A Cascaded Iterative Fourier Transform Algorithm For Optical Security Applications

A cascaded iterative Fourier transform (CIFT) algorithm is presented for optical security applications. Two phase-masks are designed and located in the input and the Fourier domains of a 4-f correlator respectively, in order to implement the optical encryption or authenticity verification. Compared with previous methods, the proposed algorithm employs an improved searching strategy: modifying the phase-distributions of both masks synchronously as well as enlarging the searching space. Computer simulations show that the algorithm results in much faster convergence and better image quality for the recovered image. Each of these masks is assigned to different person. Therefore, the decrypted image can be obtained only when all these masks are under authorization. This key-assignment strategy may reduce the risk of being intruded.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables. submitted to Opti

Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward pediatric vitamin D deficiency among parents

ObjectiveTo investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards pediatric vitamin D deficiency (VitD) among parents and explore the risk factors of their knowledge, attitude, and practice.MethodsThis cross-sectional study enrolled parents in our Hospital between November 2022 and January 2023.ResultsA total of 621 valid questionnaires were collected in this study. The knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 6.13 ± 3.07 (theoretical score range: 0–13), 31.13 ± 6.20 (theoretical score range: 9–45), and 27.47 ± 4.21 (theoretical score range: 9–45), respectively; the mean knowledge score was <60%, indicating poor knowledge. Commercial and service industry workers and a monthly income ≥5,000 CNY were independently associated with sufficient knowledge (all P < 0.05). The knowledge score, ethnic minorities, divorced/widows, and spouses with a master's degree or above were independently associated with positive attitudes (all P < 0.05). The attitude score, female, non-urban, undergraduate education, commercial and service industry worker, and office worker were independently associated with proactive practice (all P < 0.05). Those characteristics could help design future KAP interventions on vitD deficiency.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated poor knowledge, positive attitude, and proactive practice regarding pediatric VitD deficiency among parents. Targeted interventions and educational programs should be developed to improve parental knowledge

Inefficient DMN Suppression in Schizophrenia Patients with Impaired Cognitive Function but not Patients with Preserved Cognitive Function

Previous studies have observed reduced suppression of the default mode network (DMN) during cognitive tasks in schizophrenia, suggesting inefficient DMN suppression is critical for the cognitive deficits of schizophrenia. Cognitive function in schizophrenia patients, however, varies from relatively intact to severely impaired. This study, which compared the DMN suppression patterns between first-episode schizophrenia patients with (SZ-Imp) and without (SZ-Pre) impaired cognitive function, may provide further insight into the role of DMN dysfunction in cognitive deficits of schizophrenia. Independent component analysis (ICA) was applied to resting-state fMRI data to identify the DMN in each subject, and then general linear modeling based on the task-fMRI data was used to examine the different DMN activation patterns between groups. We observed that the SZ-Imp group, but not the SZ-Pre group, showed reduced suppression in the medial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulated cortexPrevious studies have observed reduced suppression of the default mode network (DMN) when compared to the healthy controls (HC) group. Moreover, less DMN suppression was associated with poorer task performance in both HC and patient groups. Our findings provide the first direct evidence that disrupted DMN activity only exists in schizophrenia patients with impaired cognitive function, supporting the specific neuro-pathological role of inefficient DMN suppression in cognitive deficits of first-episode schizophrenia

Simultaneous Determination of 8 Compounds in Gancao-Ganjiang-Tang by HPLC-DAD and Analysis of the Relations between Compatibility, Dosage, and Contents of Medicines

Gancao-Ganjiang-Tang (GGT) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription and is a representative prescription for recuperating depleted Yang in Treatise on Febrile Diseases. The TCM theory believes that the efficacy of medicinal herbs is decided by the multicompounds which consist of different kinds of chemical constituents with bioactivities, but not by a monomeric constituent. From ancient times until today, GGT have 5 different kinds of compatibilities that can be verified. In this study, a HPLC-DAD method was established for the simultaneous determination of 8 compounds including 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, 6-shogaol, liquiritin, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritin, isoliquiritigenin, and glycyrrhizic acid in the five GGT. The total contents of the 8 compounds in GGT varied from 555.56 to 956.33 μg/mL. The effects showed that the dosage and compatibility of medicinal herbs have influenced the content of chemical compounds of TCM prescription while the content of chemical compounds has acted on clinical efficacy. Quality evaluation and active essence screening of TCM (including single herb and prescription) should be based on the TCM theory and clinical effectiveness. The method was proven to be suitable for quality control of GGT

HER2 Targeted Molecular MR Imaging Using a De Novo Designed Protein Contrast Agent

The application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to non-invasively assess disease biomarkers has been hampered by the lack of desired contrast agents with high relaxivity, targeting capability, and optimized pharmacokinetics. We have developed a novel MR imaging probe targeting to HER2, a biomarker for various cancer types and a drug target for anti-cancer therapies. This multimodal HER20targeted MR imaging probe integrates a de novo designed protein contrast agent with a high affinity HER2 affibody and a near IR fluorescent dye. Our probe can differentially monitor tumors with different expression levels of HER2 in both human cell lines and xenograft mice models. In addition to its 100-fold higher dose efficiency compared to clinically approved non-targeting contrast agent DTPA, our developed agent also exhibits advantages in crossing the endothelial boundary, tissue distribution, and tumor tissue retention over reported contrast agents as demonstrated by even distribution of the imaging probe across the entire tumor mass. This contrast agent will provide a powerful tool for quantitative assessment of molecular markers, and improved resolution for diagnosis, prognosis and drug discovery

