Computer Vision to the Rescue: Infant Postural Symmetry Estimation from Incongruent Annotations

Bilateral postural symmetry plays a key role as a potential risk marker for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and as a symptom of congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) in infants, but current methods of assessing symmetry require laborious clinical expert assessments. In this paper, we develop a computer vision based infant symmetry assessment system, leveraging 3D human pose estimation for infants. Evaluation and calibration of our system against ground truth assessments is complicated by our findings from a survey of human ratings of angle and symmetry, that such ratings exhibit low inter-rater reliability. To rectify this, we develop a Bayesian estimator of the ground truth derived from a probabilistic graphical model of fallible human raters. We show that the 3D infant pose estimation model can achieve 68% area under the receiver operating characteristic curve performance in predicting the Bayesian aggregate labels, compared to only 61% from a 2D infant pose estimation model and 60% from a 3D adult pose estimation model, highlighting the importance of 3D poses and infant domain knowledge in assessing infant body symmetry. Our survey analysis also suggests that human ratings are susceptible to higher levels of bias and inconsistency, and hence our final 3D pose-based symmetry assessment system is calibrated but not directly supervised by Bayesian aggregate human ratings, yielding higher levels of consistency and lower levels of inter-limb assessment bias

Characteristics of DNA-AuNP networks on cell membranes and real-time movies for viral infection

AbstractThis data article provides complementary data for the article entitled “DNA-AuNP networks on cell membranes as a protective barrier to inhibit viral attachment, entry and budding” Li et al. (2016) [1]. The experimental methods for the preparation and characterization of DNA-conjugated nanoparticle networks on cell membranes were described. Confocal fluorescence images, agarose gel electrophoresis images and hydrodynamic diameter of DNA-conjugated gold nanoparticle (DNA-AuNP) networks were presented. In addition, we have prepared QDs-labeled RSV (QDs-RSV) to real-time monitor the RSV infection on HEp-2 cells in the absence and presence of DNA-AuNP networks. Finally, the cell viability of HEp-2 cells coated by six types of DNA-nanoparticle networks was determined after RSV infection

Effective TME-related signature to predict prognosis of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Introduction: The tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial for the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the correlation of the characteristics of the TME and the prognosis of patients with HNSCC remains less known.Methods: In this study, we calculated the immune and stromal cell scores using the “estimate” R package. Kaplan-Meier survival and CIBERSORT algorithm analyses were applied in this study.Results: We identified seven new markers: FCGR3B, IGHV3-64, AC023449.2, IGKV1D-8, FCGR2A, WDFY4, and HBQ1. Subsequently, a risk model was constructed and all HNSCC samples were grouped into low- and high-risk groups. The results of both the Kaplan-Meier survival and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses showed that the prognosis indicated by the model was accurate (0.758, 0.756, and 0.666 for 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates). In addition, we applied the CIBERSORT algorithm to reveal the significant differences in the infiltration levels of immune cells between the two risk groups.Discussion: Our study elucidated the roles of the TME and identified new prognostic biomarkers for patients with HNSCC

Smart Design for Evacuation Signage Layout for Exhibition Halls in Exhibition Buildings Based on Visibility

The reasonable placement of evacuation signage is an important means to improve the efficiency of evacuation in the exhibition halls of exhibition buildings. The booths in exhibition halls are arranged and changed frequently for different exhibitions, which means that the evacuation paths are not fixed. Most people are also unfamiliar with the exhibition hall environment. In case of fire, earthquake, or other emergencies, people need to quickly escape to the safety exit, adhering to the guidance of evacuation signage. Existing evacuation signs are located according to the standards and the experience of the designers, and the locations of the signs are fixed and do not change with the changes in the booth layout, which means that the signage can be easily obscured by the booths, affecting the signage identification. Based on the visibility of evacuation signage, a smart design method of evacuation signage layout is proposed in this paper that can be adapted to different forms of booth arrangements in exhibition halls. This method establishes a key goal of achieving the full coverage of the visibility range of evacuation passages with the minimum number of evacuation signs. In the context of the actual visibility range of evacuation signage being blocked by booths in a three-dimensional space, this method finds the optimal number and best locations of evacuation signs by using a genetic algorithm. Finally, a case is given to verify the effectiveness of the method. This smart design for evacuation signage layout can enhance the guidance ability of evacuation signage in exhibition halls and improve the efficiency of evacuation

Smart Design for Evacuation Signage Layout for Exhibition Halls in Exhibition Buildings Based on Visibility

