Epithelial (EP) and stromal (ST) are two types of tissues in histological images. Automated segmentation or classification of EP and ST tissues is important when developing computerized system for ...analyzing the tumor microenvironment. In this paper, a Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (DCNN) based feature learning is presented to automatically segment or classify EP and ST regions from digitized tumor tissue microarrays (TMAs). Current approaches are based on handcraft feature representation, such as color, texture, and Local Binary Patterns (LBP) in classifying two regions. Compared to handcrafted feature based approaches, which involve task dependent representation, DCNN is an end-to-end feature extractor that may be directly learned from the raw pixel intensity value of EP and ST tissues in a data driven fashion. These high-level features contribute to the construction of a supervised classifier for discriminating the two types of tissues. In this work we compare DCNN based models with three handcraft feature extraction based approaches on two different datasets which consist of 157 Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stained images of breast cancer and 1376 immunohistological (IHC) stained images of colorectal cancer, respectively. The DCNN based feature learning approach was shown to have a F1 classification score of 85%, 89%, and 100%, accuracy (ACC) of 84%, 88%, and 100%, and Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) of 86%, 77%, and 100% on two H&E stained (NKI and VGH) and IHC stained data, respectively. Our DNN based approach was shown to outperform three handcraft feature extraction based approaches in terms of the classification of EP and ST regions.
•DCNN based feature learning is proposed for discriminating epithelial and stromal regions in breast and colorectal tumors.•DCNN based feature learning outperforms current handcraft feature extraction based approaches in discriminating epithelial and stromal regions.•The proposed model allows for further analyzing the microenvironment of histological tissues.
Blockchain technology is widely applicable to modern payment systems but has inherent throughput limitations. Off-chain networks are proposed to solve scalability issues, which allows parties to ...efficiently perform micropayments without committing all of the payments to the blockchain. Off-chain payments with security and privacy protection requirements use the smart contract to ensure security and reduce the risk of sensitive information leakage. Although off-chain payments avoid expensive on-chain operations, it raises many concerns, such as the capacity limitation of payment channels and highly dynamic channel status, lowering the throughput of payment channel networks (PCNs). In our work, we explore the path overlap issues in PCNs and propose a decentralized payment routing scheme to improve the network throughput and reduce the redundant traffic overhead of PCNs, thereby guaranteeing efficient payments. The simulation results indicate that the proposed routing algorithm can achieve higher throughput than other routing schemes while guaranteeing short payment times.
The interplay between intrauterine and early postnatal environments has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood, including pulmonary arterial hypertension ...(PAH). While emerging evidence highlights the crucial role of mitochondrial pathology in PAH, the specific mechanisms driving fetal-originated PAH remain elusive.BACKGROUNDThe interplay between intrauterine and early postnatal environments has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood, including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). While emerging evidence highlights the crucial role of mitochondrial pathology in PAH, the specific mechanisms driving fetal-originated PAH remain elusive.To elucidate the role of mitochondrial dynamics in the pathogenesis of fetal-originated PAH, we established a rat model of postnatal catch-up growth following intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) to induce pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). RNA-seq analysis of pulmonary artery samples from the rats revealed dysregulated mitochondrial metabolic genes and pathways associated with increased pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary arterial remodeling in the RC group (postnatal catch-up growth following IUGR). In vitro experiments using pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) from the RC group demonstrated elevated proliferation, migration, and impaired mitochondrial functions. Notably, reduced expression of Mitofusion 2 (Mfn2), a mitochondrial outer membrane protein involved in mitochondrial fusion, was observed in the RC group. Reconstitution of Mfn2 resulted in enhanced mitochondrial fusion and improved mitochondrial functions in PASMCs of RC group, effectively reversing the Warburg effect. Importantly, Mfn2 reconstitution alleviated the PAH phenotype in the RC group rats.METHODS AND RESULTSTo elucidate the role of mitochondrial dynamics in the pathogenesis of