On the origin of MTF reduction in grating-based x-ray differential phase contrast CT imaging.

Background: The complementary absorption contrast CT (ACT) and differential phase contrast CT (DPCT) can be generated simultaneously from an x-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging system incorporated with grating interferometer. However, it has been reported that ACT images exhibit better spatial resolution than DPCT images. By far, the primary cause of such discrepancy remains unclear.

Mechanism of induced soluble sugar accumulation and organic acid reduction in plum fruits by application of melatonin.

Melatonin (MT) can improve plant resistance and fruit quality. The mechanism by which MT affects soluble sugar and organic acids accumulation in drupe fruits is not clear. In this study, 100 µmol/L MT was sprayed on the leaves of plum trees at the second stage of rapid fruit expansion (90 and 97 d after flowering), and the effects of MT on plum fruit quality and its effects on the soluble sugar-organic acid metabolism were investigated.

The impact of high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities in extramedullary multiple myeloma in the era of novel agents: insights from a multicenter study.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the impact of high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities (HRA) on the survival outcomes of multiple myeloma patients with extramedullary disease (EMD) in the era of novel agents, utilizing the largest dataset of extramedullary multiple myeloma patients in China.

Methods: This study included a total of 371 patients with EMD, comprising 113 patients with de novo EME and 258 patients with EMB.

Results: Patients with one HRA and those with ≥ 2 HRA demonstrated significantly worse overall survival (OS) (P < 0.

Realization of high-end PET devices that assist conventional PET devices in improving image quality via diffusion modeling.

Purpose: This study aimed to implement high-end positron emission tomography (PET) equipment to assist conventional PET equipment in improving image quality via a distribution learning-based diffusion model.

Methods: A diffusion model was first trained on a dataset of high-quality (HQ) images acquired by a high-end PET device (uEXPLORER scanner), and the quality of the conventional PET images was later improved on the basis of this trained model built on null-space constraints. Data from 180 patients were used in this study.

Model-based CBCT scatter correction with dual-layer flat-panel detector.

Background: Recently, the popularity of dual-layer flat-panel detector (DL-FPD) based dual-energy cone-beam CT (CBCT) imaging has been increasing. However, the image quality of dual-energy CBCT remains constrained by the Compton scattered x-ray photons.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to develop a novel scatter correction method, named e-Grid, for DL-FPD based CBCT imaging.

Effect of Chloroplast ATP Synthase on Reactive Oxygen Species Metabolism in Cotton.

Abnormal programmed cell death in the tapetum is induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are the main factors leading to cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). These abnormalities are caused by genetic interactions between nuclear and cytoplasmic genes. To explore the role of chloroplast genes in ROS metabolism, next-generation and single-molecule real-time sequencing of the chloroplast genome were performed in the cotton CMS line Jin A (Jin A-CMS).

Graph theory analysis of a human body metabolic network: A systematic and organ-specific study.

Purposes: Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is widely used to detect focal lesions or diseases and to study metabolic abnormalities between organs. However, analyzing organ correlations alone does not fully capture the characteristics of the metabolic network. Our work proposes a graph-based analysis method for quantifying the topological properties of the network, both globally and at the nodal level, to detect systemic or single-organ metabolic abnormalities caused by diseases such as lung cancer.

Erratum: Author correction to "Identification of anthelmintic parbendazole as a therapeutic molecule for HNSCC through connectivity map-based drug repositioning" [Acta Pharm Sin B 12 (2022) 2429-2442].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.

Colchicine reduces neointima formation and VSMC phenotype transition by modulating SRF-MYOCD activation and autophagy.

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotype transformation significantly contributes to vascular intimal hyperplasia. However, effective preventive and therapeutic measures are lacking. Colchicine, a binary alkaloid derived from Colchicum autumnale, is traditionally used for treating inflammatory diseases.

Further transformation of fungal catalyzed transformed metabolite 11β-hydroxy-dianabol into new aromatase inhibitors.

Secondary biotransformation of 11β-hydroxy-dianabol (11β,17β-dihydroxy-17α-methylandrost-1,4-dien-3-one) (1), catalyzed by using two fungi Gibberella fujikuroi and Cunninghamella blakesleeana at ambient conditions, was carried out to synthesize its analogues. Transformation of compound 1 with G. fujikuroi yielded a new metabolite, 11β, 17β-dihydroxy-17α-methyl-5β-androst-1-ene-3-one (2), while four new derivatives, 6β, 17β-dihydroxy-17α-methylandrost-1,4-diene-3,11-dione (3), 15α,17β-dihydroxy-17α-methylandrost-1,4-diene-3,11-dione (4), 6β,11β,17β-trihydroxy-17α-methylandrost-1,4-dien-3-one (5), and 7β,11β,17β-trihydroxy-17α-methylandrost-1,4-dien-3-one (6) were obtained by transformation with C.

