In this paper we study the classification of ancient convex solutions to the mean curvature flow in R n+1 . An open problem related to the classification of type II singularities is whether a convex ...translating solution is k-rotationally symmetric for some integer 2 ≤ k ≤ n, namely whether its level set is a sphere or cylinder S k−1 × R n−k . In this paper we give an affirmative answer for entire solutions in dimension 2. In high dimensions we prove that there exist nonrotationally symmetric, entire convex translating solutions, but the blow-down in space of any entire convex translating solution is k-rotationally symmetric. We also prove that the blow-down in space-time of an ancient convex solution which sweeps the whole space R n+1 is a shrinking sphere or cylinder.
Objective
Changes in gut microbiota have been linked to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but knowledge is limited. Our study aimed to provide an in‐depth understanding of the contribution of gut ...microbiota to the immunopathogenesis of SLE.
Methods
Fecal metagenomes from 117 patients with untreated SLE and 52 SLE patients posttreatment were aligned with 115 matched healthy controls and analyzed by whole‐genome profiling. For comparison, we assessed the fecal metagenome of MRL/lpr mice. The oral microbiota origin of the gut species that existed in SLE patients was documented by single‐nucleotide polymorphism–based strain‐level analyses. Functional validation assays were performed to demonstrate the molecular mimicry of newly found microbial peptides.
Results
Gut microbiota from individuals with SLE displayed significant differences in microbial composition and function compared to healthy controls. Certain species, including the Clostridium species ATCC BAA‐442 as well as Atopobium rimae, Shuttleworthia satelles, Actinomyces massiliensis, Bacteroides fragilis, and Clostridium leptum, were enriched in SLE gut microbiota and reduced after treatment. Enhanced lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis aligned with reduced branched chain amino acid biosynthesis was observed in the gut of SLE patients. The findings in mice were consistent with our findings in human subjects. Interestingly, some species with an oral microbiota origin were enriched in the gut of SLE patients. Functional validation assays demonstrated the proinflammatory capacities of some microbial peptides derived from SLE‐enriched species.
Conclusion
This study provides detailed information on the microbiota of untreated patients with SLE, including their functional signatures, similarities with murine counterparts, oral origin, and the definition of autoantigen‐mimicking peptides. Our data demonstrate that microbiome‐altering approaches may offer valuable adjuvant therapies in SLE.
The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has been identified as a reliable alternative biomarker of insulin resistance (IR). Recently, a considerable number of studies have provided robust statistical ...evidence suggesting that the TyG index is associated with the development and prognosis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Nevertheless, the application of the TyG index as a marker of CVD has not systemically been evaluated, and even less information exists regarding the underlying mechanisms associated with CVD. To this end, in this review, we summarize the history of the use of the TyG index as a surrogate marker for IR. We aimed to highlight the application value of the TyG index for a variety of CVD types and to explore the potential limitations of using this index as a predictor for cardiovascular events to improve its application value for CVD and provide more extensive and precise supporting evidence.
Probiotics have been deemed multipotent and unprecedentedly applied in the health field recently. However, there are challenges in promoting credible and reliable resources while avoiding ...misinformation regarding probiotics for the public.
This study analysed 400 eligible probiotic-related videos selected from YouTube, and the three most popular video-sharing platforms (Bilibili, Weibo and TikTok) in China. Video retrieval was performed on September 5
, 2022. GQS and tailored DISCERN tool assess each video's quality, usage, and reliability. A comparative analysis of videos from different sources was carried out.
The identity distribution of probiotic video-producers was predominantly experts (n = 202, 50.50%), followed by amateurs (n = 161, 40.25%) and health-related institutions (n = 37, 9.25%). The videos' content category mainly discussed the function of probiotics (n = 120, 30%), the way to choose suitable products (n = 81, 20.25%), and the methods for taking probiotics (n = 71, 17.75%).The overall quality of videos was moderate (3/5 point) assessed by GQS, while the usage (1/6 point) and reliability (2/5 point) detailing probiotics assessed by tailored DISCERN tool were poor. The attitude of probiotic video-producers was primarily positive (n = 323, 80.75%), followed by neutral (n = 52, 13.00%) and negative (n = 25, 6.25%) (P < 0.001).
The current study showed that videos on social media platforms publicise important information including the concepts, usage, and precautions of probiotics to the public. But the overall quality of uploaded videos about probiotics was unsatisfactory. More efforts are needed to improve the higher-quality content of probiotic-related online videos and better propagate probiotic knowledge to the public in the future.
•Pulmonary CT features of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease were diverse.•This disease changed rapidly at the early stage, and lasted for a long time.•CT could provide semi-quantitative analysis of ...pulmonary damage severity.
To evaluate lung abnormalities on thin-section computed tomographic (CT) scans in patients with COVID-19 and correlate findings to duration of symptoms.
In total, 348 CT scans in 112 patients were classified according to the time after the onset of the initial symptoms, namely stage-1 (0–4 days); stage-2 (5–9 days); stage-3 (10–14 days); stage-4 (15–21 days); stage-5 (22–28 days); and stage-6 (＞28 days). Each lung lobe was evaluated for extent affected by ground-glass opacities (GGO), crazy-paving pattern and consolidation, in five categories of percentual severity. Summation of scores from all five lung lobes provided the total CT score (maximal CT score, 25).