fetal-originated PAH, we established a rat model of postnatal catch-up growth following intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) to induce pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). RNA-seq analysis of pulmonary artery samples from the rats revealed dysregulated mitochondrial metabolic genes and pathways associated with increased pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary arterial remodeling in the RC group (postnatal catch-up growth following IUGR). In vitro experiments using pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) from the RC group demonstrated elevated proliferation, migration, and impaired mitochondrial functions. Notably, reduced expression of Mitofusion 2 (Mfn2), a mitochondrial outer membrane protein involved in mitochondrial fusion, was observed in the RC group. Reconstitution of Mfn2 resulted in enhanced mitochondrial fusion and improved mitochondrial functions in PASMCs of RC group, effectively reversing the Warburg effect. Importantly, Mfn2 reconstitution alleviated the PAH phenotype in the RC group rats.Imbalanced mitochondrial dynamics, characterized by reduced Mfn2 expression, plays a critical role in the development of fetal-originated PAH following postnatal catch-up growth after IUGR. Mfn2 emerges as a promising therapeutic strategy for managing IUGR-catch-up growth induced PAH.CONCLUSIONSImbalanced mitochondrial dynamics, characterized by reduced Mfn2 expression, plays a critical role in the development of fetal-originated PAH following postnatal catch-up growth after IUGR. Mfn2 emerges as a promising therapeutic strategy for managing IUGR-catch-up growth induced PAH.
Deep learning stimulates many novel mobile applications, but it is still challenging to enable efficient mobile deep learning applications. Traditional approach tackles this challenge by offloading ...computation tasks to cloud, which has weaknesses of high bandwidth requirements and long transmission latency. In this paper, we propose to enable collaborative inference among mobile devices. Instead of sending deep learning inference tasks to cloud, we let mobile devices collaboratively share the computation workloads. This is based on an important observation that batching inference tasks on GPUs can accelerate the inference processing speed. To achieve efficient collaboration, we design an algorithm based on partial swarm optimization (PSO) that is a versatile population-based stochastic optimization technique. We also design a distributed algorithm to address the challenge that is difficult to collect global network information and run the centralized algorithm. Moreover, extensive simulations are conducted to evaluate the performance of the designed algorithm. The simulation results show that the collaborative inference scheme can effectively reduce inference time of mobile deep learning applications.
Light therapy is a non-pharmacological therapy that is currently being studied in cancer-related symptoms and is certificated as a low-risk intervention by FDA. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the ...most common symptom reported by cancer patients.
To examine the effectiveness of light therapy for CRF in cancer patients through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
We conducted a systematic review of four electronic databases targeted randomized clinical trials evaluating light therapy for CRF (CRD42020215446), from inception to May 2021. The primary outcome was changes of CRF scores; secondary outcomes included depression, sleep, and quality of life (QoL). We quantitatively pooled outcomes using meta-analysis with random-effects models and assessed methodological bias.
We identified thirteen RCTs representing 551 cancer patients, encompassing breast (n = 5), ovarian or endometrial (n = 1), multiple myeloma (n = 1), lung (n = 1), or combined (n = 5) cancers. The comparison groups included dim light (n = 12) and waiting list (n = 1). Duration of intervention ranged from 1 to 12 weeks. Light intensities ranged from 417.9 to 12,000 lux. Light therapy was associated with a significant improvement in CRF (SMD = 0.45, P = 0.007), depression (SMD = -0.26, P = 0.03) and sleep difficulty (SMD = -2.46, P = 0.0006); a statistically non-significant trend was observed for QoL (SMD = 0.33, P = 0.09). Funnel plots for CRF suggest not significant publication bias.
Light therapy could be a feasible and effective option for improving CRF in cancer patients. Larger sample, rigor trials design and a standard protocol of intervention are needed to draw more conclusive conclusions.
Background
Music therapy can improve mood in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, live music (LM) delivered by professional music therapists is not common in ...developing countries owing to the shortage of professional music therapists. Thus, in this study, we explored the effects of a multidisciplinary collaborative intervention based on LM on physical and psychological well-being of adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients undergoing HSCT with a quasi-experimental design.
