Automatic prediction of obstructive sleep apnea event using deep learning algorithm based on ECG and thoracic movement signals

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleeping disorder that can cause multiple complications. Our aim is to build an automatic deep learning model for OSA event detection using combined signals from the electrocardiogram (ECG) and thoracic movement signals. We retrospectively obtained 420 cases of PSG data and extracted the signals of ECG, as well as the thoracic movement signal. A deep learning algorithm named ResNeSt34 was used to construct the model using ECG with or without thoracic movement signal. The model performance was assessed by parameters such as accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and area under the ROC curve (AUC). The model using combined signals of ECG and thoracic movement signal performed much better than the model using ECG alone. The former had accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and AUC values of 89.0%, 88.8%, 89.0%, 88.2%, and 92.9%, respectively, while the latter had values of 84.1%, 83.1%, 84.1%, 83.3%, and 82.8%, respectively. The automatic OSA event detection model using combined signals of ECG and thoracic movement signal with the ResNeSt34 algorithm is reliable and can be used for OSA screening.</p

Rational design of liquid metal organic frameworks for the enhanced CO2 absorption and their photocatalytic reduction

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) has been widely investigated as co-catalysts for photocatalysis owing to their unique property for controlling the reaction kinetics. They are generally presented in a solid state. Recent studies have presented MOF in the liquid phase, meanwhile preserving the framework structure. Acting as a co-catalyst, significantly improved efficiency has been realized for photocatalytic CO2 reduction. This concept article focuses on the chemical principle of liquid MOF (LMOF). Their applications in CO2 adsorption and the photocatalytic CO2 reduction have been discussed with showing key examples. In addition, the other relevant applications of LMOF have been presented. </p

Rational design of liquid metal organic frameworks for the enhanced CO2 absorption and their photocatalytic reduction

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) has been widely investigated as co-catalysts for photocatalysis owing to their unique property for controlling the reaction kinetics. They are generally presented in a solid state. Recent studies have presented MOF in the liquid phase, meanwhile preserving the framework structure. Acting as a co-catalyst, significantly improved efficiency has been realized for photocatalytic CO2 reduction. This concept article focuses on the chemical principle of liquid MOF (LMOF). Their applications in CO2 adsorption and the photocatalytic CO2 reduction have been discussed with showing key examples. In addition, the other relevant applications of LMOF have been presented. </p

Rapid Recognition and Isolation of Live Colon Cancer Stem Cells by Using Metabolic Labeling of Azido Sugar and Magnetic Beads

New approach for colon cancer stem cells (CSCs) recognition and isolation is reported. Colon CSCs are responsible for colonic tumor growth, metastasis, and resistance for radio-/chemotherapies. An accurate identification and isolation method is critical for understanding and characterization of these cells. In our work, we recognized CSCs’ population from colon cancer cells by using metabolic labeling of azido sugar based on the quiescent nature of these cells, which differed fundamentally from previously described methods by using specific cellular markers to recognize and isolate CSCs. Later the putative CSCs were isolated by using commercially available magnetic beads. The isolated cells population had much higher sphere formation efficiency, soft-agar colony formation efficiency, and an mRNA level of colon stem cells marker Lgr5 than the leftover population. Our method provides a new avenue and a general strategy for recognition and isolation of CSCs, which shows great potential for further use in both the fundamental research of CSCs and clinical tests

Increased Th17 and Treg levels in peripheral blood positively correlate with minimal residual disease in acute myeloid leukaemia

Immune dysregulation plays a key role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We aimed to explore the correlation between T helper cell 17 (Th17) and the regulatory cells (Tregs) in the peripheral blood of patients with newly diagnosed (ND) AML and bone marrow blast cells, as well as minimal residual disease (MRD) before and after treatment. Changes in Th17 and Treg cells in the peripheral blood of 32 patients with ND AML were observed before and after induction chemotherapy with cytarabine for seven days and anthracycline for three days. The levels of inflammatory cytokines were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Correlation analysis between bone marrow blast cells and Th17 and Treg cell frequencies was performed using the Pearson’s correlation test. Frequencies of Th17 and Treg cells and MRD were assessed using flow cytometry. IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, and GM-CSF levels gradually increased in patients with ND AML and CR and NR patients. The percentages of Th17 and Treg cells positively correlated with those of blast cells. In addition, the frequencies of Th17 and Treg cells in MRD-positive patients were higher than those in MRD-negative patients at the initial induction and after three months of chemotherapy. The frequencies of Tregs and Th17 cells positively correlated with MRD onset. Increased Th17 and Treg cell levels were positively correlated with onset of AML, poor remission, and MRD.</p

Development and Characterization of 1,906 EST-SSR Markers from Unigenes in Jute (<i>Corchorus</i> spp.)