The predominant patterns of lung abnormalities were GGOs, crazy-paving pattern, consolidation and linear opacities. The frequency of crazy-paving pattern, consolidation and linear opacities peaked at stage-3 (62.7 %), stage-4 (75.0 %) and stage-5 (83.1 %), respectively, and decreased thereafter. Total CT scores increased from stage-1 to stage-2 (2.8 ± 3.1, vs. 6.5 ± 4.6, respectively, P < 0.01), and thereafter remained high. The lower lobes were more inclined to be involved with higher CT scores except for stage-1. At stage-6 98.1 % of CT scans still showed abnormalities (CT score 7.5 ± 4.1).
Thin-section CT could provide semi-quantitative analysis of pulmonary damage severity. This disease changed rapidly at the early stage, then tended to be stable and lasted for a long time.
Abnormal N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is closely associated with the occurrence, development, progression and prognosis of cancer, and aberrant m6A regulators have been identified as novel ...anticancer drug targets. Both traditional medicine-related approaches and modern drug discovery platforms have been used in an attempt to develop m6A-targeted drugs. Here, we provide an update of the latest findings on m6A modification and the critical roles of m6A modification in cancer progression, and we summarize rational sources for the discovery of m6A-targeted anticancer agents from traditional medicines and computer-based chemosynthetic compounds. This review highlights the potential agents targeting m6A modification for cancer treatment and proposes the advantage of artificial intelligence (AI) in the discovery of m6A-targeting anticancer drugs. Three stages of m6A-targeting anticancer drug discovery: traditional medicine-based natural products, modern chemical modification or synthesis, and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted approaches for the future.
Background and Aim
We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic radial incision (ERI) versus endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) treatment of naïve, recurrent, and refractory benign ...esophageal anastomotic strictures.
Methods
One hundred and one ERI, 145 EBD, and 42 ERI combined with EBD sessions were performed in 136 consecutive patients with benign esophageal anastomotic stricture after esophagectomy at Zhongshan Hospital from January 2016 to August 2021. Baseline characteristics, operational procedures, and clinical outcomes data were retrospectively evaluated. Parameters and recurrence‐free survival (RFS) were compared between ERI and EBD in patients with naïve or recurrent or refractory strictures. Risk factors for re‐stricture after ERI were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses.
Results
Twenty‐nine ERI versus 68 EBD sessions were performed for naïve stricture, 26 ERI versus 60 EBD for recurrent strictures, and 46 ERI versus 17 EBD for refractory stricture. With comparable baseline characteristics, RFS was greater in the ERI than the EBD group for naïve strictures (P = 0.0449). The ERI group had a lower 12‐month re‐stricture rate than the EBD group (37.9% vs 61.8%, P = 0.0309) and a more prolonged patency time (181.5 ± 263.1 vs 74.5 ± 82.0, P = 0.0233). Between the two interventions, recurrent and refractory strictures had similar RFS (P = 0.0598; P = 0.7668). Multivariate analysis revealed initial ERI treatment was an independent predictive factor for lower re‐stricture risk after ERI intervention (odds ratio = 0.047, P = 0.001). Few adverse events were observed after ERI or EBD (3.0% vs 2.1%, P = 0.6918).
Conclusions
ERI is associated with lower re‐stricture rates with better patency and RFS compared with EBD for naive strictures.
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•Long-term effects of Fe3O4 NPs on anammox UASB reactor were firstly investigated.•The anammox performance was not obviously influenced under exposure of 2−200 mg L−1 Fe3O4 NPs.•The ...sludge characteristics were increased with Fe3O4 NPs concentration elevated.•The Fe3O4 NPs could enhance the relative abundance of Candidatus Kuenenia.
The performance of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) granules were studied under long-term exposure to Fe3O4 NPs. The Fe3O4 NPs had no negative impacts on nitrogen removal performance with the addition of 2−200 mg L−1. The specific anammox activity (SAA) slightly decreased from 287.0 ± 13.2 to –253.0 ± 9.2 mg TN g-1VSS d-1 with the increase in Fe3O4 NPs level from 2 to 60 mg L-1, and then significantly enhanced to 381.8 ± 15.7 mg TN g-1VSS d-1 at 200 mg L-1 Fe3O4 NPs. And the change trends of the heme c content, extracellular polymeric substance amount and settling velocity were consistent with that of SAA. The Candidatus_Kuenenia was the dominant species during the entire experiment and its relative abundance was up to 33.4 % at the end the experiment. The results provide some useful information for comprehending the impact of Fe3O4 NPs on the performance of wastewater biological treatment systems.
We present an approach to accelerating a wide variety of image processing operators. Our approach uses a fully-convolutional network that is trained on input-output pairs that demonstrate the ...operator's action. After training, the original operator need not be run at all. The trained network operates at full resolution and runs in constant time. We investigate the effect of network architecture on approximation accuracy, runtime, and memory footprint, and identify a specific architecture that balances these considerations. We evaluate the presented approach on ten advanced image processing operators, including multiple variational models, multiscale tone and detail manipulation, photographic style transfer, nonlocal dehazing, and nonphoto-realistic stylization. All operators are approximated by the same model. Experiments demonstrate that the presented approach is significantly more accurate than prior approximation schemes. It increases approximation accuracy as measured by PSNR across the evaluated operators by 8.5 dB on the MIT-Adobe dataset (from 27.5 to 36 dB) and reduces DSSIM by a multiplicative factor of 3 compared to the most accurate prior approximation scheme, while being the fastest. We show that our models generalize across datasets and across resolutions, and investigate a number of extensions of the presented approach.
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