Interleaved 3D-CNNs for joint segmentation of small-volume structures in head and neck CT images.

Purpose: Accurate 3D image segmentation is a crucial step in radiation therapy planning of head and neck tumors. These segmentation results are currently obtained by manual outlining of tissues, which is a tedious and time-consuming procedure. Automatic segmentation provides an alternative solution, which, however, is often difficult for small tissues (i.

Sorption kinetics, isotherms, and mechanism of aniline aerofloat to agricultural soils with various physicochemical properties.

Aniline aerofloat (AAF), a high-toxic organic flotation reagent, is widely used in mineral processing industry. However, little information on its environmental fate is available. AAF sorption to four types of agricultural soils at low concentrations (1-10 mg/L) was investigated using batch experiments.

Intraspecific variability of ciprofloxacin accumulation, tolerance, and metabolism in Chinese flowering cabbage (Brassica parachinensis).

To investigate the mechanism of genotype differences in ciprofloxacin (CIP) accumulation, this study was designed to compare the tolerance and metabolic responses to CIP exposure between low (Cutai) and high (Sijiu) CIP-accumulation cultivars of Brassica parachinensis. Decreases in biomass and chlorophyll content were significantly greater (p < 0.05) and toxicities were more severe within cell ultrastructures of Cutai compared to Sijiu.

Iron Carbides and Nitrides: Ancient Materials with Novel Prospects.

Iron carbides and nitrides have aroused great interest in researchers, due to their excellent magnetic properties, good machinability and the particular catalytic activity. Based on these advantages, iron carbides and nitrides can be applied in various areas such as magnetic materials, biomedical, photo- and electrocatalysis. In contrast to their simple elemental composition, the synthesis of iron carbides and nitrides still has great challenges, particularly at the nanoscale, but it is usually beneficial to improve performance in corresponding applications.

Light-Up Nonthiolated Aptasensor for Low-Mass, Soluble Amyloid-β Oligomers at High Salt Concentrations.

Herein, a light-up nonthiolated aptasensor was developed for low-mass, soluble amyloid-β oligomers (LS-Aβ). Au nanoparticles (AuNP) were employed as colorimetric probes, and the nonthiolated aptamers (Apt) were adsorbed on AuNP surfaces, acting as binding elements for LS-Aβ. The aggregation of AuNPs was induced when Apt-modified AuNPs (Apt@AuNPs) were under high-salt conditions.

Deep Auto-context Convolutional Neural Networks for Standard-Dose PET Image Estimation from Low-Dose PET/MRI.

Positron emission tomography (PET) is an essential technique in many clinical applications such as tumor detection and brain disorder diagnosis. In order to obtain high-quality PET images, a standard-dose radioactive tracer is needed, which inevitably causes the risk of radiation exposure damage. For reducing the patient's exposure to radiation and maintaining the high quality of PET images, in this paper, we propose a deep learning architecture to estimate the high-quality standard-dose PET (SPET) image from the combination of the low-quality low-dose PET (LPET) image and the accompanying T1-weighted acquisition from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Brain Atlas Fusion from High-Thickness Diagnostic Magnetic Resonance Images by Learning-Based Super-Resolution.

It is fundamentally important to fuse the brain atlas from magnetic resonance (MR) images for many imaging-based studies. Most existing works focus on fusing the atlases from high-quality MR images. However, for low-quality diagnostic images (i.

Magnetic γ'-Fe N/Fe C, χ-Fe C , and θ-Fe C by a Simple Route for Application as Electrochemical Catalysts.

A new and simple method to fabricate magnetic Fe N/Fe C samples is reported. Meanwhile, pure phase iron carbides (θ-Fe C and χ-Fe C ) were obtained by controlling experimental conditions. The structures, magnetic properties, and morphology of the samples were investigated according to the generalized analysis of X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, as well as transmission electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry.

Phytoremediation of soil co-contaminated with Cd and BDE-209 using hyperaccumulator enhanced by AM fungi and surfactant.

Pot experiments were conducted to investigate the uptake and translocation of both Cd and decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) in Solanum nigrum, under the treatments of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi [AMF, Funneliformis mosseae (FM) and Rhizophagus intraradices (RI)] and surfactant β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). Results showed that S. nigrum treated with either FM or β-CD significantly elevated shoot biomass and Cd concentrations and contents in shoots.

Determination of Trace Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids in Edible Crop Matrices: Matrix Effect and Method Development.

A robust method was developed for simultaneous determination of nine trace perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) in various edible crop matrices including cereal (grain), root vegetable (carrot), leafy vegetable (lettuce), and melon vegetable (pumpkin) using ultrasonic extraction followed by solid-phase extraction cleanup and high liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The varieties of extractants and cleanup cartridges, the usage of Supelclean graphitized carbon, and the matrix effect and its potential influencing factors were estimated to gain an optimal extraction procedure. The developed method presented high sensitivity and accuracy with the method detection limits and the recoveries at four fortification levels in various matrices ranging from 0.

Low-molecular-weight organic acids correlate with cultivar variation in ciprofloxacin accumulation in Brassica parachinensis L.

To understand the mechanism controlling cultivar differences in the accumulation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) in Chinese flowering cabbage (Brassica parachinensis L.), low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) secreted from the roots of high- and low-CIP cultivars (Sijiu and Cutai, respectively) and their effects on the bioavailability of CIP in soil were investigated. Significant differences in the content of LMWOAs (especially maleic acid) between the two cultivars played a key role in the variation in CIP accumulation.

A high sucrose and high fat diet induced the development of insulin resistance in the skeletal muscle of Bama miniature pigs through the Akt/GLUT4 pathway.