The reasonable placement of evacuation signage is an important means to improve the efficiency of evacuation in the exhibition halls of exhibition buildings. The booths in exhibition halls are arranged and changed frequently for different exhibitions, which means that the evacuation paths are not fixed. Most people are also unfamiliar with the exhibition hall environment. In case of fire, earthquake, or other emergencies, people need to quickly escape to the safety exit, adhering to the guidance of evacuation signage. Existing evacuation signs are located according to the standards and the experience of the designers, and the locations of the signs are fixed and do not change with the changes in the booth layout, which means that the signage can be easily obscured by the booths, affecting the signage identification. Based on the visibility of evacuation signage, a smart design method of evacuation signage layout is proposed in this paper that can be adapted to different forms of booth arrangements in exhibition halls. This method establishes a key goal of achieving the full coverage of the visibility range of evacuation passages with the minimum number of evacuation signs. In the context of the actual visibility range of evacuation signage being blocked by booths in a three-dimensional space, this method finds the optimal number and best locations of evacuation signs by using a genetic algorithm. Finally, a case is given to verify the effectiveness of the method. This smart design for evacuation signage layout can enhance the guidance ability of evacuation signage in exhibition halls and improve the efficiency of evacuation

Short-Term Effects of Bio-Organic Fertilizer on Soil Fertility and Bacterial Community Composition in Tea Plantation Soils

Overuse of chemical fertilizers to maintain tea production has caused many adverse effects in tea plantations and largely hampers the sustainable development of the tea industry. Applying bio-organic fertilizer (BOF) to achieve the goal of sustainable agriculture has become popular because of its advantages, such as its pollution-free nature, considerable amount of beneficial microbes and soil-friendly organic materials. However, the effects of BOF application on tea plantation soil remain an open question. Herein, we carried out a 3-year pot experiment with four treatments, including control without fertilization (CK), 100% chemical fertilizer (CF), 50% chemical fertilizer +50% BOF (CFOF) and 100% BOF (OF), to explore the effects of BOF application on soil fertility and bacterial community in tea plantations. The results showed that BOF application could increase soil fertility in both bulk and rhizosphere soils and improve the biomass of tea leaves. In addition, the nutrient level change caused by BOF application significantly changed bacterial community diversity and composition and accounted for 74.91% of the community variation. CFOF and OF treatments significantly increased the bacterial Chao1 and Shannon indices compared to CF treatment (p Betaproteobacteria (46.88%), Acidobacteria (11.29%), Alphaproteobacteria (9.69%) and Gammaproteobacteria (9.59%). BOF application increased the relative abundance of Alphaproteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria and planctomycetes and decreased the relative abundance of Betaproteobacteria (p < 0.05). Furthermore, bacterial function prediction revealed that BOF application improved the N and C cycling processes and enhanced the co-occurrence network complexity in the bulk soils. Bacterial community functions and co-occurrence networks in the rhizosphere did not show similar results, indicating that rhizosphere bacterial communities were more affected by the rhizosphere effect than BOF application. All these findings verified our hypothesis that applying BOF in tea plantations could increase the biomass of tea plants by improving soil fertility and influencing the soil bacterial function groups. In summary, we suggested that BOF application could be a promising way to achieve the sustainable development of the tea industry

Short-Term Effects of Bio-Organic Fertilizer on Soil Fertility and Bacterial Community Composition in Tea Plantation Soils

Overuse of chemical fertilizers to maintain tea production has caused many adverse effects in tea plantations and largely hampers the sustainable development of the tea industry. Applying bio-organic fertilizer (BOF) to achieve the goal of sustainable agriculture has become popular because of its advantages, such as its pollution-free nature, considerable amount of beneficial microbes and soil-friendly organic materials. However, the effects of BOF application on tea plantation soil remain an open question. Herein, we carried out a 3-year pot experiment with four treatments, including control without fertilization (CK), 100% chemical fertilizer (CF), 50% chemical fertilizer +50% BOF (CFOF) and 100% BOF (OF), to explore the effects of BOF application on soil fertility and bacterial community in tea plantations. The results showed that BOF application could increase soil fertility in both bulk and rhizosphere soils and improve the biomass of tea leaves. In addition, the nutrient level change caused by BOF application significantly changed bacterial community diversity and composition and accounted for 74.91% of the community variation. CFOF and OF treatments significantly increased the bacterial Chao1 and Shannon indices compared to CF treatment (p &lt; 0.05). Moreover, bacterial community composition was dominated by Betaproteobacteria (46.88%), Acidobacteria (11.29%), Alphaproteobacteria (9.69%) and Gammaproteobacteria (9.59%). BOF application increased the relative abundance of Alphaproteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria and planctomycetes and decreased the relative abundance of Betaproteobacteria (p &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, bacterial function prediction revealed that BOF application improved the N and C cycling processes and enhanced the co-occurrence network complexity in the bulk soils. Bacterial community functions and co-occurrence networks in the rhizosphere did not show similar results, indicating that rhizosphere bacterial communities were more affected by the rhizosphere effect than BOF application. All these findings verified our hypothesis that applying BOF in tea plantations could increase the biomass of tea plants by improving soil fertility and influencing the soil bacterial function groups. In summary, we suggested that BOF application could be a promising way to achieve the sustainable development of the tea industry

