Estimating depth from a single underwater image is one of the main tasks of underwater visual perception. However, data-driven underwater depth estimation methods have long been challenging to make ...breakthroughs due to the difficulty in obtaining a large number of true-value references. This is partly due to the high cost of acquisition equipment, which is difficult to be applied to diverse ocean scenes by a wide range of users, and therefore, sample diversity is difficult to guarantee; on the other hand, manual annotation of dense depth relationships is almost impossible to achieve. In this article, we establish a new underwater relative depth estimation benchmark, namely, segmentation of underwater imagery (SUIM)-sparse depth annotation (SDA), by extending the SUIM dataset with more than 6000 manually annotated depth trendlines, 25 million pixels with paired depth-ranking labels, and 14 million depth-ranked pixel pairs. Using the sparse depth relationship annotation provided by SUIM-SDA and the semantic information provided by SUIM, we design a new multistage multitask learning framework to predict a dense relative depth map for a single underwater image. Comprehensive comparison and ablation study on the publicly available dataset and our new benchmark demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed weakly-supervised strategy for dense relative depth estimation. The new benchmark, source code, and trained models are available on the project home page: https://wangxy97.github.io/WsUIDNet .
•Bio-hybrid of S. oneidensis and ZVI was developed for nitrate-to-ammonia conversion.•ZVI directly donate electrons via an unknown outer membrane pathway to the cells.•ZVI efficiently reduces nitrite ...to alleviate the intermediate accumulation.•Bio-hybrid exhibited one-order-of-magnitude higher activity than individual systems.•Bio-hybrid achieved nearly 100% NRA selectivity and good stability for cyclic operation.
Microbial nitrate reduction to ammonia (NRA) presents a promising route to recover wastewater nitrogen resources, but its practical application is currently challenged by limited bacterial activity and reaction selectivity. Here, we propose a facile strategy to boost microbial NRA by using zero-valent iron (ZVI) as an environmentally-benign augment. Unlike the previously reported hybrid systems that rely mainly on mediated electron transfer between ZVI and bacteria for enhanced denitrification, we revealed a combined pathway of direct and mediated electron transfer from ZVI to bacteria, along with a complementation between biological and abiotic nitrogen conversion processes, to promote the NRA process. The bio-hybrid exhibited over 13-fold higher NO3− reduction activity than the individual bacteria or ZVI groups, nearly 100% NRA selectivity, and good stability for treating real wastewater. Our work provides an efficient and scalable route to combine ammonia production with wastewater valorization, which may be readily incorporated into various wastewater treatment processes to maximize resource recovery.
Display omitted
Display omitted
Solar-driven interfacial evaporation technology has attracted significant attention for water purification. However, design and fabrication of solar-driven evaporator with ...cost-effective, excellent capability and large-scale production remains challenging. In this study, inspired by plant transpiration, a tri-layered hierarchical nanofibrous photothermal membrane (HNPM) with a unidirectional water transport effect was designed and prepared via electrospinning for efficient solar-driven interfacial evaporation. The synergistic effect of the hierarchical hydrophilic-hydrophobic structure and the self-pumping effect endowed the HNPM with unidirectional water transport properties. The HNPM could unidirectionally drive water from the hydrophobic layer to the hydrophilic layer within 2.5 s and prevent reverse water penetration. With this unique property, the HNPM was coupled with a water supply component and thermal insulator to assemble a self-floating evaporator for water desalination. Under 1 sun illumination, the water evaporation rates of the designed evaporator with HNPM in pure water and dyed wastewater reached 1.44 and 1.78 kg·m−2·h−1, respectively. The evaporator could achieve evaporation of 11.04 kg·m−2 in 10 h under outdoor solar conditions. Moreover, the tri-layered HNPM exhibited outstanding flexibility and recyclability. Our bionic hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic structure endowed the solar-driven evaporator with capillary wicking and transpiration effects, which provides a rational design and optimization for efficient solar-driven applications.
Soybean (Glycine max) grows in a wide range of latitudes, but it is extremely sensitive to photoperiod, which reduces its yield and ability to adapt to different environments. Therefore, ...understanding of the genetic basis of soybean adaptation is of great significance for breeding and improvement. Here, we characterized Tof18 (SOC1a) that conditions early flowering and growth habit under both short-day and long-day conditions. Molecular analysis confirmed that the two SOC1 homologs present in soybeans (SOC1a and SOC1b) underwent evolutionary functional divergence, with SOC1a having stronger effects on flowering time and stem node number than SOC1b due to transcriptional differences. soc1a soc1b double mutants showed stronger functional effects than either of the single mutants, perhaps due to the formation of SOC1a and SOC1b homodimers or heterodimers. Additionally, Tof18/SOC1a improves the latitudinal adaptation of cultivated soybeans, highlighting the functional importance of SOC1a. The Tof18G allele facilitates adaptation to high latitudes, whereas Tof18A facilitates adaptation to low latitudes. We demonstrated that SOC1s contribute to floral induction in both leaves and shoot apex through inter-regulation with FTs. The SOC1a-SOC1b-Dt2 complex plays essential roles in stem growth habit by directly binding to the regulatory sequence of Dt1, making the genes encoding these proteins potential targets for genome editing to improve soybean yield via molecular breeding. Since the natural Tof18A allele increases node number, introgressing this allele into modern cultivars could improve yields, which would help optimize land use for food production in the face of population growth and global warming.
