Feature Fusion and Detection in Alzheimer’s Disease Using a Novel Genetic Multi-Kernel SVM Based on MRI Imaging and Gene Data

© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Voxel-based morphometry provides an opportunity to study Alzheimer’s disease (AD) at a subtle level. Therefore, identifying the important brain voxels that can classify AD, early mild cognitive impairment (EMCI) and healthy control (HC) and studying the role of these voxels in AD will be crucial to improve our understanding of the neurobiological mechanism of AD. Combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging and gene information, we proposed a novel feature construction method and a novel genetic multi-kernel support vector machine (SVM) method to mine important features for AD detection. Specifically, to amplify the differences among AD, EMCI and HC groups, we used the eigenvalues of the top 24 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in a p-value matrix of 24 genes associated with AD for feature construction. Furthermore, a genetic multi-kernel SVM was established with the resulting features. The genetic algorithm was used to detect the optimal weights of 3 kernels and the multi-kernel SVM was used after training to explore the significant features. By analyzing the significance of the features, we identified some brain regions affected by AD, such as the right superior frontal gyrus, right inferior temporal gyrus and right superior temporal gyrus. The findings proved the good performance and generalization of the proposed model. Particularly, significant susceptibility genes associated with AD were identified, such as CSMD1, RBFOX1, PTPRD, CDH13 and WWOX. Some significant pathways were further explored, such as the calcium signaling pathway (corrected p-value = 1.35 × 10−6) and cell adhesion molecules (corrected p-value = 5.44 × 10−4). The findings offer new candidate abnormal brain features and demonstrate the contribution of these features to AD.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Incremental prognostic value of ADC histogram analysis in patients with high-risk prostate cancer receiving adjuvant hormonal therapy after radical prostatectomy

PurposeTo investigate the incremental prognostic value of preoperative apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histogram analysis in patients with high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) who received adjuvant hormonal therapy (AHT) after radical prostatectomy (RP).MethodsSixty-two PCa patients in line with the criteria were enrolled in this study. The 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles of ADC (ADC10, ADC50, ADC90), the mean value of ADC (ADCmean), kurtosis, and skewness were obtained from the whole-lesion ADC histogram. The Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to analyze the relationship between biochemical recurrence-free survival (BCR-fs) and ADC parameters and other clinicopathological factors. Prognostic models were constructed with and without ADC parameters.ResultsThe median follow-up time was 53.4 months (range, 41.1-79.3 months). BCR was found in 19 (30.6%) patients. Kaplan−Meier curves showed that lower ADCmean, ADC10, ADC50, and ADC90 and higher kurtosis could predict poorer BCR-fs (all p<0.05). After adjusting for clinical parameters, ADC50 and kurtosis remained independent prognostic factors for BCR-fs (HR: 0.172, 95% CI: 0.055-0.541, p=0.003; HR: 7.058, 95% CI: 2.288-21.773, p=0.001, respectively). By adding ADC parameters to the clinical model, the C index and diagnostic accuracy for the 24- and 36-month BCR-fs were improved.ConclusionADC histogram analysis has incremental prognostic value in patients with high-risk PCa who received AHT after RP. Combining ADC50, kurtosis and clinical parameters can improve the accuracy of BCR-fs prediction

Atomic layer deposited TiO2 nanofilm on titanium implant for reduced the release of particles

Objective: Titanium implants are widely used in surgeries for their biocompatibility and mechanical properties. However, excessive titanium particle release can cause implant failure. This study explores Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) to coat commercially pure titanium (Cp-Ti) with TiO2, aiming to improve its frictional and corrosion resistance while reducing particle release. By comparing TiO2 films with varying ALD cycle numbers, we assess surface properties, particle release, friction, and corrosion performance, providing insights into mitigating particle release from implants.Methods: Cp-Ti surfaces were prepared and coated with TiO2 films of 100, 300, and 500 ALD cycles. Surface characterization involved SEM, EDX, and XRD. Friction was tested using SEM, nanoindentation, and ICP-MS. Corrosion resistance was evaluated through immersion tests and electrochemical analysis. Cytotoxicity was assessed using BMSCs.Results: Surface characterization revealed smoother surfaces with increased ALD cycles, confirming successful TiO2 deposition. Friction testing showed reduced friction coefficients with higher ALD cycles, supported by nanoindentation results. Corrosion resistance improved with increasing ALD cycles, as evidenced by electrochemical tests and reduced titanium release. Cytotoxicity studies showed no significant cytotoxic effects.Conclusion: ALD-coated TiO2 films significantly enhance frictional and corrosion resistance of titanium implants while reducing particle release. The study underscores the importance of ALD cycle numbers in optimizing film performance, offering insights for designing implants with improved properties

