Osteoporosis is a systemic disease with progressive bone loss. The bone loss is associated with an imbalance between bone resorption via osteoclasts and bone formation via osteoblasts. Other cells ...including T cells, B cells, macrophages, and osteocytes are also involved in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. Different cytokines from activated macrophages can regulate or stimulate the development of osteoclastogenesis-associated bone loss. The fusion of macrophages can form multinucleated osteoclasts and, thus, cause bone resorption via the expression of IL-4 and IL-13. Different cytokines, endocrines, and chemokines are also expressed that may affect the presentation of macrophages in osteoporosis. Macrophages have an effect on bone formation during fracture-associated bone repair. However, activated macrophages may secrete proinflammatory cytokines that induce bone loss by osteoclastogenesis, and are associated with the activation of bone resorption. Targeting activated macrophages at an appropriate stage may help inhibit or slow the progression of bone loss in patients with osteoporosis.
Soil stabilization technology based on microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) has gained widespread interest in geotechnical engineering. MICP has been found to be able to improve soil ...strength, stiffness, liquefaction resistance, erosion resistance, while maintaining a good permeability simultaneously. MICP processes involves a series of biochemical reactions that are affected by many factors, both intrinsically and externally. This paper reviews various influential factors for MICP process, including bacterial species, concentration of bacteria, temperature, pH, composition and concentration of cementation solution, grouting strategies, and soil properties. Through this comprehensive review, we find that: (1) the species and strains of bacteria, concentration of bacteria solution, temperature, pH value, and the cementation solution properties all affect the characteristics of formed calcium carbonate, such as crystal type, appearance and size, which consequently affect the cementation degree and distribution in geomaterials; (2) the condition with temperature between 20 and 40 °C, pH between 7 and 9.5, the concentration of the cementation solution within 1 mol/L, and high bacteria concentration is optimal for applying MICP in soil. Under the optimal condition, relatively low temperature, high pH value, and low concentration of cementation solution could help retain permeability and vice versa; (3) the effective grain size ranging from 10 to 1000 µm. MICP treatment works most effectively for larger size, well-graded sand; (4) the multi-phase, multi-concentration or electroosmotic grouting method can improve the MICP treatment efficiency. The grouting velocity below 0.042 mol/L/h is beneficial for improving the utilization ratio of cementation solution. The recommended grouting pressure is generally between 0.1 and 0.3 bar for MICP applications in sand and should not exceed 1.1 bar for silty and clayey soils.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is often asymptomatic and paroxysmal. Screening and monitoring are needed especially for people at high risk. This study sought to use camera-based remote ...photoplethysmography (rPPG) with a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) learning model for AF detection. All participants were classified into groups of AF, normal sinus rhythm (NSR) and other abnormality based on 12-lead ECG. They then underwent facial video recording for 10 min with rPPG signals extracted and segmented into 30-s clips as inputs of the training of DCNN models. Using voting algorithm, the participant would be predicted as AF if > 50% of their rPPG segments were determined as AF rhythm by the model. Of the 453 participants (mean age, 69.3 ± 13.0 years, women, 46%), a total of 7320 segments (1969 AF, 1604 NSR & 3747others) were analyzed by DCNN models. The accuracy rate of rPPG with deep learning model for discriminating AF from NSR and other abnormalities was 90.0% and 97.1% in 30-s and 10-min recording, respectively. This contactless, camera-based rPPG technique with a deep-learning model achieved significantly high accuracy to discriminate AF from non-AF and may enable a feasible way for a large-scale screening or monitoring in the future.
This study ventures into the captivating realm of visual illusion art, where the enigmatic principles of visual perception are harnessed to enhance artistic creativity. Through mathematical modeling ...of the visual perception process, we uncover the essence of visual illusions and their profound impact on art and design. Leveraging cellular neural networks, this research merges dynamic processes with the WC visual illusion and color space models to craft a novel visual illusion neural network model adept at reproducing the nuances of visual illusion art. Our investigation into the application of visual illusions in art design reveals a notable affinity for the “transparent” quality, achieving a 57% certainty level and embodying the art’s ethereal nature. Furthermore, we identify significant correlations between interactive effects, color coordination, design structure, visual impact, and the overarching quality of art designs, with correlation indices of 0.508, 0.487, 0.535, and 0.602, respectively. This work highlights visual illusion’s pivotal role in propelling the field of art and design forward, thereby enriching the tapestry of human experience.
This paper proposes a generalized prediction system called a recurrent self-evolving fuzzy neural network (RSEFNN) that employs an on-line gradient descent learning rule to address the ...electroencephalography (EEG) regression problem in brain dynamics for driving fatigue. The cognitive states of drivers significantly affect driving safety; in particular, fatigue driving, or drowsy driving, endangers both the individual and the public. For this reason, the development of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) that can identify drowsy driving states is a crucial and urgent topic of study. Many EEG-based BCIs have been developed as artificial auxiliary systems for use in various practical applications because of the benefits of measuring EEG signals. In the literature, the efficacy of EEG-based BCIs in recognition tasks has been limited by low resolutions. The system proposed in this paper represents the first attempt to use the recurrent fuzzy neural network (RFNN) architecture to increase adaptability in realistic EEG applications to overcome this bottleneck. This paper further analyzes brain dynamics in a simulated car driving task in a virtual-reality environment. The proposed RSEFNN model is evaluated using the generalized cross-subject approach, and the results indicate that the RSEFNN is superior to competing models regardless of the use of recurrent or nonrecurrent structures.
