Image retrieval based on colour and improved NMI texture features

This paper proposes an improved method for extracting NMI features. This method uses Particle Swarm Optimization in advance to optimize the two-dimensional maximum class-to-class variance (2OTSU) in advance. Afterwards, the optimized 2OUSU is introduced into the Pulse Coupled Neural Network (PCNN) to automatically obtain the number of iterations of the loop. We use an improved PCNN method to extract the NMI features of the image. For the problem of low accuracy of single feature, this paper proposes a new method of multi-feature fusion based on image retrieval. It uses HSV colour features and texture features, where, the texture feature extraction methods include: Grey Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM), Local Binary Pattern (LBP) and Improved PCNN. The experimental results show that: on the Corel-1k dataset, compared with similar algorithms, the retrieval accuracy of this method is improved by 13.6%; On the AT&T dataset, the retrieval accuracy is improved by 13.4% compared with the similar algorithm; on the FD-XJ dataset, the retrieval accuracy is improved by 17.7% compared with the similar algorithm. Therefore, the proposed algorithm has better retrieval performance and robustness compared with the existing image retrieval algorithms based on multi-feature fusion

Building a strong pharmaceutical system for China

The world’s most populous country is facing a double healthcare crunch with a rapidly aging population and an explosion in the rate of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease. Addressing these diseases will require a robust pharmaceutical system that is able to produce quality, effective, and affordable medicines

Sensitivity of plankton biomass and productivity to variations in physical forcing and biological parameters in Chesapeake Bay

A coupled three-dimensional hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model is used to simulate plankton dynamics in Chesapeake Bay and examine its sensitivity to variations in biological parameters and physical forcing. The coupled biophysical model captures observed seasonal cycle and regional distributions of plankton in Chesapeake Bay and predicts the phase lag between the spring chlorophyll maximum and the summer primary productivity maximum. This lag traces to the delivery of dissolved inorganic nutrients in the winter-spring freshet from the Susquehanna River that fuels the spring bloom, whereas regenerated nutrients support high primary productivity in summer. The model shows that episodic wind events commonly associated with frontal passages in summer inject nutrients into the euphotic layer, leading to short periods of elevated primary productivity. Quantitative comparisons between the predicted and observed annual time series of euphotic-layer chlorophyll and primary productivity show that the model possesses reasonable skill. Sensitivity analyses of model simulations for different biological parameter values and alternative formulations of biogeochemical processes suggest that model predictions are robust. To understand the impacts of climate variability and change on Chesapeake Bay, we examine how the plankton system responds to variations in river runoff, wind forcing, temperature and light level. Annual mean chlorophyll (AMC) and annual integrated production (AIP) increase by about 70% for a doubling of river runoff, but only reduce by 30% and 13% for 50% reduction of river runoff, suggesting a nonlinear response of plankton system to changes in river runoff and nutrient loading. Doubling of wind stress results in a small increase in AMC but 28% increase in AIP. For 2°C warming AMC increases from 25.4 to 30 mg m−2 and AIP increases from 180 to 246 g C m−2 yr−1

Hurricane-induced destratification and restratification in a partially-mixed estuary

Hurricane Isabel made landfall at the Outer Banks of North Carolina and moved past Chesapeake Bay on 18 –19 September 2003. The baroclinic response of this partially-mixed estuary to the passage of Isabel is investigated using the output from a regional atmosphere-ocean model. The hurricane-forced winds caused gradual deepening of the surface mixed layer, followed by rapid destratification in the water-column. The mixed-layer deepening appears to be driven by velocity shear and can be interpreted by a gradient Richardson number. Although strong winds caused complete mixing locally, a large longitudinal salinity gradient of about 10-4 psu m-1 persisted between the estuary\u27s head and mouth. After passage of the storm, the horizontal baroclinic pressure gradient drove restratification and a two-layer circulation in the estuary. The averaged buoyancy frequency increased linearly with time during an initial stage, and reached about 0.03 s-1 one day after the destratification. The model results are in good agreement with the theoretical prediction based on gravitational adjustment. Subsequently, turbulent diffusion works against the longitudinal advection to produce quasi-steady salinity distribution

Aging Response and Precipitation Behavior After 5% Pre-Deformation of an Al-Mg-Si-Cu Alloy

