Semi-supervised medical image segmentation via weak-to-strong perturbation consistency and edge-aware contrastive representation.

Despite that supervised learning has demonstrated impressive accuracy in medical image segmentation, its reliance on large labeled datasets poses a challenge due to the effort and expertise required for data acquisition. Semi-supervised learning has emerged as a potential solution. However, it tends to yield satisfactory segmentation performance in the central region of the foreground, but struggles in the edge region.

Fiber-based Miniature Strain Sensor with Fast Response and Low Hysteresis.

Flexible and stretchable strain sensors are in high demand in sports performance monitoring, structural health monitoring, and biomedical applications. However, existing stretchable soft sensors, primarily based on soft polymer materials, often suffer from drawbacks, including high hysteresis, low durability, and delayed response. To overcome these limitations, we introduced a stretchable miniature fiber sensor comprised of a stretchable core tightly coiled with parallel conductive wires.

Applications of Nanotechnology for Spatial Omics: Biological Structures and Functions at Nanoscale Resolution.

Spatial omics methods are extensions of traditional histological methods that can illuminate important biomedical mechanisms of physiology and disease by examining the distribution of biomolecules, including nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and metabolites, at microscale resolution within tissues or individual cells. Since, for some applications, the desired resolution for spatial omics approaches the nanometer scale, classical tools have inherent limitations when applied to spatial omics analyses, and they can measure only a limited number of targets. Nanotechnology applications have been instrumental in overcoming these bottlenecks.

Monocyte-Derived Macrophages Induce Alveolar Macrophages Death via TNF-α in Acute Lung Injury.

Introduction: Acute lung injury (ALI) and its subsequent progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are severe respiratory conditions. They are marked by rapid lung function deterioration and extensive pulmonary inflammation, often resulting in critical patient outcomes. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) are two distinct subsets of lung macrophages present in the alveoli during ALI.

Rhein induces apoptosis of AGS and MGC803 cells by regulating the Ras/PI3K/AKT and p38/MAPK signaling pathway.

Objectives: Rhein is one of the main bioactive compounds in the Polygonaceae plant, and has been proven to have anti-cancer activity in some reports. But the mechanism of Rhein in the treatment of gastric cancer (GC) is limited reported. In this research, network pharmacology combined with in vitro experiments was used for systematically studying the mechanism of Rhein.

The production, function, and clinical applications of IL-33 in type 2 inflammation-related respiratory diseases.

Epithelial-derived IL-33 (Interleukin-33), as a member of alarm signals, is a chemical substance produced under harmful stimuli that can promote innate immunity and activate adaptive immune responses. Type 2 inflammation refers to inflammation primarily mediated by Type 2 helper T cells (Th2), Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2), and related cytokines. Type 2 inflammation manifests in various forms in the lungs, with diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) closely associated with Type 2 inflammation.

Sub-surface thermal measurement in additive manufacturing via machine learning-enabled high-resolution fiber optic sensing.

Microstructures of additively manufactured metal parts are crucial since they determine the mechanical properties. The evolution of the microstructures during layer-wise printing is complex due to continuous re-melting and reheating effects. The current approach to studying this phenomenon relies on time-consuming numerical models such as finite element analysis due to the lack of effective sub-surface temperature measurement techniques.

Individual joints involvement pattern in psoriatic arthritis: A cross-sectional study in China.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is characterized by multi-joint involvement, primarily affecting the small joints in the hands and feet. However, the specific pattern of joint involvement at an individual level remains uncertain. This study aimed to elucidate the pattern of joint involvement in a PsA cohort.

Emergency department visit frequency and health care costs following implementation of an integrated practice unit for frequent utilizers.

Objectives: The integrated practice unit (IPU) aims to improve care for patients with complex medical and social needs through care coordination, medication reconciliation, and connection to community resources. This study examined the effects of IPU enrollment on emergency department (ED) utilization and health care costs among frequent ED utilizers with complex needs.

Methods: We extracted electronic health records (EHR) data from patients in a large health care system who had at least four distinct ED visits within any 6-month period between March 1, 2018, and May 30, 2021.

Methyltransferase like-14 suppresses growth and metastasis of non-small-cell lung cancer by decreasing LINC02747.

Multiple epigenetic regulatory mechanisms exert critical roles in tumor development, and understanding the interactions and impact of diverse epigenetic modifications on gene expression in cancer is crucial for the development of precision medicine. We found that methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14) was significantly downregulated in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues. Functional experiments demonstrated that overexpression of METTL14 inhibited the proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells both in vivo and in vitro, and the colorimetric mA quantification assay also showed that knockdown of METTL14 notably reduced global mA modification levels in NSCLC cells.

Demonstration of 4H-silicon carbide on an aluminum nitride integrated photonic platform.

The existing silicon-carbide-on-insulator photonic platform utilizes a thin layer of silicon dioxide under silicon carbide (SiC) to provide optical confinement and mode isolation. Here, we replace the underneath silicon dioxide layer with 1-µm-thick aluminum nitride and demonstrate a 4H-silicon-carbide-on-aluminum-nitride integrated photonic platform for the first time to our knowledge. Efficient grating couplers, low-loss waveguides, and compact microring resonators with intrinsic quality factors up to 210,000 are fabricated.

Puerarin mitigated LPS-ATP or HG-primed endothelial cells damage and diabetes-associated cardiovascular disease via ROS-NLRP3 signalling.

The occurrence and development of diabetic vascular diseases are closely linked to inflammation-induced endothelial dysfunction. Puerarin (Pue), the primary component of Pueraria lobata, possesses potent anti-inflammatory properties. However, its vasoprotective role remains elusive.

Bone morphogenetic protein 4 derived from the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with postherpetic neuralgia induces allodynia via the crosstalk between microglia and astrocyte.

Introduction: During postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) possesses the capability to trigger glial activation and inflammation, yet the specific changes in its composition remain unclear. Recent findings from our research indicate elevations of central bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) during neuropathic pain (NP), serving as an independent modulator of glial cells. Herein, the aim of the present study is to test the CSF-BMP4 expressions and its role in the glial modulation in the process of PHN.

Entangled photon pair generation in an integrated SiC platform.

Entanglement plays a vital role in quantum information processing. Owing to its unique material properties, silicon carbide recently emerged as a promising candidate for the scalable implementation of advanced quantum information processing capabilities. To date, however, only entanglement of nuclear spins has been reported in silicon carbide, while an entangled photon source, whether it is based on bulk or chip-scale technologies, has remained elusive.

Automatic Lenke classification of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with deep learning.

Purpose: The Lenke classification system is widely utilized as the preoperative evaluation protocol for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, manual measurement is susceptible to observer-induced variability, which consequently impacts the evaluation of progression. The goal of this investigation was to develop an automated Lenke classification system utilizing innovative deep learning algorithms.

Association of food insecurity with overall and disease-specific mortality among cancer survivors in the US.

Purpose: To investigate the association of food insecurity with overall and disease-specific mortality among US cancer survivors.

Methods: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999-2018) were used to examine the impact of food insecurity on mortality risks among cancer survivors in the US. Study participants aged ≥ 20 years who had a history of cancer and completed the Adult Food Security Survey Module were included.

Analyst optimism, information disclosure, and stock price collapse risk: Empirical insights from China's A-share market.

This study selects stock data of listed companies in China's A-share stock market from 2011 to 2020 as research samples. Using a fixed-effects model, it examines the impact of analyst optimism on stock price collapses and the moderating effect of information disclosure quality. Simultaneously, it conducts additional research to explore the potential transmission mechanisms involved.