Fine particulate matter (Particulate matter with diameter ≤ 2.5 μm) is associated with multiple health outcomes, with varying effects across seasons and locations. It remains largely unknown that ...which components of PM2.5 are most harmful to human health.
We systematically searched all the relevent studies published before August 1, 2018, on the associations of fine particulate matter constituents with mortality and morbidity, using Web of Science, MEDLINE, PubMed and EMBASE. Studies were included if they explored the associations between short term or long term exposure of fine particulate matter constituents and natural, cardiovascular or respiratory health endpoints. The criteria for the risk of bias was adapted from OHAT and New Castle Ottawa. We applied a random-effects model to derive the risk estimates for each constituent. We performed main analyses restricted to studies which adjusted the PM2.5 mass in their models.
Significant associations were observed between several PM2.5 constituents and different health endpoints. Among them, black carbon and organic carbon were most robustly and consistently associated with all natural, cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Other potential toxic constituents including nitrate, sulfate, Zinc, silicon, iron, nickel, vanadium, and potassium were associated with adverse cardiovascular health, while nitrate, sulfate and vanadium were relevant for adverse respiratory health outcomes.
Our analysis suggests that black carbon and organic carbon are important detrimental components of PM2.5, while other constituents are probably hazardous to human health. However, more studies are needed to further confirm our results.
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•The first systematic review of both short term and long term exposure to PM2.5 constituents and related health effects.•Both Mortality and Morbidity have been considered.•BC and OC are constituents that are most likely to cause adverse health effects.
We report a route to the facile synthesis of Ag@Pd-Ag nanocubes by cotitrating Na2PdCl4 and AgNO3 into an aqueous suspension of Ag nanocubes at room temperature in the presence of ascorbic acid and ...poly(vinylpyrrolidone). With an increase in the total titration volume, we observed the codeposition of Pd and Ag atoms onto the edges, corners, and side faces of the Ag nanocubes in a site-by-site fashion. By maneuvering the Pd/Ag ratio, we could optimize the SERS and catalytic activities of the Ag@Pd-Ag nanocubes for in situ SERS monitoring of the Pd-catalyzed reduction of 4-nitrothiophenol by NaBH4.
Polo‐like kinase 1 (PLK1) and polo‐like kinase 4 (PLK4) are closely associated with the progression of several cancers, and their bispecific inhibitors can kill tumor cells effectively. Herein, a ...redox‐responsive bispecific supramolecular nanomedicine based on the self‐assembly of a cyclic peptide, termed as C‐1, targeting both PLK1 and PLK4 as a potent anticancer agent is reported. C‐1 is a cyclic peptide in response to reducing agents such as glutathione (GSH), which is constructed by a combined approach of pharmacophore modeling, molecular docking, and reversible cyclization. After entering the cytosol of cancer cell, the disulfide linkage is reduced by intracellular GSH, with the resulting linear conformation self‐assembling into bispecific nanofibers. C‐1 can lead to apoptotic cell death by inducing caspase‐3 activation and PARP cleavage in HeLa cells. Moreover, it suppresses the growth of HeLa cells in cell assays, and inhibits the progression of HeLa cells‐induced xenografts in nude mice without inducing notable side effects. This work provides a successful example of developing the redox‐responsive bispecific nanomedicine for high‐efficacy and low‐toxic cancer therapy.
A redox‐triggered bispecific PLK1/PLK4 nanomedicine formed by self‐assembly of cyclic peptide C‐1 is reported. Once inside the cells, the disulfide linkage is reduced by intracellular glutathione, with the resulting linear conformation self‐assembling into nanofibers. C‐1 significantly inhibits the progression of human cancer xenografts in nude mice without inducing notable side effects.
Drought‐induced cracking of soils is of great concern with the advent of global climate change. The cracking process accelerates the evaporation rate of pore water, lowers the water retention ...capacity, and degrades the hydraulic‐mechanical properties of soils. Basal friction and layer thickness are two important aspects affecting the subsurface cracking. To explore their detailed effects on soils under drying, we conduct a series of desiccation tests on twelve slurry soil bars and select four types of base materials with different roughness levels and three kinds of layer thicknesses. We track the dynamic cracking process in various samples and adopt the noncontact optical technique—digital image correlation—for the motion of soil particles. Experimental results validate that the coupled effects of basal conditions and soil layer thickness play a key role in governing the soil cracking behavior. The presence of rough bottom surface induces the onset and propagation of desiccation cracks at both top and bottom surfaces. Some of the cracks initiated at the bottom do not propagate through the soil profile. Increasing layer thickness weakens the effect of basal friction on the soil top surface shrinkage but increases the frictional force acting on the base and results in more crack initiations at the bottom. The digital image correlation results further reveal that cracks initiated on the bottom surface and propagated upward vertically are dominated by tensile stresses, while those propagated upward obliquely are dominated by the joint action of shear and tensile stresses.
Key Points
Soil desiccation cracking significantly depends on both basal boundary condition and soil layer thickness
Desiccation cracks initiate not only at soil top surface but also at bottom, which is strongly associated with the basal roughness level
Cracking on top surface is governed by tensile stresses; cracking on bottom surface is governed by coupling of shear and tensile stresses
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