Multi-angle remote sensing images are acquired over the same imaging scene from different angles, and share similar but not identical information. It is therefore possible to enhance the spatial ...resolution of the multi-angle remote sensing images by the super-resolution reconstruction technique. However, different sensor shooting angles lead to different resolutions for each angle image, which affects the effectiveness of the super-resolution reconstruction of the multi-angle images. In view of this, we propose utilizing adaptive weighted super-resolution reconstruction to alleviate the limitations of the different resolutions. This paper employs two adaptive weighting themes. The first approach uses the angle between the imaging angle of the current image and that of the nadir image. The second is closely related to the residual error of each low-resolution angle image. The experimental results confirm the feasibility of the proposed method and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive weighted super-resolution approach.
ObjectivesWhether the glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) should be used as an adjuvant therapy for ischaemic myocardial disease remains controversial nowadays reperfusion era. This meta-analysis aimed ...to assess the effects of preinitiated GIK for patients undergoing planned percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesPubMed, Web of science, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched through 27 November 2022.Eligibility criteriaOnly randomised controlled trials involving participants preinitiated with GIK or placebo before planned PCI were included.Data extraction and synthesisTwo independent reviewers used standardised methods to search, screen and code included trials. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane tool. Pooled analysis was conducted using random or effects models according to the heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses were carried out for dosage of GIK and if with ongoing myocardial ischaemia.Results13 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) including 3754 participants were evaluated. We found patients preconditioned with GIK before PCI showed a significant increase in Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 3 flow events after angioplasty (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.46, p=0.04), also revealed improved in-hospital left ventricular ejection fraction (weighed mean difference, WMD 1.62, 95% CI 0.21 to 3.03, p=0.02) and myocardial salvage index (WMD 0.09, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.16, p=0.03). Nevertheless, no benefit was observed in all-cause mortality neither on 30-day (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.11, p=0.18) nor 6 months (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.42 to 2.46, p=0.97). Furthermore, GIK intervention was associated with higher occurrences of complications such as phlebitis (OR 10.13, 95% CI 1.74 to 59.00, p=0.01) and hypoglycaemia (OR 10.43, 95% CI 1.32 to 82.29, p=0.03), but not hyperkalaemia (OR 9.36, 95% CI 0.50 to 175.27, p=0.13), liquid overload (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.25 to 4.13, p=0.98) or in-hospital heart failure (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.06 to 2.96, p=0.39).ConclusionsOur study shows preconditioning GIK exhibits myocardial reperfusion and cardiac function benefits for patients planning to receive PCI intervention, while also some complications such as phlebitis and hypoglycaemia accompany.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42022326334.
The mammalian Hippo pathway is composed of mammalian Ste20-like (MST) kinases and large tumour suppressor (LATS) kinases. Upon the activation of the pathway, MST kinases phosphorylate and activate ...LATS kinases, which in turn phosphorylate transcriptional co-activators, yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), recruit them to the cytosol from the nucleus and turn off cell cycle-promoting and anti-apoptotic gene transcriptions. Thus, the pathway restricts cell overgrowth and prevents tumourigenesis. Although a high cell density and stress signallings are known to activate the pathway, no specific stimulators are so far reported. As the dysfunction of the pathway is frequent in human cancers and correlates with poor prognosis, it is important to find out reagents that stimulate the pathway for not only basic research but also clinical medicine. We here developed a cell-based method of screening reagents that induce the recruitment of YAP to the cytosol. Using this method, we found that dobutamine inhibits the YAP-dependent gene transcription. Contrary to our expectations, the effect of dobutamine is independent of the Hippo pathway but our method opens the possibility to discover Hippo pathway stimulators or Hippo-independent YAP inhibitors.
Background
The plant-specific valine-glutamine (VQ) protein family with the conserved motif FxxxVQxLTG reportedly functions with the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in plant immunity. ...However, the roles of VQ proteins in MAPK-mediated resistance to disease in rice remain largely unknown.
Results
In this study, two rice VQ proteins OsVQ14 and OsVQ32 were newly identified to function as the signaling components of a MAPK cascade, OsMPKK6-OsMPK4, to regulate rice resistance to
Xanthomonas oryzae
pv.
oryzae
(
Xoo
). Both
OsVQ14
and
OsVQ32
positively regulated rice resistance to
Xoo
. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed that OsVQ14 and OsVQ32 physically interacted with and were phosphorylated by OsMPK4. OsMPK4 was highly phosphorylated in transgenic plants overexpressing
OsMPKK6
, which showed enhanced resistance to
Xoo
. Meanwhile, phosphorylated OsVQ14 and OsVQ32 were also markedly accumulated in
OsMPKK6-
overexpressing transgenic plants.
Conclusions
We discovered that OsVQ14 and OsVQ32 functioned as substrates of the OsMPKK6-OsMPK4 cascade to enhance rice resistance to
Xoo
, thereby defining a more complete signal transduction pathway for induced defenses.
•This study involved main regeneration stages of degraded karst forests.•Apply the universal adaptive strategy theory to heterogeneous karst forests.•The biotic factors contribute more to the ...ecological strategy spectrum.
