Multimodal Gait Abnormality Recognition Using a Convolutional Neural Network–Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (CNN-BiLSTM) Network Based on Multi-Sensor Data Fusion

Global aging leads to a surge in neurological diseases. Quantitative gait analysis for the early detection of neurological diseases can effectively reduce the impact of the diseases. Recently, extensive research has focused on gait-abnormality-recognition algorithms using a single type of portable sensor. However, these studies are limited by the sensor’s type and the task specificity, constraining the widespread application of quantitative gait recognition. In this study, we propose a multimodal gait-abnormality-recognition framework based on a Convolutional Neural Network-Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (CNN-BiLSTM) network. The as-established framework effectively addresses the challenges arising from smooth data interference and lengthy time series by employing an adaptive sliding window technique. Then, we convert the time series into time–frequency plots to capture the characteristic variations in different abnormality gaits and achieve a unified representation of the multiple data types. This makes our signal processing method adaptable to several types of sensors. Additionally, we use a pre-trained Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN) for feature extraction, and the consequently established CNN-BiLSTM network can achieve high-accuracy recognition by fusing and classifying the multi-sensor input data. To validate the proposed method, we conducted diversified experiments to recognize the gait abnormalities caused by different neuropathic diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Huntington’s disease (HD). In the PDgait dataset, the framework achieved an accuracy of 98.89% in the classification of Parkinson’s disease severity, surpassing DCLSTM’s 96.71%. Moreover, the recognition accuracy of ALS, PD, and HD on the PDgait dataset was 100%, 96.97%, and 95.43% respectively, surpassing the majority of previously reported methods. These experimental results strongly demonstrate the potential of the proposed multimodal framework for gait abnormality identification. Due to the advantages of the framework, such as its suitability for different types of sensors and fewer training parameters, it is more suitable for gait monitoring in daily life and the customization of medical rehabilitation schedules, which will help more patients alleviate the harm caused by their diseases

Adsorption of Organic Dyes by TiO 2

TiO2@yeast-carbon microspheres with raspberry-like morphology were fabricated based on the pyrolysis method. The obtained products were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Effects of initial dye concentration and contact time on adsorption capacity of TiO2@yeast-carbon for cationic dye methylene blue (MB) and anionic dye congo red (CR) were investigated. Experimental data were described by Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Koble-Corrigan isotherm models, respectively. It was found that the equilibrium data of MB adsorption were best represented by Koble-Corrigan, and CR adsorption was best described by both Freundlich and Koble-Corrigan isotherm models. The kinetic data of MB and CR adsorption fitted pseudo-second-order kinetic model well. The results demonstrated that TiO2@yeast-carbon microspheres achieved favorable removal for the cationic MB in comparison with that for the anionic CR. In addition, regeneration experimental results showed that TiO2@yeast-carbon exhibited good recycling stability, reusability, and in situ renewability, suggesting that the as-prepared TiO2@yeast-carbon might be used as the potential low cost alternative for recalcitrant dye removal from industrial wastewater. One possible mechanism for regenerating dye-loaded TiO2@yeast in situ was also proposed

Synthesis of Magnetic Halloysite Composites for the Effective Removal of Tetracycline Hydrochloride from Aqueous Solutions

Herein, we explain an effective method for the synthesis of halloysite/CoFe 2 O 4 magnetic composites (magnetic halloysite nanotubes or MHNTs) and their use as as adsorbents to effectively remove tetracycline hydrochloride (TC–HCl) from aqueous solutions. The synthesized composites were characterized by the following methods: Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry and atomic absorption spectrometry. Our study results indicated that MHNTs have strong magnetic (Ms = 34.02 emu/g) and low leakage properties. The adsorption capacities of MHNTs were investigated by performing a series of experiments with different pH, temperatures, initial concentrations and reaction time. The Langmuir isotherm model fitted to equilibrium data better than the Freundlich model. The kinetic properties of the composites were well-described by applying the pseudo-second-order equation. Even after carrying out two repeated experimental cycles, the reusability of the synthesized composites did not obviously degenerate

The Influence Mechanism of the Master Weak Interlayer on Bench Blasting Effect and Its Evaluation Method

The weak interlayers in an open-pit blasting bench affect the uniform distribution of explosive energy. To explore the mechanistic influence of a weak interlayer on the effect of blasting, 9 sets of numerical blasting experiments were constructed using the orthogonal experiment method. The degree of bench crushing after blasting, the maximum velocity of the rock mass at 0.05 s, and the displacement of the back of the bench were thus investigated. The analysis revealed that the impact of the thickness of the weak interlayer, its wave impedance, and its location of occurrence on the bench blasting indicated an ordered decreasing effect. Based on this, the evaluation method for the master weak interlayer and the design plan of the specific charge structure were proposed. The evaluated design proposals were verified through both numerical and field tests. The research results will provide a scientific basis to determine a reasonable charge structure of the bench blasting of rock masses containing weak interlayers

Gold nanoparticles combat enveloped RNA virus by affecting organelle dynamics

Abstract Enveloped RNA viruses are a group of viruses with an outer membrane derived from a host cell and a genome consisting of ribonucleic acid (RNA). These viruses rely on host cell machinery and organelles to replicate and assemble new virus particles. However, the interaction between viruses and host organelles may be disrupted by nanomaterials, such as gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with unique physical and chemical properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of AuNPs with different surface charge properties on the subcellular structure and function of mammalian cells, and their effects on two representative enveloped RNA viruses: lentivirus and human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV- OC43) antiviral potential. By comparing the subcellular effects of AuNPs with different surface charge properties, we found that treatment with AuNPs with positive surface charges induced more significant disruption of subcellular structures than neutrally charged AuNPs and negatively charged AuNPs, mainly manifested in lysosomes and Cytoskeletal disorders. The antiviral effect of the surface positively charged AuNPs was further evaluated using lentivirus and HCoV-OC43. The results showed that AuNPs had a significant inhibitory effect on both lentivirus and HCoV-OC43 without obvious side effects. In conclusion, our study provides insights into the mechanism of action and biocompatibility of AuNP in biological systems, while supporting the potential of targeting organelle dynamics against enveloped RNA viruses

Targeted RNA N6‐Methyladenosine Demethylation Controls Cell Fate Transition in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Abstract Deficiency of the N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase complex results in global reduction of m6A abundance and defective cell development in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). However, it's unclear whether regional m6A methylation affects cell fate decisions due to the inability to modulate individual m6A modification in ESCs with precise temporal control. Here, a targeted RNA m6A erasure (TRME) system is developed to achieve site‐specific demethylation of RNAs in human ESCs (hESCs). TRME, in which a stably transfected, doxycycline‐inducible dCas13a is fused to the catalytic domain of ALKBH5, can precisely and reversibly demethylate the targeted m6A site of mRNA and increase mRNA stability with limited off‐target effects. It is further demonstrated that temporal m6A erasure on a single site of SOX2 is sufficient to control the differentiation of hESCs. This study provides a versatile toolbox to reveal the function of individual m6A modification in hESCs, enabling cell fate control studies at the epitranscriptional level