Recognition of a Devonian‐early Mississippian plutonic belt in the eastern Beishan area, Northwest China, and its tectonic implications

The Beishan area, located in the southernmost part of the Central Asia Orogenic Belt, is crucial for understanding the tectonic evolution associated with the closure of the Paleo‐Asian Ocean. One intermediate and two granitic plutons from the eastern Beishan area between Mingshui–Shibanjing–Xiaohuangshan (MSX) and Niujuanzi–Xichangjing (NX) ophiolitic belts, including Tongchangkou gabbroic diorite, Northern Tongchangkou and Sandaomingshui plutons, are dated at 426 ± 3, 408 ± 2, and 365 ± 2 Ma by SIMS U–Pb zircon analyses. The Middle Silurian Tongchangkou gabbroic diorites with medium‐K calc‐alkaline metaluminous characteristics represent volcanic arc rocks. The Early Devonian Northern Tongchangkou pluton, a highly evolved calc‐alkaline mylonitic monzogranite with low εNd(t), −3.5 and −2.4, and relatively low initial 87Sr/86Sr (0.707095 and 0.707249), was mainly derived from Mesoproterozoic mafic to intermediate igneous protolith and shows both volcanic arc and postcollisional characteristics. The Late Devonian Sandaomingshui pluton, a calc‐alkaline granite with slightly positive εNd(t), 0.6 and 0.9, and low (87Sr/86Sr)t, 0.705543 and 0.705851, is likely from a more depleted source and represents a volcanic arc granite. Combined with previous studies of Late Paleozoic granites, we find that the widely distributed Permian granites in Central Asia Orogenic Belt are absent between MSX and NX ophiolitic belts. Given the regional geology, we conclude that the back‐arc basin represented by the NX ophiolitic belt closed during Early Devonian and afterward, flat subduction of the oceanic basin represented by the MSX ophiolitic belt occurred. It also indicates that the oceanic crust was still being produced in the Paleo‐Asian Ocean during the early Carboniferous

Age and petrogenesis of Mingshui-Shuangjingzi granites from the northern Beishan area, northwest China, and their implications for tectonic evolution

The Mingshui and Shuangjingzi granitic plutons are exposed in the northern Beishan area, in the southern Central Asia Orogenic Belt. U-Pb zircon dating indicates that Mingshui secondary intrusive lithosfacies and Shuangjingzi quartz monzodiorite formed at 328 ± 2 Ma and 272 ± 2 Ma, respectively. The former is composed of grey white monzogranites and potassic altered flesh red monzogranites. Geochemistry indicates they are calc-alkaline I-type granites. Shuangjingzi granites are mainly composed of unfractionated calc-alkaline I-type quartz monzodiorite, granodiorite and monzogranite. The Mingshui grey white monzogranites with negative initial εNd (–2.0 to–1.7) and moderate initial 87Sr/86Sr values (0.706740 to 0.710092) were probably derived from mixing of the depleted mantle (juvenile) component and the Palaeoproterozoic–Archean crust (or sedimentary) component and represent volcanic arc granites. The Shuangjingzi quartz monzodiorites are most likely derived from mafic to intermediate igneous protolith and represent post-collisional granites. This work, combined with the regional geology, suggests the Palaeo-Asian Ocean closed between 328 Ma and 272 Ma in the northern Beishan area

Semaphorin 3C (Sema3C) reshapes stromal microenvironment to promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression

