIPK7 correlate positively with TMB,while RIPK3 shows negative correlations in some cancers.MSI analysis indicates associations with DNA mismatch repair.G ene set enrichment analysis highlights immune-related pathway enrichment for RIPK1,RIPK2,RIPK3,and RIPK6,and cell proliferation and DNA repair pathways for RIPK4 and RIPK5.RIPK family members showed heterogeneous alterations across cancers:for example,RIPK7 was mutated in up to~15%of u terine c orpus e ndometrial c arcinoma and l ung s quamous c ell c arcinoma cases,and RIPK1 and RIPK7 exhibited frequent promoter hypermethylation in multiple tumor types.Several genes displayed context-dependent associations with overall survival and with TMB/MSI.Conclusion:This pan-cancer analysis of the RIPK family reveals their diverse roles and potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.The findings emphasize the importance of RIPK genes in tumorigenesis and suggest context-dependent functions across cancer types.Further studies are needed to explore their mechanisms in cancer development and clinical applications.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52034002 and U2202254)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China(No.FRF-TT-19-001)。
文摘The sulfation and decomposition process has proven effective in selectively extracting lithium from lepidolite.It is essential to clarify the thermochemical behavior and kinetic parameters of decomposition reactions.Accordingly,comprehensive kinetic study by employing thermalgravimetric analysis at various heating rates was presented in this paper.Two main weight loss regions were observed during heating.The initial region corresponded to the dehydration of crystal water,whereas the subsequent region with overlapping peaks involved complex decomposition reactions.The overlapping peaks were separated into two individual reaction peaks and the activation energy of each peak was calculated using isoconversional kinetics methods.The activation energy of peak 1 exhibited a continual increase as the reaction conversion progressed,while that of peak 2 steadily decreased.The optimal kinetic models,identified as belonging to the random nucleation and subsequent growth category,provided valuable insights into the mechanism of the decomposition reactions.Furthermore,the adjustment factor was introduced to reconstruct the kinetic mechanism models,and the reconstructed models described the kinetic mechanism model more accurately for the decomposition reactions.This study enhanced the understanding of the thermochemical behavior and kinetic parameters of the lepidolite sulfation product decomposition reactions,further providing theoretical basis for promoting the selective extraction of lithium.
基金Suppotred by Tianjin Key Medical Discipline Construction Project(No.TJYXZDXK-3-004A-2).
文摘AIM:To present an overview of the research on global glaucoma treatment in the last decade in terms of publication year,journals,countries/regions,organizations,references,and keywords,to investigate the current research international trends and hot topics in this area.METHODS:Bibliometric analysis was conducted on 9128 articles in the Web of Science Core Collection(WoSCC;Clarivate)database.Quantitative and qualitative analysis was employed using VOSviewer(v1.6.18),Pajek(v1.0.0.0),and CiteSpace(v6.1.R2)software.RESULTS:The 9128 papers relating to glaucoma treatment were published from April 2013 to April 2023,of which 7482 articles(82%)were original research articles and 1464(18%)were review articles.The United States(2867)and Johns Hopkins University(166)were the most productive country and institution,respectively,but the University College London had the highest h-index(54).The Journal of Glaucoma was the most productive and Ophthalmology had the highest h-index compared with other journals.The Keywords of interest included treatment surgery,cyclophotocoagulation,minimally invasive glaucoma surgery(MIGS),trabeculectomy,baerveldt,epidemiology,medication adherence,nanoparticle,optical coherence tomography(OCT),gene therapy,and artificial intelligence(AI).Glaucoma surgery appeared as a current research hotspot through the analysis of keywords.CONCLUSION:This study provides insights into the research trends and potential research hotspots in the treatment of glaucoma.This will help researchers to evaluate research policies and to promote international cooperation.
基金supported by Istanbul Technical University(Project No.45698)supported through the“Young Researchers’Career Development Project-training of doctoral students”of the Croatian Science Foundation.
