The goal of early action recognition is to predict action label when the sequence is partially observed. The existing methods treat the early action recognition task as sequential classification ...problems on different observation ratios of an action sequence. Since these models are trained by differentiating positive category from all negative classes, the diverse information of different negative categories is ignored, which we believe can be collected to help improve the recognition performance. In this paper, we step towards to a new direction by introducing category exclusion to early action recognition. We model the exclusion as a mask operation on the classification probability output of a pre-trained early action recognition classifier. Specifically, we use policy-based reinforcement learning to train an agent. The agent generates a series of binary masks to exclude interfering negative categories during action execution and hence help improve the recognition accuracy. The proposed method is evaluated on three benchmark recognition datasets, NTU-RGBD, First-Person Hand Action, as well as UCF-101. The proposed method enhances the recognition accuracy consistently over all different observation ratios on the three datasets, where the accuracy improvements on the early stages are especially significant.
Background
This study evaluated the safety, effectiveness, and feasibility of indocyanine green (ICG) tracing in guiding lymph-node (LN) dissection during laparoscopic D2 radical gastrectomy in ...patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).
Method
We retrospectively analyzed data on 313 patients with clinical stage of cT1-4N0-3M0 who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy after NAC between February 2010 and October 2020 from two hospitals in China. Grouped according to whether ICG was injected. For the ICG group (
n
= 102) and non-ICG group (
n
= 211), 1:1 propensity matching analysis was used.
Results
After matching, there was no significant difference in the general clinical pathological data between the two groups (ICG vs. non-ICG: 94 vs. 94). The average number of total LN dissections was significantly higher in the ICG group and lower LN non-compliance rate than in the non-ICG group. Subgroup analysis showed that among patients with LN and tumor did not shrink after NAC, the number of LN dissections was significantly more and LN non-compliance rate was lower in the ICG group than in the non-ICG group. Intraoperative blood loss was significantly lesser in the ICG group than in the non-ICG group, while the recovery and complications of the two groups were similar.
Conclusion
For patients with poor NAC outcomes, ICG tracing can increase the number of LN dissections during laparoscopic radical gastrectomy, reduce the rate of LN non-compliance, and reduce intraoperative bleeding. Patients with AGC should routinely undergo ICG-guided laparoscopic radical gastrectomy.
Immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) is a rare but potentially fatal blood disorder resulting from acquired deficiency of plasma ADAMTS13, a metalloprotease that cleaves ...endothelium-derived ultralarge von Willebrand factor. Standard of care for iTTP including therapeutic plasma exchange, caplacizumab, and immunosuppressives, known as triple therapy, has led to a significant reduction in the disease-related mortality rate. The first International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis TTP guideline stresses the importance of having plasma ADAMTS13 activity testing in the algorithm for diagnosis and management of iTTP. However, the predictive role of assessing plasma ADAMTS13 activity and inhibitors or other ADAMTS13-related parameters in patients with acute iTTP and during remission has not been systematically evaluated.
To review and assess the predictive values of testing plasma ADAMTS13 activity, antigen, and inhibitors or anti-ADAMTS13 immunoglobulin G at various stages of disease in outcomes of iTTP.
Peer-reviewed publications and personal experience.
We conclude that assessing ADAMTS13 biomarkers is not only essential for establishing the initial diagnosis, but also crucial for risk stratification and the early detection of disease recurrence. This may guide therapeutic interventions during acute episodes and for long-term follow-up of iTTP patients.
Microglial activation-mediated neuroinflammation plays an important role in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Inflammatory activation of microglial cells is often accompanied by a ...metabolic switch from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis. However, the roles and molecular mechanisms of glycolysis in microglial activation and neuroinflammation are not yet fully understood.
The anti-inflammatory effects and its underlying mechanisms of glycolytic inhibition in vitro were examined in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated BV-2 microglial cells or primary microglial cells by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot, immunoprecipitation, flow cytometry, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) luciferase reporter assays. The anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of glycolytic inhibitor, 2-deoxoy-D-glucose (2-DG) in vivo were measured in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-or LPS-induced Parkinson's disease (PD) models by immunofluorescence staining, behavior tests, and Western blot analysis.
