Diabetes has become a leading cause of death worldwide. Although there is no cure for diabetes, blood glucose monitoring combined with appropriate medication can enhance treatment efficiency, ...alleviate the symptoms, as well as diminish the complications. For point-of-care purposes, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices are considered to be the best candidates for diabetes therapy. This review focuses on current growth areas of CGM technologies, specifically focusing on subcutaneous implantable electrochemical glucose sensors. The superiority of CGM systems is introduced firstly, and then the strategies for fabrication of minimally-invasive and non-invasive CGM biosensors are discussed, respectively. Finally, we briefly outline the current status and future perspective for CGM systems.
The tumor microenvironment is a highly complex ecosystem of diverse cell types, which shape cancer biology and impact the responsiveness to therapy. Here, we analyze the microenvironment of ...esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) using single-cell transcriptome sequencing in 62,161 cells from blood, adjacent nonmalignant and matched tumor samples from 11 ESCC patients. We uncover heterogeneity in most cell types of the ESCC stroma, particularly in the fibroblast and immune cell compartments. We identify a tumor-specific subset of CST1
myofibroblasts with prognostic values and potential biological significance. CST1
myofibroblasts are also highly tumor-specific in other cancer types. Additionally, a subset of antigen-presenting fibroblasts is revealed and validated. Analyses of myeloid and T lymphoid lineages highlight the immunosuppressive nature of the ESCC microenvironment, and identify cancer-specific expression of immune checkpoint inhibitors. This work establishes a rich resource of stromal cell types of the ESCC microenvironment for further understanding of ESCC biology.
Esophageal cancer (EC) is a type of aggressive cancer without clinically relevant molecular subtypes, hindering the development of effective strategies for treatment. To define molecular subtypes of ...EC, we perform mass spectrometry-based proteomic and phosphoproteomics profiling of EC tumors and adjacent non-tumor tissues, revealing a catalog of proteins and phosphosites that are dysregulated in ECs. The EC cohort is stratified into two molecular subtypes-S1 and S2-based on proteomic analysis, with the S2 subtype characterized by the upregulation of spliceosomal and ribosomal proteins, and being more aggressive. Moreover, we identify a subtype signature composed of ELOA and SCAF4, and construct a subtype diagnostic and prognostic model. Potential drugs are predicted for treating patients of S2 subtype, and three candidate drugs are validated to inhibit EC. Taken together, our proteomic analysis define molecular subtypes of EC, thus providing a potential therapeutic outlook for improving disease outcomes in patients with EC.
Hazardous heavy metal pollution of soils is an increasingly urgent problem all over the world. The zeolite as a natural amendment has been studied extensively for the remediation of hazardous heavy ...metal-polluted soils with recycling. But its theory and application dose are not fully clear. This paper reviews the related aspects of theory and application progress for the remediation of hazardous heavy metal-polluted soils by natural zeolite, with special emphasis on single/co-remediation. Based on the comments on hazardous heavy metal behavior characteristics in leaching and rhizosphere and remediation with zeolite for heavy metal-polluted soils, it indicated that the research of rhizosphere should be strengthened. Theory of remediation with natural zeolite could make breakthroughs due to the investigation on synthetic zeolite. Co-remediation with natural zeolite may be applied and studied with more prospect and sustainable recycling.
Rice cultivar "Weiyou916" (Oryza sativa L. ssp. Indica) were cultured with control (10 mM NO3-) and nitrate deficient solution (0 mM NO3-) for four weeks. Nitrogen (N) deficiency significantly ...decreased the content of N and P, dry weight (DW) of the shoots and roots, but increased the ratio of root to shoot in O. sativa. N deficiency decreased the photosynthesis rate and the maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry (Fv/Fm), however, increased the intercellular CO2 concentration and primary fluorescence (Fo). N deficiency significantly increased the production of H2O2 and membrane lipid peroxidation revealed as increased MDA content in O. sativa leaves. N deficiency significantly increased the contents of starch, sucrose, fructose, and malate, but did not change that of glucose and total soluble protein in O. sativa leaves. The accumulated carbohydrates and H2O2 might further accelerate biosynthesis of lignin in O. sativa leaves under N limitation. A total of 1635 genes showed differential expression in response to N deficiency revealed by Illumina sequencing. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed that 195 DEGs were found to highly enrich in nine GO terms. Most of DEGs involved in photosynthesis, biosynthesis of ethylene and gibberellins were downregulated, whereas most of DEGs involved in cellular transport, lignin biosynthesis and flavonoid metabolism were upregulated by N deficiency in O. sativa leaves. Results of real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) further verified the RNA-Seq data. For the first time, DEGs involved oxygen-evolving complex, phosphorus response and lignin biosynthesis were identified in rice leaves. Our RNA-Seq data provided a global view of transcriptomic profile of principal processes implicated in the adaptation of N deficiency in O. sativa and shed light on the candidate direction in rice breeding for green and sustainable agriculture.