Advancing Metallic Lithium Anodes: A Review of Interface Design, Electrolyte Innovation, and Performance Enhancement Strategies

Lithium (Li) metal is one of the most promising anode materials for next-generation, high-energy, Li-based batteries due to its exceptionally high specific capacity and low reduction potential. Nonetheless, intrinsic challenges such as detrimental interfacial reactions, significant volume expansion, and dendritic growth present considerable obstacles to its practical application. This review comprehensively summarizes various recent strategies for the modification and protection of metallic lithium anodes, offering insight into the latest advancements in electrode enhancement, electrolyte innovation, and interfacial design, as well as theoretical simulations related to the above. One notable trend is the optimization of electrolytes to suppress dendrite formation and enhance the stability of the electrode–electrolyte interface. This has been achieved through the development of new electrolytes with higher ionic conductivity and better compatibility with Li metal. Furthermore, significant progress has been made in the design and synthesis of novel Li metal composite anodes. These composite anodes, incorporating various additives such as polymers, ceramic particles, and carbon nanotubes, exhibit improved cycling stability and safety compared to pure Li metal. Research has used simulation computing, machine learning, and other methods to achieve electrochemical mechanics modeling and multi-field simulation in order to analyze and predict non-uniform lithium deposition processes and control factors. In-depth investigations into the electrochemical reactions, interfacial chemistry, and physical properties of these electrodes have provided valuable insights into their design and optimization. It systematically encapsulates the state-of-the-art developments in anode protection and delineates prospective trajectories for the technology’s industrial evolution. This review aims to provide a detailed overview of the latest strategies for enhancing metallic lithium anodes in lithium-ion batteries, addressing the primary challenges and suggesting future directions for industrial advancement

Role of Circular RNAs in Atherosclerosis through Regulation of Inflammation, Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Apoptosis: Focus on Atherosclerotic Cerebrovascular Disease

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a disease dangerous to human health and the main pathological cause of ischemic cardiovascular diseases. Although its pathogenesis is not fully understood, numerous basic and clinical studies have shown that AS is a chronic inflammatory disease existing in all stages of atherogenesis. It may be a common link or pathway in the pathogenesis of multiple atherogenic factors. Inflammation is associated with AS complications, such as plaque rupture and ischemic cerebral infarction. In addition to inflammation, apoptosis plays an important role in AS. Apoptosis is a type of programmed cell death, and different apoptotic cells have different or even opposite roles in the process of AS. Unlike linear RNA, circular RNA (circRNA) a covalently closed circular non-coding RNA, is stable and can sponge miRNA, which can affect the stages of AS by regulating downstream pathways. Ultimately, circRNAs play very important roles in AS by regulating inflammation, apoptosis, and some other mechanisms. The study of circular RNAs can provide new ideas for the prediction, prevention, and treatment of AS

A Self-Assembled Matrix System for Cell-Bioengineering Applications in Different Dimensions, Scales, and Geometries

Stem cell bioengineering and therapy require different model systems and materials in different stages of development. If a chemically defined biomatrix system can fulfill most tasks, it can minimize the discrepancy among various setups. By screening biomaterials synthesized through a coacervation-mediated self-assembling mechanism, a biomatrix system optimal for 2D human mesenchymal stromal cell (hMSC) culture and osteogenesis is identified. Its utility for hMSC bioengineering is further demonstrated in coating porous bioactive glass scaffolds and nanoparticle synthesis for esiRNA delivery to knock down the SOX-9 gene with high delivery efficiency. The self-assembled injectable system is further utilized for 3D cell culture, segregated co-culture of hMSC with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) as an angiogenesis model, and 3D bioprinting. Most interestingly, the coating of bioactive glass with the self-assembled biomatrix not only supports the proliferation and osteogenesis of hMSC in the 3D scaffold but also induces the amorphous bioactive glass (BG) scaffold surface to form new apatite crystals resembling bone-shaped plate structures. Thus, the self-assembled biomatrix system can be utilized in various dimensions, scales, and geometries for many different bioengineering applications