Methods
A total of 62 AYA patients agreed to participate and were randomly assigned to the intervention group receiving 4-week LM therapy (
n
= 31) or control group receiving usual care (
n
= 31). Depression, salivary cortisol, fatigue, and quality of life were the main outcome indicators measured at baseline, immediately after the intervention, 1 month, and 3 months follow-up. The intervention effects were analyzed by generalized estimating equations.
Results
Significant decrease in HADS-D scores occurred in the intervention group compared with wait-list controls at immediately after intervention (
p
< 0.05). Participants in the LM group had greater improvement in quality of life and lower salivary cortisol level than those in the wait-list control group at immediately, 1 month, and 3 months after intervention (
p
< 0.05). However, the interaction effects of the BFI scores were not significant.
Conclusions
LM therapy significantly alleviated depression and salivary cortisol levels as well as improved quality of life of AYA patients undergoing HSCT.
Abstract
Background
Recent studies have demonstrated the important role of metabolomics in the pathogenesis of asthma. However, the role of lung metabolomics in childhood persistent wheezing (PW) or ...wheezing recurrence remains poorly understood.
Methods
In this prospective observational study, we performed a liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry-based metabolomic survey on bronchoalveolar lavage samples collected from 30 children with PW and 30 age-matched infants (control group). A 2-year follow-up study on these PW children was conducted.
Results
Children with PW showed a distinct characterization of respiratory metabolome compared with control group. Children with PW had higher abundances of choline, oleamide, nepetalactam, butyrylcarnitine,
l
-palmitoylcarnitine, palmitoylethanolamide, and various phosphatidylcholines. The glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway was the most relevant pathway involving in PW pathophysiologic process. Additionally, different gender, prematurity, and systemic corticoids use demonstrated a greater impact in airway metabolite compositions. Furthermore, for PW children with recurrence during the follow-up period, children who were born prematurely had an increased abundance of butyrylcarnitine relative to those who were carried to term.
Conclusions
This study suggests that the alterations of lung metabolites could be associated with the development of wheezing, and this early alteration could also be correlated with wheezing recurrence later in life.
In this study, SnS/NC composite was successfully synthesized by using one-pot hydrothermal and annealing methods, and whose electrochemical storage performance was also investigated. SnS/NC composite ...material has a large surface area which is the result of the stacking of SnS nanosheets on the surface of the biomass carbon substrate and forming 3D layered porous network structure. The 3D layered porous network can improve the lithium-storage capacity. When used as anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the SnS/NC composite exhibits excellent electrochemical performance including long cycle life, good rate cycling, and high specific capacity. Impressively, the discharge specific capacity of the first cycle at 0.1 A g
−1
could achieve 1433.0 mAh g
−1
. A large lithium-storage capacity of 839.8 mAh g
−1
could achieve after 100 cycles at the current density of 0.1A g
−1
and 479.0 mAh g
−1
after 500 cycles at 2.0 A g
−1
.
Low-diversity diets and sedentary status are risk factors for depressive symptoms, while knowledge workers were ignored before. The purpose of this current study was to examine the relationship ...between dietary diversity, sedentary time spent outside of work, and depressive symptoms among knowledge workers.
This was a multicenter and cross-sectional design that included 118,723 knowledge workers. Participants self-reported online between January 2018 and December 2020. Demographic information, the Dietary Diversity Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, dietary habits (which included eating three meals on time, midnight snacking, overeating, social engagement, coffee consumption, sugary drink consumption, smoking and alcohol use), sedentary time spent outside of work and physical activity were investigated.
The relationships between demographic information, dietary habits and dietary diversity, and depressive symptoms were estimated. Compared with the first and second levels of dietary diversity, the third level of dietary diversity (OR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.84-0.98) reduced the risk of depressive symptoms. Knowledge workers with different degrees of sedentary status (2-4 h (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.07-1.14), 4-6 h (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.17-1.26), and > 6 h (OR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.43-1.56), presented a progressively higher risk of depressive symptoms.
High amounts of sedentary time spent after work and low levels of dietary diversity are risk factors for depressive symptoms. In addition, an irregular diet and overeating are also major risk factors for knowledge workers.
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