The universal adaptive strategy theory (UAST) describes how the ecological strategy of plants changes along the succession after disturbance. However, whether it applies to those off-peak successional pathways in extremely heterogeneous forests is uncertain. This study established a series of forest dynamic plots along the natural regeneration in subtropical karst forests, and aimed to verify whether UAST applied to the succession in extremely heterogeneous forests. By measuring the dominant plant functional traits (PFTs) and quantifying the plant ecological strategy spectrum, we found that the PFTs varied significantly along the natural regeneration, as did plant ecological strategies. Further results showed that the C- and S-strategy dominated the community-level ecological strategy spectrum. In addition, the C-strategy gradually increased along the natural regeneration, while the S-strategy exhibited a decreasing trend. The community spatial structure and abiotic factors including soil physicochemical properties and topographic factors jointly drove the ecological strategy spectrum of the plant community, with the community spatial structure playing a more important role. This study provided clear evidence to support Grime’s CSR theory and the UAST, which emphasized the abiotic stress conditions supported the S-strategy plants, while the C-strategy would dominate in relative fertile soil conditions.
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is spreading rapidly in Asia. This virus is transmitted by the Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis), which has ...parthenogenetically and sexually reproducing populations. Parthenogenetic populations were found in ≥15 provinces in China and strongly correlated with the distribution of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome cases. However, distribution of these cases was poorly correlated with the distribution of populations of bisexual ticks. Phylogeographic analysis suggested that the parthenogenetic population spread much faster than bisexual population because colonization is independent of sexual reproduction. A higher proportion of parthenogenetic ticks was collected from migratory birds captured at an SFTSV-endemic area, implicating the contribution to the long-range movement of these ticks in China. The SFTSV susceptibility of parthenogenetic females was similar to that of bisexual females under laboratory conditions. These results suggest that parthenogenetic Asian longhorned ticks, probably transported by migratory birds, play a major role in the rapid spread of SFTSV.
A wide variety of sampling techniques and strategies are needed to analyze polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) and interpret their distributions in various environmental media (i.e., air, water, ...snow, soils, sediments, peat and biological material). In this review, we provide a summary of commonly employed sampling methods and strategies, as well as a discussion of routine and innovative approaches used to quantify and characterize PACs in frequently targeted environmental samples, with specific examples and applications in Canadian investigations. The pros and cons of different analytical techniques, including gas chromatography – flame ionization detection (GC-FID), GC low-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-LRMS), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet, fluorescence or MS detection, GC high-resolution MS (GC-HRMS) and compound-specific stable (δ13C, δ2H) and radiocarbon (Δ14C) isotope analysis are considered. Using as an example research carried out in Canada’s Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR), where alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and sulfur-containing dibenzothiophenes are frequently targeted, the need to move beyond the standard list of sixteen EPA priority PAHs and for adoption of an AOSR bitumen PAC reference standard are highlighted.
Display omitted
•Review of methods to collect samples for PAC analysis in the Canadian environment.•Review of techniques used to quantify or characterize PACs in environmental samples.•High-resolution MS and compound-specific isotope analysis offer unparalleled insight.•The list of 16 EPA PAHs is insufficient for studies in Canada’s oil sands region.•The adoption of an Athabasca oil sands bitumen PAC reference standard is proposed.
A comprehensive review of sampling methods, strategies and analytical techniques used to quantify and characterize PACs in the Canadian environment.
Commercially available electrodes can only provide quality surface electromyography (sEMG) measurements for a limited duration due to user discomfort and signal degradation, but in many applications, ...collecting sEMG data for a full day or longer is desirable to enhance clinical care. Few studies for long-term sEMG have assessed signal quality of electrodes using clinically relevant tests. The goal of this research was to evaluate flexible, gold-based epidermal sensor system (ESS) electrodes for long-term sEMG recordings. We collected sEMG and impedance data from eight subjects from ESS and standard clinical electrodes on upper extremity muscles during maximum voluntary isometric contraction tests, dynamic range of motion tests, the Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test, and the Box & Block Test. Four additional subjects were recruited to test the stability of ESS signals over four days. Signals from the ESS and traditional electrodes were strongly correlated across tasks. Measures of signal quality, such as signal-to-noise ratio and signal-to-motion ratio, were also similar for both electrodes. Over the four-day trial, no significant decrease in signal quality was observed in the ESS electrodes, suggesting that thin, flexible electrodes may provide a robust tool that does not inhibit movement or irritate the skin for long-term measurements of muscle activity in rehabilitation and other applications.
The prenatal detection rate of fetal uterine effusion is very low, and current case reports mainly focus on pathological hydrometrocolpos. We presented two cases of fetal physiological uterine ...effusion with different ultrasonic characteristics and compared them with one case of hydrometrocolpos with the hope of identifying strategies to reduce misdiagnosis of fetal uterine effusion.
This paper reports the cases of two female fetuses with abnormal pelvic echoes in the third trimester, referred to a tertiary center to be screened for suspected pelvic teratoma and cystic mass, respectively. Ultrasound consultation revealed fetal uterine effusion. The two fetuses were delivered at our hospital after a full term. Re-examining the uterus and adnexa of the neonates revealed that the uterine effusion had subsided naturally. Another female fetus had a large cystic mass in the pelvic cavity in the third trimester, and prenatal examination indicated fetal hydrometrocolpos. The fetus was delivered at our hospital after a full term. The hydrometrocolpos existed even after birth. After consultation with a neonatal surgeon and gynecologist, the newborn was diagnosed with congenital imperforate hymen with hydrometrocolpos. Hymen puncture and open drainage led to a good prognosis.
Prenatal ultrasonography plays an important role in diagnosing and differentiating between physiological and pathological fetal uterine effusion. It can help reduce misdiagnoses that can lead to incorrect clinical decisions.