Abstract More than 90% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases develop in the presence of fibrosis or cirrhosis, making the tumor microenvironment (TME) of HCC distinctive due to the intricate interplay between cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs), which collectively regulate HCC progression. However, the mechanisms through which CSCs orchestrate the dynamics of the tumor stroma during HCC development remain elusive. Our study unveils a significant upregulation of Sema3C in fibrotic liver, HCC tissues, peripheral blood of HCC patients, as well as sorafenib-resistant tissues and cells, with its overexpression correlating with the acquisition of stemness properties in HCC. We further identify NRP1 and ITGB1 as pivotal functional receptors of Sema3C, activating downstream AKT/Gli1/c-Myc signaling pathways to bolster HCC self-renewal and tumor initiation. Additionally, HCC cells-derived Sema3C facilitated extracellular matrix (ECM) contraction and collagen deposition in vivo, while also promoting the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Mechanistically, Sema3C interacted with NRP1 and ITGB1 in HSCs, activating downstream NF-kB signaling, thereby stimulating the release of IL-6 and upregulating HMGCR expression, consequently enhancing cholesterol synthesis in HSCs. Furthermore, CAF-secreted TGF-β1 activates AP1 signaling to augment Sema3C expression in HCC cells, establishing a positive feedback loop that accelerates HCC progression. Notably, blockade of Sema3C effectively inhibits tumor growth and sensitizes HCC cells to sorafenib in vivo. In sum, our findings spotlight Sema3C as a novel biomarker facilitating the crosstalk between CSCs and stroma during hepatocarcinogenesis, thereby offering a promising avenue for enhancing treatment efficacy and overcoming drug resistance in HCC

Infrared Image Super Resolution by Combining Compressive Sensing and Deep Learning

Super resolution methods alleviate the high cost and high difficulty in applying high resolution infrared image sensors. In this paper we present a novel single image super resolution method for infrared images by combining compressive sensing theory and deep learning. Low resolution images can be regarded as the compressed sampling results of the high resolution ones in compressive sensing. With sparsity in this theory, higher resolution images can be reconstructed. However, because of diverse level of sparsity for different images, the output contains noise and loss of high frequency information. Deep convolutional neural network provides a solution to relieve the noise and supplement some missing high frequency information. By concatenating two methods, we manage to produce better results in super resolution tasks for infrared images than SRCNN and ScSR. PSNR and SSIM values are used to quantify the performance. Applying our method to open datasets and actual infrared imaging experiments, we also find better visual results are preserved

Age and petrogenesis of late Paleozoic granites from the northernmost Alxa region, northwest China, and implications for the tectonic evolution of the region

The Wudenghan, Huhetaoergai and Zhuxiaobuguhe plutons, northern Alxa region, in the southern Central Asia Orogenic Belt are dated by U-Pb zircon to 383 +/- 3, 356 +/- 3 and 286 +/- 2 Ma, respectively. The late Devonian Wudenghan monzogranite, a highly fractionated I-type granite with epsilon (Nd)(t) (-0.2 to -0.1) and very low (Sr-87/Sr-86) (t) (0.704719-0.706113), is from mantle-derived magmas and shows volcanic arc characteristics. The early Carboniferous Huhetaoergai granodiorite with medium-K calc-alkaline peraluminous characteristics represents a volcanic arc granite generated from partial melting of lower continental crust combined with mantle-derived input. The early Permian Zhuxiaobuguhe pluton, an unfractionated calc-alkaline granodiorite with moderately low epsilon (Nd)(t) (-2.0 to -1.1) and low (Sr-87/Sr-86) (t) (0.708370-0.708462), was likely derived from partial melting of the mafic lower crust of a paleo-volcanic arc and represents a post-collisional granite. Our revised tectonic evolution of the region includes (1) northward subduction of the oceanic crust represented by the Engger Us Ophiolitic Belt and formation of the late Devonian Wudenghan monzogranite, (2) northward subduction of the ocean between the Huhetaoergai and Zhusileng tectonic zones and the formation of the Huhetaoergai volcanic arc granite during the early Carboniferous and (3) the emplacement of the Zhuxiaobuguhe pluton in the early Permian during post-collisional extension