文摘This paper investigates the reliability of internal marine combustion engines using an integrated approach that combines Fault Tree Analysis(FTA)and Bayesian Networks(BN).FTA provides a structured,top-down method for identifying critical failure modes and their root causes,while BN introduces flexibility in probabilistic reasoning,enabling dynamic updates based on new evidence.This dual methodology overcomes the limitations of static FTA models,offering a comprehensive framework for system reliability analysis.Critical failures,including External Leakage(ELU),Failure to Start(FTS),and Overheating(OHE),were identified as key risks.By incorporating redundancy into high-risk components such as pumps and batteries,the likelihood of these failures was significantly reduced.For instance,redundant pumps reduced the probability of ELU by 31.88%,while additional batteries decreased the occurrence of FTS by 36.45%.The results underscore the practical benefits of combining FTA and BN for enhancing system reliability,particularly in maritime applications where operational safety and efficiency are critical.This research provides valuable insights for maintenance planning and highlights the importance of redundancy in critical systems,especially as the industry transitions toward more autonomous vessels.
文摘To ensure the safe transportation of radioactive materials,numerous countries have established specific standards.For the transfer of fissile materials,it is imperative that the material within the packaging remains in a subcritical state during routine,normal,and accidental transport conditions.In the event of an accident,the rods within the storage tank may become rearranged,introducing uncertainty that must be accounted for to ensure that criticality analysis results are conservative.Historically,this uncertainty was addressed overly conservatively due to limited research on non-uniform arrangement scenarios,which proved unsuitable for criticality safety analysis of spent fuel packages.This paper introduced three distinct methods to non-uniformly rearrange fuel rods—Uniform Arrangement by Blocks,Layer-by-Layer Determination,and Birdcage Deformation—and meticulously evaluates the influences of rod rearrangement on the effective multiplication factor of neutrons,k eff,utilizing the Monte Carlo method.Ultimately,this study presents a holistic method capable of encompassing the entire spectrum of potential effects stemming from the rearrangement of fuel rods during rods mispositioning accident.By augmenting the safety margin,this approach proves to be adeptly suited for the criticality safety analysis of nuclear fuel transport containers.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22176200)the Industrial Innovation Entrepreneurial Team Project of Ordos 2021.
文摘Industrial waste salts are commonly used to make value-added snow-melting agents to ensure traffic safety in northern China during winter and spring after snowfall.However,heavy metals in industrial waste salts may pose certain environmental risks.Snow-melting agents and snow samples were collected and analyzed from highways,arterial roads,footbridges,and other locations in Beijing after the snowstorm in December 2023.It was found that the main component of snow-melting agents was sodium chloride with high concentrations of Cu,Mn,and Zn,which are not regulated in the current policies,despite the recent promotion of environmentally friendly snow-melting agents.The Pb,Zn and Cr contents of some snow samples exceeded the limitation value of surface water quality standards,potentially affecting the soil and water environment near roadsides,although the snow-melting agents comply with relevant standards,which indicates the policy gap in the management of recycled industrial salts.We reviewed and analyzed the relevant standards for snow-melting agents and industrial waste salts proposed nationally and internationally over the past 30 years.Through comparative analysis,we proposed relevant policy recommendations to the existing quality standards of snow-melting agents and the management regulations of industrial waste salts,and the formulation of corresponding usage strategies,aimed at reducing the potential environmental release of heavy metals from the use of snow-melting agents,thereby promoting more sustainable green urban development and environmentally sound waste management.
文摘Background:Epidemiological studies have confirmed that longer exposure to insecticides like cypermethrin(CYP)significantly increases the risk of male reproductive toxicity.Crocus sativus L.has been recognized due to its therapeutic properties,but its exact role and molecular mechanisms in treatment of reproductive dysfunction remain unclear.Methods:During this study,36 rats were randomly divided into six groups(n=6):control,CYP-induced(60 mg/kg),standard(leuprolide 3 mg/kg)and three treatment groups receiving aqueous,ethanolic,and oil extracts(50 mg/kg or 20 mL/kg)for post-toxicity induction.Results:The finding represented that exposure of CYP significantly increased oxidative stress,disrupted testicular architecture,and markedly reduced testosterone levels(P<0.05).Importantly,Crocus sativus L.treatment alleviated these changes by increasing the expression of Nrf2(nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2),restoring the activity of antioxidant enzymes,and enhancing testicular histomorphology.Surprisingly,molecular docking established a high binding affinity of Crocus sativus L.phytoconstituents such as gallic acid,cinnamic acid and quercetin to the Nrf2-Keap1 complex.It is worth noting that,Crocus sativus L.exhibited a high level of protection against reproductive toxicity caused by CYP in male rats,which was mediated by the activation of Nrf2 pathway,reduction of oxidative damage,and favorable ADMET characteristics.Conclusion:Notably,this research provides a more valid,safe,and effective method of developing new drugs for reproductive disorders,however,further investigation is needed to support the research findings and implement it in clinical practice.
