More complex encoder is not all you need

U-Net and its variants have been widely used in medical image segmentation. However, most current U-Net variants confine their improvement strategies to building more complex encoder, while leaving the decoder unchanged or adopting a simple symmetric structure. These approaches overlook the true functionality of the decoder: receiving low-resolution feature maps from the encoder and restoring feature map resolution and lost information through upsampling. As a result, the decoder, especially its upsampling component, plays a crucial role in enhancing segmentation outcomes. However, in 3D medical image segmentation, the commonly used transposed convolution can result in visual artifacts. This issue stems from the absence of direct relationship between adjacent pixels in the output feature map. Furthermore, plain encoder has already possessed sufficient feature extraction capability because downsampling operation leads to the gradual expansion of the receptive field, but the loss of information during downsampling process is unignorable. To address the gap in relevant research, we extend our focus beyond the encoder and introduce neU-Net (i.e., not complex encoder U-Net), which incorporates a novel Sub-pixel Convolution for upsampling to construct a powerful decoder. Additionally, we introduce multi-scale wavelet inputs module on the encoder side to provide additional information. Our model design achieves excellent results, surpassing other state-of-the-art methods on both the Synapse and ACDC datasets

Atomic-layer-deposited ultrafine MoS2 nanocrystals on cobalt foam for efficient and stable electrochemical oxygen evolution

Ultrafine molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) nanocrystals are grown on a porous cobalt (Co) foam current collector by atomic layer deposition (ALD) using molybdenum hexacarbonyl and hydrogen sulfide as precursors. When used to catalyze the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), the optimal Co@MoS2 electrode, even with a MoS2 loading as small as 0.06 mg cm-2, exhibits a large cathodic shift of ca. 200 mV in the onset potential (the potential at which the current density is 5 mA cm-2), a low overpotential of only 270 mV to attain an anodic current density of 10 mA cm-2, much smaller charge transfer resistance and substantially improved long-term stability at both low and high current densities, with respect to the bare Co foam electrode, showing substantial promise for use as an efficient, low-cost and durable anode in water electrolyzers.L. F. Liu acknowledges the support of the FCT Investigator grant (no. IF/01595/2014) and the Exploratory grant (No. IF/01595/2014/CP1247/CT0001) from the Portuguese Foundation of Science & Technology (FCT). D. H. Xiong and W. Li are thankful for the financial support from Marie Curie Action COFUND fellowships (NanoTrainforGrowth, Grant Agreement no. 600375) under the FP7 framework. D. H. Xiong also acknowledges the financial support from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2015 T80847). This work was partly funded by the European Commission Horizon 2020 project "CritCat" (Grant Agreement No. 686053).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influence of Thread Pitch, Helix Angle, and Compactness on Micromotion of Immediately Loaded Implants in Three Types of Bone Quality: A Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis

This study investigated the influence of thread pitch, helix angle, and compactness on micromotion in immediately loaded implants in bone of varying density (D2, D3, and D4). Five models of the three-dimensional finite element (0.8 mm pitch, 1.6 mm pitch, 2.4 mm pitch, double-threaded, and triple-threaded implants) in three types of bone were created using Pro/E, Hypermesh, and ABAQUS software. The study had three groups: Group 1, different pitches (Pitch Group); Group 2, same compactness but different helix angles (Angle Group); and Group 3, same helix angle but different compactness (Compact Group). Implant micromotion was assessed as the comprehensive relative displacement. We found that vertical relative displacement was affected by thread pitch, helix angle, and compactness. Under vertical loading, displacement was positively correlated with thread pitch and helix angle but negatively with compactness. Under horizontal loading in D2, the influence of pitch, helix angle, and compactness on implant stability was limited; however, in D3 and D4, the influence of pitch, helix angle, and compactness on implant stability is increased. The additional evidence was provided that trabecular bone density has less effect on implant micromotion than cortical bone thickness. Bone type amplifies the influence of thread pattern on displacement

Steam reforming of acetic acid over NiKOH/Al2O3 catalyst with low nickel loading: The remarkable promotional effects of KOH on activity

In this paper, the effects of strong base (KOH) addition on the catalytic performances of Ni/Al2O3 catalysts in acetic acid steam reforming for hydrogen generation was investigated. The addition of KOH drastically changed the physiochemical property and catalytic performances of the nickel–based catalysts. KOH reacted with γ–Al2O3 during calcination, forming ɑ–Al2O3 with Al(OH)3 as a reaction intermediate, which led to reconstruction of the porous structure, merge of small pores, decreased specific area and sintering of nickel. Most importantly, the catalytic activity of nickel–based catalysts were significantly enhanced by the addition KOH, especially the ones with low nickel loading. There are almost no active of 1 wt% Ni/Al2O3 catalyst for steam reforming of acetic acid, while, with adding 5 wt % KOH, activity of the catalyst matched that of 20 wt% Ni/Al2O3. In–situ DRIFTS study showed the involvement of the reactive intermediates including CH3, CH2, CO, COO, COC, CC and absorbed CO2 in acetic acid steam reforming. The Ni/Al2O3 catalyst with low nickel loading had insufficient metallic nickel to gasify these reactive intermediates. The presence KOH effectively aided gasification of the reactive intermediates, and thus significantly promoted the catalytic activity. In addition, the KOH with varied loading significantly affect formation of catalytic coke and polymeric coke formed during the reforming reaction

Unequal distribution of adolescent overweight in immigration regions

The paper aims to reveal the distribution of adolescent overweight in different types of schools in immigrant cities in China

Structure of the full-length glucagon class B G-protein-coupled receptor

The human glucagon receptor, GCGR, belongs to the class B G-protein-coupled receptor family and plays a key role in glucose homeostasis and the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes. Here we report the 3.0 Å crystal structure of full-length GCGR containing both the extracellular domain and transmembrane domain in an inactive conformation. The two domains are connected by a 12-residue segment termed the stalk, which adopts a β-strand conformation, instead of forming an α-helix as observed in the previously solved structure of the GCGR transmembrane domain. The first extracellular loop exhibits a β-hairpin conformation and interacts with the stalk to form a compact β-sheet structure. Hydrogen-deuterium exchange, disulfide crosslinking and molecular dynamics studies suggest that the stalk and the first extracellular loop have critical roles in modulating peptide ligand binding and receptor activation. These insights into the full-length GCGR structure deepen our understanding of the signalling mechanisms of class B G-protein-coupled receptors