Main antioxidants in higher plants include glutathione, ascorbate, tocopherol, proline, betaine, and others, which are also information-rich redox buffers and important redox signaling components ...that interact with biomembrane-related compartments. As an evolutionary consequence of aerobic life for higher plants, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are formed by partial reduction of molecular oxygen. The above enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in higher plants can protect their cells from oxidative damage by scavenging ROS. In addition to crucial roles in defense system and as enzyme cofactors, antioxidants influence higher plant growth and development by modifying processes from mitosis and cell elongation to senescence and death. Most importantly, they provide essential information on cellular redox state, and regulate gene expression associated with biotic and abiotic stress responses to optimize defense and survival. An overview of the literature is presented in terms of main antioxidants and redox signaling in plant cells. Special attention is given to ROS and ROS-antioxidant interaction as a metabolic interface for different types of signals derived from metabolism and from the changing environment, which regulates the appropriate induction of acclimation processes or, execution of cell death programs, which are the two essential directions for higher plants.
Physically unclonable function (PUF) is an emerging security solution for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. However, PUF faces a critical design challenge: responses should remain the same regardless ...of environmental conditions. This article presents an algorithm-based mismatch hardening technique that provides an effective and efficient solution to stabilizing PUF responses, which could be applied to various PUF circuits. The proposed stabilization technique combines multiple mismatches to achieve high reliability with minimum loss of utility. Moreover, the proposed approach requires only the available digitized PUF responses, avoiding any auxiliary measurement circuit to minimize additional implementation and testing overhead. The PUF test chip implemented in 28-nm CMOS technology shows that the proposed stabilization technique achieves a highly stable performance, lowering the nominal bit error rate (BER) to 0.0016%. It also exhibits excellent reliability with a worst-case BER of 0.16% across 0.7 to 1.2 V and −50 to 125°C, proving to be a promising candidate for security primitive for IoT applications.
Background
Computed tomography (CT) is essential for pulmonary nodule detection in diagnosing lung cancer. As deep learning algorithms have recently been regarded as a promising technique in medical ...fields, we attempt to integrate a well‐trained deep learning algorithm to detect and classify pulmonary nodules derived from clinical CT images.
Materials and Methods
Open‐source data sets and multicenter data sets have been used in this study. A three‐dimensional convolutional neural network (CNN) was designed to detect pulmonary nodules and classify them into malignant or benign diseases based on pathologically and laboratory proven results.
Results
The sensitivity and specificity of this well‐trained model were found to be 84.4% (95% confidence interval CI, 80.5%–88.3%) and 83.0% (95% CI, 79.5%–86.5%), respectively. Subgroup analysis of smaller nodules (<10 mm) have demonstrated remarkable sensitivity and specificity, similar to that of larger nodules (10–30 mm). Additional model validation was implemented by comparing manual assessments done by different ranks of doctors with those performed by three‐dimensional CNN. The results show that the performance of the CNN model was superior to manual assessment.
Conclusion
Under the companion diagnostics, the three‐dimensional CNN with a deep learning algorithm may assist radiologists in the future by providing accurate and timely information for diagnosing pulmonary nodules in regular clinical practices.
Implications for Practice
The three‐dimensional convolutional neural network described in this article demonstrated both high sensitivity and high specificity in classifying pulmonary nodules regardless of diameters as well as superiority compared with manual assessment. Although it still warrants further improvement and validation in larger screening cohorts, its clinical application could definitely facilitate and assist doctors in clinical practice.