基金Supported by the Austrian Science Fund(FWF),No.KLI 429-B13 to Vécsei A
文摘AIM: To further improve the endoscopic detection of intestinal mucosa alterations due to celiac disease(CD).METHODS: We assessed a hybrid approach based on the integration of expert knowledge into the computerbased classification pipeline. A total of 2835 endoscopic images from the duodenum were recorded in 290 children using the modified immersion technique(MIT). These children underwent routine upper endoscopy for suspected CD or non-celiac upper abdominal symptoms between August 2008 and December 2014. Blinded to the clinical data and biopsy results, three medical experts visually classified each image as normal mucosa(Marsh-0) or villous atrophy(Marsh-3). The experts' decisions were further integrated into state-of-the-arttexture recognition systems. Using the biopsy results as the reference standard, the classification accuracies of this hybrid approach were compared to the experts' diagnoses in 27 different settings.RESULTS: Compared to the experts' diagnoses, in 24 of 27 classification settings(consisting of three imaging modalities, three endoscopists and three classification approaches), the best overall classification accuracies were obtained with the new hybrid approach. In 17 of 24 classification settings, the improvements achieved with the hybrid approach were statistically significant(P < 0.05). Using the hybrid approach classification accuracies between 94% and 100% were obtained. Whereas the improvements are only moderate in the case of the most experienced expert, the results of the less experienced expert could be improved significantly in 17 out of 18 classification settings. Furthermore, the lowest classification accuracy, based on the combination of one database and one specific expert, could be improved from 80% to 95%(P < 0.001).CONCLUSION: The overall classification performance of medical experts, especially less experienced experts, can be boosted significantly by integrating expert knowledge into computer-aided diagnosis systems.
文摘The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the accuracy gain of Bayesian analysis-based computeraided diagnosis(CAD) vs human judgment alone in characterizing solitary pulmonary nodules(SPNs) at computed tomography(CT). The study included 100 randomly selected SPNs with a definitive diagnosis. Nodule features at first and follow-up CT scans as well as clinical data were evaluated individually on a 1 to 5 points risk chart by 7 radiologists, firstly blinded then aware of Bayesian Inference Malignancy Calculator(BIMC) model predictions. Raters' predictions were evaluated by means of receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve analysis and decision analysis. Overall ROC area under the curve was 0.758 before and 0.803 after the disclosure of CAD predictions(P = 0.003). A net gain in diagnostic accuracy was found in 6 out of 7 readers. Mean risk class of benign nodules dropped from 2.48 to 2.29, while mean risk class of malignancies rose from 3.66 to 3.92. Awareness of CAD predictions also determined a significant drop on mean indeterminate SPNs(15 vs 23.86 SPNs) and raised the mean number of correct and confident diagnoses(mean 39.57 vs 25.71 SPNs). This study provides evidence supporting the integration of the Bayesian analysis-based BIMC model in SPN characterization.
文摘Preoperative and postoperative sperm parameter values from infertile men with varicocele were analyzed by computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) to assess if sperm characteristics improved after varicocelectomy. Semen samples of men with proven fertility (n = 38) and men with varicocele-related infertility (n = 61) were also analyzed. Conventional semen analysis was performed according to WHO (2010) criteria and a CASA system was employed to assess kinetic parameters and sperm concentration. Seminal parameters values in the fertile group were very far above from those of the patients, either before or after surgery. No significant improvement in the percentage normal sperm morphology (P = 0. 10), sperm concentration (P = 0.52), total sperm count (P = 0.76), subjective motility (%) (P = 0.97) nor kinematics (P = 0.30) was observed after varicocelectomy when all groups were compared. Neither was significant improvement found in percentage normal sperm morphology (P = 0.91), sperm concentration (P =0. 10), total sperm count (P = 0.89) or percentage motility (P = 0.77) after varicocelectomy in paired comparisons of preoperative and postoperative data. Analysis of paired samples revealed that the total sperm count (P = 0.01) and most sperm kinetic parameters: curvilinear velocity (P = 0.002), straight-line velocity (P = 0.0004), average path velocity (P = 0.0005), linearity (P = 0.02), and wobble (P = 0.006) improved after surgery. CASA offers the potential for accurate quantitative assessment of each patient's response to varicocelectomy.