<div><p>Jute, comprising white and dark jute, is the second important natural fiber crop after cotton worldwide. However, the lack of expressed sequence tag-derived simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) markers has resulted in a large gap in the improvement of jute. Previously, de novo 48,914 unigenes from white jute were assembled. In this study, 1,906 EST-SSRs were identified from these assembled uingenes. Among these markers, di-, tri- and tetra-nucleotide repeat types were the abundant types (12.0%, 56.9% and 21.6% respectively). The AG-rich or GA-rich nucleotide repeats were the predominant. Subsequently, a sample of 116 SSRs, located in genes encoding transcription factors and cellulose synthases, were selected to survey polymorphisms among12 diverse jute accessions. Of these, 83.6% successfully amplified at least one fragment and detected polymorphism among the 12diverse genotypes, indicating that the newly developed SSRs are of good quality. Furthermore, the genetic similarity coefficients of all the 12 accessions were evaluated using 97 polymorphic SSRs. The cluster analysis divided the jute accessions into two main groups with genetic similarity coefficient of 0.61. These EST-SSR markers not only enrich molecular markers of jute genome, but also facilitate genetic and genomic researches in jute.</p></div

Ratiometric Fluorescence Azide–Alkyne Cycloaddition for Live Mammalian Cell Imaging

Click chemistry with metabolic labeling has been widely used for selectively imaging biomacromolecules in cells. The first example of azide–alkyne cycloaddition for ratiometric fluorescent imaging of live cells is reported. The precursor of the azido fluorophore (cresyl violet) has a fluorescence emission peak at 620 nm. The electron-rich nitrogen of the azido group blue-shifts the emission peak to 566 nm. When the click reaction occurs, an emission peak appears at 620 nm due to the lower electronic density of the newly formed triazole ring, which allows us to ratiometrically record fluorescence signals. This emission shift was applied to ratiometric imaging of propargylcholine- and dibenzocyclooctyne-labeled human breast cancer cells MCF-7 under laser confocal microscopy. Two typical triazole compounds were isolated for photophysical parameter measurements. The emission spectra presented a fluorescence emission peak around 620 nm for both click products. The results further confirmed the emission wavelength change was the result of azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction. Since nearly all biomolecules can be metabolically labeled by reported alkyne-functionalized derivatives of native metabolites, our method can be readily applied to image these biomacromolecules

Names and origins of 12 tested germplasms in jute.

<p>Names and origins of 12 tested germplasms in jute.</p

Highly Dispersed PdNi Nanoparticles on an Oxygen-Functionalized Activated Carbon with Extraordinary Electrocatalytic Activity for Methanol Oxidation

Exploration of advanced electrocatalysts with high activity and durability for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) is essential for developing high-efficiency and low-cost direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Here, PdNi electrocatalysts with various Pd-to-Ni atomic ratios and high dispersion were prepared by a simple chemical reduction with functionalized activated carbon (FAC) and sodium borohydride as a support and a reducing agent, respectively. Among the various PdxNiy/FAC and the reference Pd/FAC catalysts, Pd4Ni1/FAC displays the highest catalytic activity toward methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in an alkaline medium. Specifically, it achieves a high mass activity of up to 2577.5 mA/mgPd. In addition, it also shows high anti-CO poisoning and better stability. The superior electrocatalytic performance of Pd4Ni1/FAC may be attributed to the high dispersion and the synergic effect between Pd and Ni

Dendrogram plot based on cluster analysis of 97 polymorphic EST-SSR markers by UPGMA.

<p>The 12 jute accessions classified into two main groups of dark and white jute, further into five subgroups.</p