In this study, Al-1.00 Mg-0.65 Si-0.24 Cu alloy was solution heat-treated, water-quenched, and then pre-deformed for 5% before aging. The peak hardness and yield strength of the pre-deformed sample with subsequent artificial aging were similar to that of a T6 condition sample. It was also found that the pre-deformation treatment could inhibit the negative influence of natural aging to some degree. After seven days of natural aging, the pre-deformed sample obtained better peak hardness and yield strength upon artificial aging than the sample without pre-deformation. In addition, the pre-deformation treatment could reduce 50% of the artificial aging time to reach the peak aging condition compared with T6 treatment. For the peak aged condition in the pre-deformed sample, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation found two types of precipitates exhibited along the dislocations besides the β″ precipitates in the Al matrix. Both precipitates had disordered atomic arrangements on the ordered subcell (Si network). The disordered precipitates occupied a number of Mg and Si atoms, resulting in less β″ precipitates formed during artificial aging at 180 °C

Combined early palliative care for non-small-cell lung cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial in Chongqing, China

PurposeMore effective approaches are needed to improve the prognosis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Thus, we used the E-warm model to assess how early integration of interdisciplinary palliative care was related to the quality of life (QoL), psychological functioning, pain management, and nutrition factors of NSCLC patients.MethodsThis randomized controlled trial enrolled 280 newly diagnosed NSCLC patients, which were randomly divided (1:1) into combined early palliative care (CEPC) and standard oncological care (SC) groups. At baseline and after 24 weeks, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L) scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used to assess QoL and psychological function, respectively. The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) were used to assess cancer patients’ pain and nutrition levels. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes comprised changes in the QoL, psychological functioning, pain, and nutrition state. The intention-to-treat method was applied for analysis. This study was registered at www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2200062617).ResultsOf the 140 patients enrolled in the CEPC and SC groups, 102 and 82 completed the research. The CEPC group presented higher QoL than the SC group (p < 0.05). Additionally, fewer patients presented depressive symptoms in the CEPC group than in the SC group (p < 0.05), as well as better nutritional status (p = 0.007) and pain management (p = 0.003). Compared to the SC group, CEPC patients had significantly longer OS (20.4 vs. 24.6 months, p = 0.042; HR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.04-0.85, p = 0.029).ConclusionWith combined early palliative care, NSCLC patients lived longer, had better QoL, were psychologically stable, were in less pain, and were more nutritionally satisfied

JK5G postbiotics attenuate immune-related adverse events in NSCLC patients by regulating gut microbiota: a randomized controlled trial in China

ScopeThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of JK5G postbiotics to regulate imbalanced gut microbiota and its impacts on the efficacy and incidence rate of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).MethodsThis randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in China and included non-squamous or squamous NSCLC patients without EGFR, ROS1, and ALK alteration, treatment-naive, and stage IIIb-IV. Patients were randomly (1:1) divided into two groups to receive four cycles (three weeks for each cycle) of programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) plus chemotherapy plus placebo (control group, n = 30) or to receive PD-1 plus chemotherapy plus JK5G postbiotics (JK5G group, n = 30). The primary endpoint was objective response rate. The secondary endpoints were quality of life (QoL), adverse effects, and the 16S DNA sequencing of gut microbiota, blood inflammatory cytokines, and lymphocyte subsets. This study was registered at www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2200064690).ResultsSixty patients were enrolled. The objective response rate was 36.67% (11/30) in the control group and 50.00% (15/30) in the JK5G group (p = 0.297). The JK5G group had better QoL and nutritional levels, as well as lower depression symptoms than the control group (all p < 0.05). Moreover, the JK5G group had a lower incidence of anemia (63.33% vs. 13.33%, p < 0.001), decreased lymphocyte count (20.00% vs. 0%, p = 0.010), decreased appetite (53.33% vs. 16.67%, p = 0.003), nausea (33.33% vs. 6.67%, p = 0.010), and asthenia (30.00% vs. 6.67%, p = 0.017) than the control group. Moreover, JK5G attenuated gut microbiota imbalance, accompanied by increased Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcaceae, and fecal butyrate concentration, and diminished Escherichia-Shigella. Furthermore, JK5G administration significantly decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory markers, including TNF-α, IL-2, and C-reactive protein (CRP) (all p < 0.05). Significant increases in CD3+CD4+ T cells and CD4/CD8 ratio were observed in the peripheral blood of JK5G group patients (all p < 0.05). The enterotype data showed that patients were clustered into Blautia (E1) and Escherichia-Shigella (E2) enterotypes, and JK5G postbiotics intervention might be related to enterotype modulations.ConclusionOur current findings indicated that JK5G postbiotics might attenuate irAEs, and enhance the QoL and nutrition levels of advanced NSCLC patients who received ICIs. JK5G postbiotics could also improve the gut microbiota structures and ameliorate the tumor microenvironment and inflammation.Clinical trial registrationwww.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR2200064690