文摘Aim: To establish a rat and mouse epididymal map based on the use of the Epiquatre automatic software for histologic image analysis. Methods: Epididymides from five adult rats and five adult mice were fixed in alcoholic Bouin's fixative and embedded in paraffin. Serial longitudinal sections through the medial aspect of the organ were cut at 10 jam and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. As determined from major connective tissue septa, nine subdivisions of the rat epididymis and seven for the mouse were determined, consisting of five sub-regions in the caput (rat and mouse), one (mouse) or three (rat) in the corpus and one in the cauda (rat and mouse). Using the Epiquatre software, several tubular, luminal and epithelial morphometric parameters were evaluated. Results: Statistical comparison of the quantitative parameters revealed regional differences (2-5 in the rat, 3-6 in the mouse, dependent on parameters) with caput regions 1 and 2 being largely distinguishable from the similar remaining caput and corpus, which were in turn recognizable from the cauda regions in both species. Conclusion: The use of the Epiquatre software allowed us to establish regression curves for different morphometric parameters that can permit the detection of changes in their values under different pathological or experimental conditions. (Asian J Androl 2005 Sep; 7: 267-275)
文摘Partially filled pipeflows were encountered in drainage systems belonging to a family of unsteady flow problems. Basic equations were developed and numerically solved also by the characteristic different methods with time-line interpolation scheme. The boundary conditions for the inflow, outflow, moving hydraulic jump and junctions were developed experimentally and numerically. Full scale model experiments were carried out. It is consequently clarified that numerical model is capable of predicting flow characteristics in realistic drainage networks.
文摘Breast cancer is one of the most common and deadliest types of cancer among women and early detection is of major importance to decrease mortality rates. Microcalcification clusters and masses are two major indicators of malignancy in the early stages of this disease, when mammography is typically used as the screening technology. Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) systems can support the radiologists’ work, by performing a double-reading process, which provides a second opinion that the physician can take into account in the detection process. This paper presents a CAD model based on computer vision procedures for locating suspicious regions that are later analyzed by artificial neural networks, support vector machines and linear discriminant analysis, to classify them into benign or malignant, based on a set of features that are extracted from lesions to characterize their visual content. A genetic algorithm is used to find the subset of features that provide the greatest discriminant power. Our results show that the SVM presented the highest overall accuracy and specificity for classifying microcalcification clusters, while the NN outperformed the rest for mass-classification in the same parameters. Overall accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were measured.
文摘A compressive design and analysis of a turbofan engine is presented in this paper. The components of jet engine have been analyzed based on mechanical design concept. An attempt has been to select materials based on sustainability and green design considerations. The energy content (e) of the materials has been one of the parameters for material selection. The choice of material has a substantial impact on cost, manuthcturing process, and the life cycle efficiency. All components nose cone, fan blade, inlet shaft, including compressor has been solid modeled using Siemens NX 11.0 CAD software. The finite element analysis of every component was performed and found safe. A tolerance analysis was performed before assembly of the turbofan engine. A numerical analysis was completed on blade and inlet geometries to determine a more efficient turbofan engine. Thermal analysis was executed oi1 the cone and suitable corrections were made. Finally, the cost and the total energy were estimated to show how much energy is needed to manufacture a turbofan jet engine.