摘要
背景。在肺癌的诊断中，计算机断层扫描 (CT) 对于肺结节的检测必不可少。近几年，随着医学领域逐渐认识到深度学习算法这种技术的价值，本研究试图集成一种训练有素的深度学习算法，对临床 CT 图像中的肺结节进行检测和分类。
材料和方法。本研究使用了开源数据集和多中心数据集。本文设计了一种三维卷积神经网络 (CNN) 来检测肺结节，然后根据病理和实验室证实的结果，判断为恶性或良性结节。
结果。这种训练有素的模型敏感性和特异性分别为 84.4% 95% 可信区间 (CI)， 80.5%‐88.3%和83.0%(95% CI，79.5%‐86.5%)。小结节 (< 10mm) 亚组分析显示的敏感性和特异性显著，与大结节 (10‐30mm) 相似。对比不同级别医生的人工评估结果与三维 CNN 的评估结果，进行了额外的模型验证。结果表明，CNN 模型的表现优于人工评估。
结论。通过伴随诊断可知，加入深度学习算法的三维 CNN 能够提供准确、及时的信息，有助于放射科医生在常规临床实践中的肺结节诊断工作。
实践意义:在对各种直径的肺结节分类中，本文所述的三维卷积神经网络具有较高的敏感性和特异性，与人工评估结果相比具有优越性。虽然仍需在更大的筛选队列中进行进一步改进和验证，但可以肯定的是，临床应用三维卷积神经网络可以促进和协助医生的临床实践工作。
Interest in deep convolutional neural networks (CNN) is growing because of demonstrated accuracy with less manual intervention in computer vision tasks. This article describes efforts to use a pre‐trained CNN model integrating with multi‐centers datasets for detection and classification of pulmonary nodules.
This paper proposes a reconfiguration methodology based on an Ant Colony Algorithm (ACA) that aims at achieving the minimum power loss and increment load balance factor of radial distribution ...networks with distributed generators. A 33-bus distribution system and a Tai-Power 11.4-kV distribution system were selected for optimizing the configuration and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology for solving the optimal switching operation of distribution systems. The simulation results have shown that lower system loss and better load balancing will be attained at a distribution system with distributed generation (DG) compared to a system without DG. Furthermore, the simulation results also satisfy and suitability reference merits of the proposal method.
This study attempted to clarify the carrying-over effect of different nitrogen treatments applied to the main crop on the crop population growth and yield formation of ratoon rice under mechanized ...cultivation in Southeast China. Based on the constant total nitrogen application amounts (225.00 kg ha−1) in the main crop, an experiment with different ratios of basal and topdressing nitrogen fertilizer (the ratio of basal fertilizer:primary tillering fertilizer:secondary tillering fertilizer:booting fertilizer at 3:1:2:4 (N1), 3:2:1:4 (N2), 3:3:0:4 (N3), and 4:3:0:3 (N4), respectively, and a control without nitrogen treatment (N0)) was set up across two consecutive years in field using hybrid rice variety Yongyou 1540 as the test materials. The results showed that the total tiller number and effective tillering percentage increased in the main crop under the N1 treatment, more nitrogen fertilizer applied in late growth stage of the main crop, and its effective tillering percentage of the main crop was the highest at up to 70.18%, which was 9.15% higher than that of conventional fertilization treatment (N4), more nitrogen fertilizer applied in early growth stage of the main crop. The same tendency was observed in leaf area index (LAI) value of the main crop and its subsequent ratoon rice, which were 16.52 and 29.87% higher, respectively, in the N1 treatment than that in the N4 treatment at the full heading stage. The same was true in the case of the transport rates of stem and sheath dry mater and the canopy light interception rates in both the main and its ratoon crops. The transport rate of stem and sheath in main crop rice under N1 treatment increased by 50.57% compared with N4 treatment. The canopy light interception rate of N1 treatment increased by 5.07% compared with N4 treatment at the full heading stage of the ratoon crop. Therefore, the total actual yield was the highest in the main and its ratoon crops under N1 treatment, averaging 17 351.23 kg ha−1 in two-year trials, which was 23.00% higher than that in the conventional fertilization treatment (N4). The results showed that appropriate nitrogen treatment was able to produce a good crop stand in the main crop, which was essential for producing a good ratoon crop population and high yield especially under mechanized cultivation with low stubble height of the main crop. The study suggested that shifting the proper nitrogen application amounts to the late growth stage of the main crop, such as N1 treatment, not only had a higher productive effect on ensuring the yield of the main crop, but also had a positive effect on the axillary bud sprouts from the stubbles for ratoon rice, resulting in an increased percentage of productive panicles and achieving the goal of one planting with two good harvests under the conditions of our study.
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