Repair of rotator cuff tears in patients aged 75 years and older: Does it make sense? A systematic review

BackgroundRotator cuff injuries are common, and morbidity increases with age. The asymptomatic full-thickness tear rate is 40% in the over 75-year-old population.PurposeThis study aimed to systematically review the literature on the outcomes of rotator cuff repair among >75 years old patients.Study designSystematic review.MethodsA systematic review of the literature was performed following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A literature search was performed in the electronic databases of PubMed, Medline, Embase, and The Cochrane Library. Studies in English evaluating repair of full-thickness rotator cuff tears in patients aged >75 years were included.ResultsSix studies were reviewed, including 311 patients (313 shoulders) treated with arthroscopic and/or open rotator cuff repair. Sixty-one patients were lost to follow-up, leaving 252 shoulders with outcome data. Patients in this age group demonstrated a significant improvement in the clinical and functional scores after rotator cuff repair, with a high satisfaction rate. The mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores improved from 43.8 (range, 42.0–45.5) preoperatively to 85.3 (range, 84.0 to 86.5) postoperatively, and the mean Constant scores improved from 45.4 (range, 34.7–55.5) to 78.6 (range, 67.0–91.6). Pain, evaluated in all studies by the visual analog scale for pain, showed a significant improvement at the last follow-up compared with the mean preoperative score. Furthermore, range of motion and return to daily activities and sports gained marked improvements.ConclusionRotator cuff repair in patients aged >75 years could achieve high clinical success rates with good outcomes and pain relief. Although patients in this age group are at a high risk of retear, rotator cuff repair may offer a good option with significant functional and clinical improvement

Bacterial cellulose membrane combined with BMSCs promotes wound healing by activating the notch signaling pathway

ObjectiveThe bacterial cellulose membrane (BCM) has been widely studied and applied as a new biomaterial for wound healing, but causes pain with frequent dressing changes. Local application of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) requires a niche. Furthermore, the effect and mechanism of the BCM combined with BMSCs have not been reported.MethodsMorphological and chemical identifications of BCMs were investigated by porosity analyses, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Biological wound dressings (BWDs) were prepared by the BCM in combination with BMSCs. The biological effects of BWDs on human dermal fibroblast (HDF) and VEGF-A in human vascular endothelial cells (HuVECs) were detected in vitro, and the effect of BWDs on acute wounds in mice was detected in vivo. Collagen and angiogenesis were evaluated through hematoxylin–eosin staining and Masson staining. The expressions of COL-1 and VEGF-A and the activation of the Notch signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro were detected by quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.ResultsThe BCM had a nanoscale structure and provided a partial niche for the survival and proliferation of BMSCs. BWDs were successfully prepared and regulated the biological behaviors of wound healing-related cells in vitro and upregulated the expressions of COL-1 in HDF and VEGF-A in HuVECs. BWDs promoted wound healing by increasing collagen type I synthesis and angiogenesis in acute wounds in mice.ConclusionsBWDs prepared by the combination of nanomaterial BCMs and BMSCs facilitated acute wound healing, which may be regulated by activating the Notch signaling pathway

Integrative analysis of physiology, biochemistry and transcriptome reveals the mechanism of leaf size formation in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis)

IntroductionThe leaf, the main product organ, is an essential factor in determining the Chinese cabbage growth, yield and quality.MethodsTo explore the regulatory mechanism of leaf size development of Chinese cabbage, we investigated the leaf size difference between two high-generation inbred lines of Chinese cabbage, Y2 (large leaf) and Y7 (small leaf). Furtherly, the transcriptome and cis-acting elements analyses were conducted.Results and DiscussionAccording to our results, Y2 exhibited a higher growth rate than Y7 during the whole growth stage. In addition, the significant higher leaf number was observed in Y2 than in Y7. There was no significant difference in the number of epidermal cells and guard cells per square millimeter between Y2 and Y7 leaves. It indicated that cell numbers caused the difference in leaf size. The measurement of phytohormone content confirmed that GA1 and GA3 mainly play essential roles in the early stage of leaf growth, and IPA and ABA were in the whole leaf growth period in regulating the cell proliferation difference between Y2 and Y7. Transcriptome analysis revealed that cyclins BraA09g010980.3C (CYCB) and BraA10g027420.3C (CYCD) were mainly responsible for the leaf size difference between Y2 and Y7 Chinese cabbage. Further, we revealed that the transcription factors BraA09gMYB47 and BraA06gMYB88 played critical roles in the difference of leaf size between Y2 and Y7 through the regulation of cell proliferation.ConclusionThis observation not only offers essential insights into understanding the regulation mechanism of leaf development, also provides a promising breeding strategy to improve Chinese cabbage yield