A statistical method (cross-validation) for bone loss region detection after spaceflight.

Astronauts experience bone loss after the long spaceflight missions. Identifying specific regions that undergo the greatest losses (e.g. the proximal femur) could reveal information about the processes of bone loss in disuse and disease. Methods for detecting such regions, however, remains an open problem. This paper focuses on statistical methods to detect such regions. We perform statistical parametric mapping to get t-maps of changes in images, and propose a new cross-validation method to select an optimum suprathreshold for forming clusters of pixels. Once these candidate clusters are formed, we use permutation testing of longitudinal labels to derive significant changes

Multi-microjoule GaSe-based mid-infrared optical parametric amplifier with an ultra-broad idler spectrum covering 4.2-16 {\mu}m

We report a multi-microjoule, ultra-broadband mid-infrared optical parametric amplifier based on a GaSe nonlinear crystal pumped at ~2 {\mu}m. The generated idler pulse has a flat spectrum spanning from 4.5 to 13.3 {\mu}m at -3 dB and 4.2 to 16 {\mu}m in the full spectral range, with a central wavelength of 8.8 {\mu}m. The proposed scheme supports a sub-cycle Fourier-transform-limited pulse width. A (2+1)-dimensional numerical simulation is employed to reproduce the obtained idler spectrum. To our best knowledge, this is the broadest -3 dB spectrum ever obtained by optical parametric amplifiers in this spectral region. The idler pulse energy is ~3.4 {\mu}J with a conversion efficiency of ~2% from the ~2 {\mu}m pump to the idler pulse.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

The efficacy and acceptability of pharmacological monotherapies and e-cigarette on smoking cessation: a systemic review and network meta-analysis

Background and aimsSeveral pharmacological interventions, such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), varenicline, and bupropion, have been approved for clinical use of smoking cessation. E-cigarettes (EC) are increasingly explored by many RCTs for their potentiality in smoking cessation. In addition, some RCTs are attempting to explore new drugs for smoking cessation, such as cytisine. This network meta-analysis (NMA) aims to investigate how these drugs and e-cigarettes compare regarding their efficacy and acceptability.Materials and methodsThis systematic review and NMA searched all clinical studies on smoking cessation using pharmacological monotherapies or e-cigarettes published from January 2011 to May 2022 using MEDLINE, COCHRANE Library, and PsychINFO databases. NRTs were divided into transdermal (TDN) and oronasal nicotine (ONN) by administrative routes, thus 7 network nodes were set up for direct and indirect comparison. Two different indicators measured the efficacy: prevalent and continuous smoking abstinence. The drop-out rates measured the acceptability.ResultsThe final 40 clinical studies included in this study comprised 77 study cohorts and 25,889 participants. Varenicline is more effective intervention to assist in smoking cessation during 16–32 weeks follow-up, and is very likely to prompt dropout. Cytisine shows more effectiveness in continuous smoking cessation but may also lead to dropout. E-cigarettes and oronasal nicotine are more effective than no treatment in encouraging prevalent abstinence, but least likely to prompt dropout. Finally, transdermal nicotine delivery is more effective than no treatment in continuous abstinence, with neither significant effect on prevalent abstinence nor dropout rate.ConclusionThis review suggested and agreed that Varenicline, Cytisine and transdermal nicotine delivery, as smoking cessation intervention, have advantages and disadvantages. However, we had to have reservations about e-cigarettes as a way to quit smoking in adolescents

Electromagnetic-Circuital-Thermal-Mechanical Multiphysics Numerical Simulation Method For Microwave Circuits

An electromagnetic-circuital-thermal-mechanical Multiphysics numerical method is proposed for the simulation of microwave circuits. The discontinuous Galerkin time-domain (DGTD) method is adopted for electromagnetic simulation. The time-domain finite element method (FEM) is utilized for thermal simulation. The circuit equation is applied for circuit simulation. The mechanical simulation is also carried out by FEM method. A flexible and unified Multiphysics field coupling mechanism is constructed to cover various electromagnetic, circuital, thermal and mechanical Multiphysics coupling scenarios. Finally, three numerical examples emulating outer space environment, intense electromagnetic pulse (EMP) injection and high-power microwave (HPM) illumination are utilized to demonstrate the accuracy, efficiency, and capability of the proposed method. The proposed method provides a versatile and powerful tool for the design and analysis of microwave circuits characterized by intertwined electromagnetic, circuital, thermal and stress behaviors

Ultralong nitrogen/sulfur Co‐doped carbon nano‐hollow‐sphere chains with encapsulated cobalt nanoparticles for highly efficient oxygen electrocatalysis

The development of simple and effective strategies to prepare electrocatalysts, which possess unique and stable structures comprised of metal/nonmetallic atoms for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), is currently an urgent issue. Herein, an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst featured by ultralong N, S-doped carbon nano-hollow-sphere chains about 1300 nm with encapsulated Co nanoparticles (Co-CNHSCs) is developed. The multifunctional catalytic properties of Co together with the heteroatom-induced charge redistribution (i.e., modulating the electronic structure of the active site) result in superior catalytic activities toward OER and ORR in alkaline media. The optimized catalyst Co-CNHSC-3 displays an outstanding electrocatalytic ability for ORR and OER, a high specific capacity of 1023.6 mAh gZn−1, and excellent reversibility after 80 h at 10 mA cm−2 in a Zn-air battery system. This work presents a new strategy for the design and synthesis of efficient multifunctional carbon-based catalysts for energy storage and conversion devices

Brain Aging and AD-Like Pathology in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Objective. Numerous epidemiological studies have linked diabetes mellitus (DM) with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, whether or not diabetic encephalopathy shows AD-like pathology remains unclear. Research Design and Methods. Forebrain and hippocampal volumes were measured using stereology in serial coronal sections of the brain in streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced rats. Neurodegeneration in the frontal cortex, hypothalamus, and hippocampus was evaluated using Fluoro-Jade C (FJC). Aβ aggregation in the frontal cortex and hippocampus was tested using immunohistochemistry and ELISA. Dendritic spine density in the frontal cortex and hippocampus was measured using Golgi staining, and western blot was conducted to detect the levels of synaptophysin. Cognitive ability was evaluated through the Morris water maze and inhibitory avoidant box. Results. Rats are characterized by insulin deficiency accompanied with polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria, and weight loss after STZ injection. The number of FJC-positive cells significantly increased in discrete brain regions of the diabetic rats compared with the age-matched control rats. Hippocampal atrophy, Aβ aggregation, and synapse loss were observed in the diabetic rats compared with the control rats. The learning and memory of the diabetic rats decreased compared with those of the age-matched control rats. Conclusions. Our results suggested that aberrant metabolism induced brain aging as characterized by AD-like pathologies