文摘The growing need for sustainable energy solutions,driven by rising energy shortages,environmental concerns,and the depletion of conventional energy sources,has led to a significant focus on renewable energy.Solar energy,among the various renewable sources,is particularly appealing due to its abundant availability.However,the efficiency of commercial solar photovoltaic(PV)modules is hindered by several factors,notably their conversion efficiency,which averages around 19%.This efficiency can further decline to 10%–16%due to temperature increases during peak sunlight hours.This study investigates the cooling of PV modules by applying water to their front surface through Computational fluid dynamics(CFD).The study aimed to determine the optimal conditions for cooling the PV module by analyzing the interplay between water film thickness,Reynolds number,and their effects on temperature reduction and heat transfer.The CFD analysis revealed that the most effective cooling condition occurred with a 5 mm thick water film and a Reynolds number of 10.These specific parameters were found to maximize the heat transfer and temperature reduction efficiency.This finding is crucial for the development of practical and efficient cooling systems for PV modules,potentially leading to improved performance and longevity of solar panels.Alternative cooling fluids or advanced cooling techniques that might offer even better efficiency or practical benefits.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31960585)Science and Technology Major Project of Guangxi(Grant No.Guike AA22068092)+1 种基金Guangxi Science and Technology Vanguard Special Action Project(Grant No.202204)State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources(Grant Nos.SKLCUSA-a201906,SKLCU-SA-c201901)。
文摘The SKP1 gene is an important component of the SCF(SKP1-Cullin1-F-box)complex and serves as a bridge connecting the F-box and Cullin1genes(F-box-SKP1-Cullin1).The pattern of S-RNase being ubiquitously labelled by the SCF complex and degraded by the 26S protease accounts for the bulk of the available self-incompatibility studies.In this study,15 ClSKP1s from the‘Xiangshui'lemon genome and ubiquitome exist in the same SKP1 conserved domain(CD)as SKP1s in other species.The q PCR results showed that SKP1-6 and SKP1-14 have tissue expression patterns specific for expression in pollen.In addition,SKP1-6 and SKP1-14 in the stigma,style and ovary were significantly upregulated after self-pollination compared to those after cross-pollination.A subcellular location showed that SKP1-6 and SKP1-14 were located in the nucleus.In addition,yeast two-hybrid(Y2H)assays,bimolecular fluorescence complementation(BiFC)and luciferase complementation imaging(LCI)assays showed that SKP1-6 interacted with F-box1,F-box33,F-box34,F-box17,F-box19,Cullin1-2 and 26S proteasome subunit 4 homolog A(26S PS4HA).SKP1-14 interacted with F-box17,F-box19,F-box35,Cullin1-2 and 26S PS4HA.The interaction of Cullin1-2 and the F-box with SKP1 as a bridge was verified by a yeast three-hybrid experiment.The ability of S3-RNase to inhibit pollen and pollen tube growth and development was assessed using in vitro pollen co-culture experiments with recombinant S3-RNase proteins.Overall,this study provides important experimental evidence and theoretical basis for understanding the mechanism of self-incompatibility in plants by revealing the key role of the SCF complex in‘Xiangshui'lemon,which is bridged by ClSKP1-6,in self-incompatibility.The results of this study are of great significance for the future indepth exploration of the molecular mechanism of the SCF complex and its wide application in the self-incompatibility of plants.
基金supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin(General Program),Nos.23JCYBJC01390(to RL),22JCYBJC00220(to XC),and 22JCYBJC00210(to QL).
文摘Peripheral nerve injury is a common neurological condition that often leads to severe functional limitations and disabilities.Research on the pathogenesis of peripheral nerve injury has focused on pathological changes at individual injury sites,neglecting multilevel pathological analysis of the overall nervous system and target organs.This has led to restrictions on current therapeutic approaches.In this paper,we first summarize the potential mechanisms of peripheral nerve injury from a holistic perspective,covering the central nervous system,peripheral nervous system,and target organs.After peripheral nerve injury,the cortical plasticity of the brain is altered due to damage to and regeneration of peripheral nerves;changes such as neuronal apoptosis and axonal demyelination occur in the spinal cord.The nerve will undergo axonal regeneration,activation of Schwann cells,inflammatory response,and vascular system regeneration at the injury site.Corresponding damage to target organs can occur,including skeletal muscle atrophy and sensory receptor disruption.We then provide a brief review of the research advances in therapeutic approaches to peripheral nerve injury.The main current treatments are conducted passively and include physical factor rehabilitation,pharmacological treatments,cell-based therapies,and physical exercise.However,most treatments only partially address the problem and cannot complete the systematic recovery of the entire central nervous system-peripheral nervous system-target organ pathway.Therefore,we should further explore multilevel treatment options that produce effective,long-lasting results,perhaps requiring a combination of passive(traditional)and active(novel)treatment methods to stimulate rehabilitation at the central-peripheral-target organ levels to achieve better functional recovery.