We found that LPS rapidly increased glycolysis in microglial cells, and glycolysis inhibitors (2-DG and 3-bromopyruvic acid (3-BPA)), siRNA glucose transporter type 1 (Glut-1), and siRNA hexokinase (HK) 2 abolished LPS-induced microglial cell activation. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that glycolysis inhibitors significantly inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), an inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B kinase subunit beta (IKKβ), and NF-kappa-B inhibitor alpha (IκB-α), degradation of IκBα, nuclear translocation of p65 subunit of NF-κB, and NF-κB transcriptional activity. In addition, 2-DG significantly inhibited LPS-induced acetylation of p65/RelA on lysine 310, which is mediated by NAD-dependent protein deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) and is critical for NF-κB activation. A coculture study revealed that 2-DG reduced the cytotoxicity of activated microglia toward MES23.5 dopaminergic neuron cells with no direct protective effect. In an LPS-induced PD model, 2-DG significantly ameliorated neuroinflammation and subsequent tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cell loss. Furthermore, 2-DG also reduced dopaminergic cell death and microglial activation in the MPTP-induced PD model.
Collectively, our results suggest that glycolysis is actively involved in microglial activation. Inhibition of glycolysis can ameliorate microglial activation-related neuroinflammatory diseases.
Different from the classical job shop scheduling, the dual-resource constrained flexible job-shop scheduling problem (DRCFJSP) should deal with job sequence, machine assignment and worker assignment ...all together. In this paper, a knowledge-guided fruit fly optimisation algorithm (KGFOA) with a new encoding scheme is proposed to solve the DRCFJSP with makespan minimisation criterion. In the KGFOA, two types of permutation-based search operators are used to perform the smell-based search for job sequence and resource (machine and worker) assignment, respectively. To enhance the search capability, a knowledge-guided search stage is incorporated into the KGFOA with two new search operators particularly designed for adjusting the operation sequence and the resource assignment, respectively. Due to the combination of the knowledge-guided search and the smell-based search, global exploration and local exploitation can be balanced. Besides, the effect of parameter setting of the KGFOA is investigated and numerical tests are carried out using two sets of instances. The comparative results show that the KGFOA is more effective than the existing algorithms in solving the DRCFJSP.
Sodium metal batteries are promising next‐generation energy storage technology by using energy‐dense and affordable Na metal anodes, yet suffering uncontrollable Na dendritic growth issues. Herein, ...Au nanoparticle@hollow amorphous carbon tube yolk/shell arrays (Au/HCT‐CC) is rationally designed on carbon cloth as a dynamic host. In situ transmission electron microscopy observations reveal a regulated dendrite‐free Na metal plating/stripping within the Au/HCT‐CC host. The self‐confinement of Na metal deposition in the hollow carbon can further stabilize the electrolyte/electrode interface and homogenize Na ion flux, as evidenced by rigorous experimental and theoretical characterizations, thus successfully accommodating the hurdles to Na metal anodes. When cycling in half cells, the Au/HCT‐CC electrodes deliver remarkably high coulombic efficiencies (CEs) of 99.96% over 2200 h at 5 mA cm−2. The high CE of 99.54% is preserved even under harsh cycling conditions of 10 mA cm−2 and 20 mAh cm−2 for 250 cycles. These values rival the state‐of‐the‐art electrochemical performance for Na metal anodes in literature. Finally, the practical feasibility of the new anode is demonstrated by cycling in Na3V2(PO4)3@C||Na‐Au/HCT‐CC full cells over 900 cycles with an extremely low capacity degradation rate of 0.017% per cycle.
3D hollow amorphous carbon tube arrays embedded with Au nanoparticles are directly grown on carbon cloth (Au/HCT‐CC) for sodium metal anode. In situ TEM, in situ optical microscopy, and theoretical simulations clearly uncover that sodiophilic Au nanoparticles can induce dendrite‐free Na metal plating/stripping within the Au/HCT‐CC substrate, providing a testament to its remarkable electrochemical performance.