Display omitted
•A new locus Tof18 (SOC1a) controlling soybean flowering time was identified by GWAS•SOC1a has stronger effects on flowering time and stem node number than SOC1b•SOC1 genes contribute to floral induction in both the leaves and shoot apex•Distinct Tof18 alleles promote latitudinal adaptation of cultivated soybeans
Understanding of the genetic basis of soybean adaptation is of major significance for breeding and improvement. Kou et al. show that two soybean SOC1 genes underwent evolutionary functional divergence, with Tof18/SOC1a improving latitudinal adaptation of cultivated soybeans. This study facilitates molecular breeding toward soybean yield improvement.
Systemic corticosteroid therapy failure is quite common in patients with newly diagnosed acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). Growing evidence has suggested that mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) ...therapy could be a promising treatment option for aGVHD due to its distinctive immunomodulating functions. However, there is a lack of randomized well-controlled clinical trials.
This is a clinical trial protocol for a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II study. The aim of the trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the administration of the human umbilical cord-derived MSC product hUC-MSC PLEB001 in patients with grade II-IV, steroid-refractory aGVHD. A total of 96 patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive MSC or placebo treatment twice per week for 4 weeks, in addition to second-line therapy according to institutional standards. Patients who achieve partial response (PR) at day 28 will be eligible to receive further infusions twice per week for an additional 4 weeks.
This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of MSC therapy in patients who have failed first-line steroid treatment for grade II-IV aGVHD.
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR), ChiCTR2000035740. Registered on 16 August 2020.
Introduction
Most of the reported discussions about the learning curve for the direct anterior approach (DAA) in total hip arthroplasty (THA) have been by experienced surgeons. The study’s aim was to ...describe the learning curve, short-term outcomes, complications, and adaptations to the DAA used in the first 100 THA cases experienced by a young surgeon who had received DAA training for trauma surgeries.
Materials and methods
This retrospective study summarizes the first 100 consecutive cases experienced by a young surgeon who performed the unilateral DAA for THA between 2019 and 2021. Cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis was performed to evaluate the learning curve on the basis of operative time and overall complications. The demographics data, short-term outcomes, and complications of the first 50 and second 50 cases were compared.
Results
The CUSUM curve declined after 49 and 55 cases, measured by operative time and overall complications, respectively. The median operative time (104 vs. 80 min) and intraoperative fluoroscopic time (38 vs. 12 s) increased significantly in the first 50 cases compared with the times in the second 50 cases. Complications tended to occur in the first 50 cases (12% vs. 6%), and the overall rate was 9%. Major complications all occurred in the first 50 cases, with a rate of 4%. Only one case, which involved a complicated periprosthetic fracture around the stem that extended to the tip, required the intervention of a senior surgeon.
Conclusions
Even after receiving training on the DAA for trauma surgeries, the young surgeon experienced a steep learning curve and more complications in the first 50 cases. The DAA for THA is a technically demanding procedure and may require guidance from an experienced surgeon to manage unexpected complications.
Display omitted
•We prepared a NiOx electrochromic film with the crystallinity varying across film thickness for the first time.•The film with variable crystallinity showed an enhanced cycling ...durability as compared with the NiOx film prepared by conventional technologies.
A NiOx film with varying crystallinity across film thickness has been prepared by reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering. The main research achievement is that the electrochemical cycling stability of the NiOx film has been radically improved as compared with NiOx films deposited by the conventional technologies. At the same time, the optical modulation has been also improved, whereas other electrochromic parameters, such as the switching rate and high coloration efficiency have been preserved at the required level.
The barriers to access diagnosis and receive treatment, in addition to insufficient case identification and reporting, lead to tuberculosis (TB) spreads in communities, especially among hard-to-reach ...populations. This study evaluated a community-based active case finding (ACF) strategy for the detection of tuberculosis cases among high-risk groups and general population in China between 2013 and 2015.
This retrospective cohort study conducted an ACF in ten communities of Dongchuan County, located in northeast Yunnan Province between 2013 and 2015; and compared to 136 communities that had passive case finding (PCF). The algorithm for ACF was: 1) screen for TB symptoms among community enrolled residents by home visits, 2) those with positive symptoms along with defined high-risk groups underwent chest X-ray (CXR), followed by sputum microscopy confirmation. TB incidence proportion and the number needed to screen (NNS) to detect one case were calculated to evaluate the ACF strategy compared to PCF, chi-square test was applied to compare the incidence proportion of TB cases' demography and the characteristics for detected cases under different strategies. Thereafter, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) and multiple Fisher's exact test were applied to compare the incidence proportion between general population and high-risk groups. Patient and diagnostic delays for ACF and PCF were compared by Wilcoxon rank sum test.
A total of 97 521 enrolled residents were visited with the ACF cumulatively, 12.3% were defined as high-risk groups or had TB symptoms. Sixty-six new TB patients were detected by ACF. There was no significant difference between the cumulative TB incidence proportion for ACF (67.7/100000 population) and the prevalence for PCF (62.6/100000 population) during 2013 to 2015, though the incidence proportion in ACF communities decreased after three rounds active screening, concurrent with the remained stable prevalence in PCF communities. The cumulative NNS were 34, 39 and 29 in HIV/AIDS infected individuals, people with positive TB symptoms and history of previous TB, respectively, compared to 1478 in the general population. The median patient delay under ACF was 1 day (Interquartile range, IQR: 0-27) compared to PCF with 30 days (IQR: 14-61).
This study confirmed that massive ACF was not effective in general population in a moderate TB prevalence setting. The priority should be the definition and targeting of high-risk groups in the community before the screening process is launched. The shorter time interval of ACF between TB symptoms onset and linkage to healthcare service may decrease the risk of TB community transmission. Furthermore, integrated ACF strategy in the National Project of Basic Public Health Service may have long term public health impact.
PDF