The diagnostic value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in suspected pulmonary tuberculosis patients with scarce sputum or negative sputum etiological test results.

Objective: To compare the diagnostic value between mNGS and conventional tests in suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients with scarce sputum or with negative sputum etiological test results.

Methods: We enrolled eligible patients admitted to our department from 2018 to 2021. Their bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung biopsy tissue samples were sent for mNGS and conventional tests.

RS-MOCO: A deep learning-based topology-preserving image registration method for cardiac T1 mapping.

Cardiac T1 mapping can evaluate various clinical symptoms of myocardial tissue. However, there is currently a lack of effective, robust, and efficient methods for motion correction in cardiac T1 mapping. In this paper, we propose a deep learning-based and topology-preserving image registration framework for motion correction in cardiac T1 mapping.

The Association Between Body Fat Percentage and Severe Headache or Migraine: A National Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background and objective Migraine is characterized by recurrent headaches, frequently associated with nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia; it is highly prevalent and linked to a heavy socioeconomic burden. While the prevalence of obesity in the general population has increased in recent years, no prior studies exist regarding the relationship between body fat percentage (BF%) and the incidence of severe headaches or migraine. In light of this, we conducted this study to address this gap in data.

Food Public Opinion Prevention and Control Model Based on Sentiment Analysis.

Food public opinion is characterized by its low ignition point, high diffusibility, persistence, and strong negativity, which significantly impact food safety and consumer trust. This paper introduces the Food Public Opinion Prevention and Control (FPOPC) model driven by deep learning and personalized recommendation algorithms, rigorously tested and analyzed through experimentation. Initially, based on an analysis of food public opinion development, a comprehensive FPOPC framework addressing all stages of food public opinion was established.

Rapid screening and identification strategy of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts based on Ramanomes technology and its application in fermented food.

There is an urgent need for quick, sensitive, thorough, and low-cost preliminary screening and rapid identification method for probiotic resource development. Here, we constructed a culture-free, accurate and sensitive "separation-enrichment-detection" rapid evaluation and identification method of probiotics in fermented food based on Ramanomes technology, and established a Ramanome reference of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts by AgNPs nanostructure array (AgNPs NSA) chips with uniform "hot spots" and high signal enhancement ability as SERS substrates. Systematic cluster analysis could clearly distinguish among different genera of lactic acid bacteria and yeast, and could indicate the affinity and difference between lactic acid bacteria of the same genus and yeast of the same genus.

Advancements and Challenges in Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron-Activated Persulfate Technology for the Removal of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are a new class of pollutants that can affect hormonal metabolic processes in animals and humans. They can enter the aquatic environment through various pathways and gradually become enriched, thus posing a serious threat to the endocrine and physiological systems of both animals and humans. Nano zero-valent iron has promising applications in endocrine disruptor removal due to its excellent reducing properties and high specific surface area.

Impact of Astigmatism on Axial Elongation in School-Age Children: A Five-Year Population-Based Study in Tianjin, China.

Purpose: To investigate the progression rates of axial length (AXL) among school-age children with baseline astigmatism and spherical ametropia.

Methods: Annual vision screenings were conducted at seven schools in Tianjin, China, from 2018 to 2022. Ocular biometry and non-cycloplegic autorefraction were collected.

MMD-Net: Image domain multi-material decomposition network for dual-energy CT imaging.

Background: Multi-material decomposition is an interesting topic in dual-energy CT (DECT) imaging; however, the accuracy and performance may be limited using the conventional algorithms.

Purpose: In this work, a novel multi-material decomposition network (MMD-Net) is proposed to improve the multi-material decomposition performance of DECT imaging.

Methods: To achieve dual-energy multi-material decomposition, a deep neural network, named as MMD-Net, is proposed in this work.

Gnetupendin A protects against ischemic stroke through activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR-dependent autophagy pathway.

Background: Autophagy has been recently emerged as a prominent factor in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke (IS) and is increasingly being considered as a potential therapeutic target for IS. Gnetum parvifolium has been identified as a potential therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases such as rheumatism and traumatic injuries. However, the pharmacological effects of Gnetupindin A (GA), a stilbene compound isolated from Gnetum parvifolium, have not been fully elucidated until now.