A high sucrose and high fat (HSHF) diet induces insulin resistance (IR) and increased susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the underlying mechanisms are poorly characterized. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which the HSHF diet impairs insulin sensitivity in Bama miniature pigs (sus scrofa domesticus). Twelve Bama miniature pigs were randomly assigned to the control diet (CD) group (n=6) or the HSHF group (n=6) for 6 months.

Atherosclerosis Induced by a High-Cholesterol and High-Fat Diet in the Inbred Strain of the Wuzhishan Miniature Pig.

Coronary artery disease has a significant genetic predisposition, which mainly results from atherosclerosis. Miniature pig is an excellent model to investigate atherosclerosis. This study investigated whether the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis in the Wuzhishan miniature pigs (WZSPs) that were closely bred 12 generations had better consistency.

Does arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus affect cadmium uptake and chemical forms in rice at different growth stages?

Effects of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) - Rhizophagus intraradices (a mix of root pieces, mycelium pieces and spores) on the temporal variation of Cd uptake and chemical forms in rice at four growth periods (tillering, jointing, flowering, and ripening stages) were investigated in soil added with 0, 2 and 10mgCdkg. Results showed that the interactions amongst rice growth stages, soil Cd concentrations and mycorrhizal inoculation had significant effects (P˂0.001) on root biomass, straw and root Cd concentrations, and straw Cd chemical forms in rice.

Integrated signal probe based aptasensor for dual-analyte detection.

For the multi-analyte detection, although the sensitivity has commonly met the practical requirements, the reliability, reproducibility and stability need to be further improved. In this work, two different aptamer probes labeled with redox tags were used as signal probe1 (sP1) and signal probe2 (sP2), which were integrated into one unity DNA architecture to develop the integrated signal probe (ISP). Comparing with the conventional independent signal probes for the simultaneous multi-analyte detection, the proposed ISP was more reproducible and accurate.

Enhancing the thermal dissipation of a light-converting composite for quantum dot-based white light-emitting diodes through electrospinning nanofibers.

Quantum dots (QDs) have been developed as one of the most promising light-converting materials for white light-emitting diodes (LEDs). In current QD-based LED packaging structures, composites of QDs and polymers are used as light-converting layers. However, the ultralow thermal conductivity of such composites seriously hinders the dissipation of QD-generating heat.

Adiponectin induced AMP-activated protein kinase impairment mediates insulin resistance in Bama mini-pig fed high-fat and high-sucrose diet.

Objective: Adipose tissue is no longer considered as an inert storage organ for lipid, but instead is thought to play an active role in regulating insulin effects secretion adipokines. However, conflicting reports have emerged regarding the effects of adipokines. In this study, we investigated the role of adipokines in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in obese Bama mini-pigs.

Variation in accumulation and translocation of di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) among rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes and selection of cultivars for low DBP exposure.

Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) is a typical endocrine-disrupting chemical with higher detection frequency and concentration in agricultural soil (particularly in paddy-field soil of Guangdong Province) of China. In this study, a greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate variation in uptake and accumulation of DBP by 20 rice cultivars and to screen low DBP-accumulating cultivars. DBP concentrations in plants varied greatly with rice cultivars, growth stages, and tissues.

Reno-protective effect and mechanism study of Huang Lian Jie Du Decoction on lupus nephritis MRL/lpr mice.

Background: Huang Lian Jie Du Decoction (HLJDD), a very famous traditional Chinese medicinal prescription, has been used for heat dissipation and detoxification in China. This study was aimed to evaluate the reno-protective effects of HLJDD against lupus nephritis (LN) in vivo in MRL/lpr mice.

Methods: Animals were administered orally every day for eight consecutive weeks except the mice of normal group and model group.

Frontotemporal dementia-related gene mutations in clinical dementia patients from a Chinese population.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are two common forms of primary neurodegenerative dementia that show overlapping clinical symptoms. The aim of this study was to perform genetic analyses on GRN, VCP, CHMP2B, FUS, TARDBP, C9orf72 and MAPT genes in Chinese AD and FTD patients. We performed gene sequencing of the GRN, VCP, CHMP2B, FUS, TARDBP, MAPT and C9orf72 genes in 61 clinical AD and 38 FTD Chinese patients.

Additive Effect of Qidan Dihuang Grain, a Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers on Albuminuria Levels in Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy: A Randomized, Parallel-Controlled Trial.

Albuminuria is characteristic of early-stage diabetic nephropathy (DN). The conventional treatments with angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) are unable to prevent the development of albuminuria in normotensive individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Purpose.

Sorption of dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC) to agricultural soils.

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) used as cationic surfactants are intensively released into environment to be pollutants receiving more and more concerns. Sorption of dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC), one of commonly used alkyl QACs, to five types of agricultural soils at low concentrations (1-50mg/L) was investigated using batch experiments. DTAC sorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and reached reaction equilibrium within 120min.

Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of pH-sensitive PEG-I-dC16 block polymer micelles for anticancer drug delivery.

Objectives: To develop an acid trigger release of antitumour drug delivery carriers, pH-sensitive amphiphilic poly (ethyleneglycol)-imine-benzoic-dipalmitate (PEG-I-dC16 ) polymers were designed and synthesized and the drug-loaded micelles were evaluated in vitro.

Methods: PEG-I-dC16 synthesized by Schiff base synthetic method and characterized by (1) H-NMR. To determine the drug-loading capacity, doxorubicin (DOX) was encapsulated in the micelles using membrane dialysis method.

Work-Recreation Balance, Health-Promoting Lifestyles and Suboptimal Health Status in Southern China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Suboptimal health status (SHS)-an intermediate state between health and illness--refers to functional somatic symptoms that are medically undiagnosed. Although- SHS has become a great challenge for global public health, very little about its etiology and mechanisms are known. Work-recreation balance is a part of work-life balance, and is related to stress which greatly influences health status.