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type‐9 (PCSK9), a member of the proprotein convertase family, is an important drug target because of its crucial role in lipid metabolism. Emerging evidence ...suggests a direct role of localized PCSK9 in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases. With this in our consideration, we reviewed PCSK9 physiology with respect to recent development and major studies (clinical and experimental) on PCSK9 functionality in vascular disease. PCSK9 upregulates low‐density lipoprotein (LDL)‐cholesterol levels by binding to the LDL‐receptor (LDLR) and facilitating its lysosomal degradation. PCSK9 gain‐of‐function mutations have been confirmed as a novel genetic mechanism for familial hypercholesterolemia. Elevated serum PCSK9 levels in patients with vascular diseases may contribute to coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, cerebrovascular diseases, vasculitis, aortic diseases, and arterial aging pathogenesis. Experimental models of atherosclerosis, arterial aneurysm, and coronary or carotid artery ligation also support PCSK9 contribution to inflammatory response and disease progression, through LDLR‐dependent or ‐independent mechanisms. More recently, several clinical trials have confirmed that anti‐PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies can reduce systemic LDL levels, total nonfatal cardiovascular events, and all‐cause mortality. Interaction of PCSK9 with other receptor proteins (LDLR‐related proteins, cluster of differentiation family members, epithelial Na+ channels, and sortilin) may underlie its roles in vascular disease. Improved understanding of PCSK9 roles and molecular mechanisms in various vascular diseases will facilitate advances in lipid‐lowering therapy and disease prevention.
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type‐9 (PCSK9) gain‐of‐function mutations have been confirmed as a novel genetic mechanism for familial hypercholesterolemia. Elevated serum PCSK9 levels in patients with vascular diseases may contribute to coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, cerebrovascular diseases, vasculitis, aortic diseases, and arterial aging pathogenesis. Experimental models of atherosclerosis, arterial aneurysm, and coronary or carotid artery ligation support PCSK9 contribution to inflammatory response and disease progression, through low‐density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)‐dependent or ‐independent mechanisms.
Taking advantage of an extremely high theoretical capacity of 4200 mAh g-1, silicon has been considered one of the most promising anode materials for lithium ion batteries. Nevertheless, it also has ...many challenging issues, such as large volume expansion, poor electrical conductivity and the formation of unstable solid electrolyte interphase layers. To address these challenges, much effort has been directed towards developing new strategies, such as designing novel nanosilicon and hybridizing with other functional materials. This paper is dedicated to identifying the current state-of-the-art fabrication methods of nanosilicon, including ball milling, chemical vapor deposition, metal-assisted chemical etching and magnesiothermic reduction, as well as the design principles and the selection criteria for fabricating high performance Si nanostructures. The critical factors determining the electrical conductivity, structural stability and active material content are elucidated as important criteria for designing Si-based composites. The structural evolution and reaction mechanisms of nanosilicon electrodes studied by in situ experiments are discussed, offering new insights into how advanced Si electrodes can be designed. Emerging applications of Si electrodes in other rechargeable batteries, such as Li-S, Li-O2 and Na-ion batteries are also summarized. The challenges encountered for future development of reliable Si electrodes for real-world applications are proposed.
Biotic resistance may influence invasion success; however, the relative roles of species richness, functional or phylogenetic distance in predicting invasion success are not fully understood. We used ...biomass fraction of Chromolaena odorata, an invasive species in tropical and subtropical areas, as a measure of ‘invasion success’ in a series of artificial communities varying in species richness. Communities were constructed using species from Mexico (native range) or China (non‐native range). We found strong evidence of biotic resistance: species richness and community biomass were negatively related with invasion success; invader biomass was greater in plant communities from China than from Mexico. Harvesting time had a greater effect on invasion success in plant communities from China than on those from Mexico. Functional and phylogenetic distances both correlated with invasion success and more functionally distant communities were more easily invaded. The effects of plant‐soil fungi and plant allelochemical interactions on invasion success were species‐specific.
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