Diagnostic performance of radiomics using machine learning algorithms to predict MGMT promoter methylation status in glioma patients: a meta-analysis

PURPOSE:We aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of radiomics using machine learning algorithms to predict the methylation status of the O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter in glioma patients.METHODS:A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science until 27 July 2021 was performed to identify eligible studies. Stata SE 15.0 and Meta-Disc 1.4 were used for data analysis.RESULTS:A total of fifteen studies with 1663 patients were included: five studies with training and validation cohorts and ten with only training cohorts. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of machine learning for predicting MGMT promoter methylation in gliomas were 85% (95% CI 79%–90%) and 84% (95% CI 78%–88%) in the training cohort (n=15) and 84% (95% CI 70%–92%) and 78% (95% CI 63%–88%) in the validation cohort (n=5). The AUC was 0.91 (95% CI 0.88–0.93) in the training cohort and 0.88 (95% CI 0.85–0.91) in the validation cohort. The meta-regression demonstrated that magnetic resonance imaging sequences were related to heterogeneity. The sensitivity analysis showed that heterogeneity was reduced by excluding one study with the lowest diagnostic performance.CONCLUSION:This meta-analysis demonstrated that machine learning is a promising, reliable and repeatable candidate method for predicting MGMT promoter methylation status in glioma and showed a higher performance than non-machine learning methods

Insights into midgut cell types and their crucial role in antiviral immunity in the lepidopteran model Bombyx mori

The midgut, a vital component of the digestive system in arthropods, serves as an interface between ingested food and the insect’s physiology, playing a pivotal role in nutrient absorption and immune defense mechanisms. Distinct cell types, including columnar, enteroendocrine, goblet and regenerative cells, comprise the midgut in insects and contribute to its robust immune response. Enterocytes/columnar cells, the primary absorptive cells, facilitate the immune response through enzyme secretions, while regenerative cells play a crucial role in maintaining midgut integrity by continuously replenishing damaged cells and maintaining the continuity of the immune defense. The peritrophic membrane is vital to the insect’s innate immunity, shielding the midgut from pathogens and abrasive food particles. Midgut juice, a mixture of digestive enzymes and antimicrobial factors, further contributes to the insect’s immune defense, helping the insect to combat invading pathogens and regulate the midgut microbial community. The cutting-edge single-cell transcriptomics also unveiled previously unrecognized subpopulations within the insect midgut cells and elucidated the striking similarities between the gastrointestinal tracts of insects and higher mammals. Understanding the intricate interplay between midgut cell types provides valuable insights into insect immunity. This review provides a solid foundation for unraveling the complex roles of the midgut, not only in digestion but also in immunity. Moreover, this review will discuss the novel immune strategies led by the midgut employed by insects to combat invading pathogens, ultimately contributing to the broader understanding of insect physiology and defense mechanisms

Recent Advances in the Fabrication and Application of Graphene Microfluidic Sensors

This review reports the progress of the recent development of graphene-based microfluidic sensors. The introduction of microfluidics technology provides an important possibility for the advance of graphene biosensor devices for a broad series of applications including clinical diagnosis, biological detection, health, and environment monitoring. Compared with traditional (optical, electrochemical, and biological) sensing systems, the combination of graphene and microfluidics produces many advantages, such as achieving miniaturization, decreasing the response time and consumption of chemicals, improving the reproducibility and sensitivity of devices. This article reviews the latest research progress of graphene microfluidic sensors in the fields of electrochemistry, optics, and biology. Here, the latest development trends of graphene-based microfluidic sensors as a new generation of detection tools in material preparation, device assembly, and chip materials are summarized. Special emphasis is placed on the working principles and applications of graphene-based microfluidic biosensors, especially in the detection of nucleic acid molecules, protein molecules, and bacterial cells. This article also discusses the challenges and prospects of graphene microfluidic biosensors

Potentiometric and semi-empirical quantum chemical studies on liquid–liquid micro-extraction of 4-tert-butylphenol with trioctyl phosphate clusters

AbstractIn the present paper, the liquid–liquid micro extraction of 4-tert-butylphenol from aqueous solution to trioctyl phosphate organic phase in carbon paste electrode was studied by potentiometry and semi-empirical quantum chemistry with MOPAC2009. The extraction dynamic process was monitored by open circuit potential method, which follows an exponential association function with the apparent first extraction kinetic rate constant of 0.01685s−1. The Nernstian plot of potential difference of the open circuit potentials against logarithm of 4-tert-butylphenol concentration at 500s extraction time gives a slope of 0.01382, and indicates that 3 or 4 of 4-tert-butylphenol molecules can be extracted by one cluster of trioctyl phosphate dimer. This equation can also serve as working curve for the determination of 4-tert-butylphenol in the concentration range of 1.0×10−4–5.0×10−7M with detection limit of 5.0×10−7M (n=3, ratio of signal/noise=3). The semi-empirical quantum chemical calculation offers a thermodynamic evidence for the molecular mechanism of the liquid–liquid micro extraction of 4-tert-butylphenol from aqueous solution to trioctyl phosphate cluster

Description and Climate Simulation Performance of CAS-ESM Version 2

The second version of Chinese Academy of Sciences Earth System Model (CAS-ESM 2) is described with emphasis on the development process, strength and weakness, and climate sensitivities in simulations of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) DECK experiments. CAS-ESM 2 was built as a numerical model to simulate both the physical climate system as well as atmospheric chemistry and carbon cycle. It is a newcomer in the international modeling community to provide sufficiently independent solutions of climate simulations from those of other models. Performances of the model in simulating the basic states of the radiation budget of the atmosphere and ocean, precipitation, circulations, variabilities, and the twentieth century warming are presented. Model biases and their possible causes are discussed. Strength includes horizontal heat transport in the atmosphere and oceans, vertical profile of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation; weakness includes the double intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and stronger amplitude of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) that are also common in many other models. The simulated the twentieth century warming shares a similar discrepancy with observations as in several other models—less warming in the 1920s and stronger cooling in the 1960s than in observation—at the time when there was a steep increase of anthropogenic aerosols. As a result, the twentieth century warming is about 60% of the observed warming despite that the model simulated a similar slope of warming trend after 1980 to observation. The model has an equilibrium climate sensitivity of 3.4 K with a positive cloud feedback from the shortwave radiation. © 2020. The Authors.ISSN:1942-246

Applications and Potentials of a Silk Fibroin Nanoparticle Delivery System in Animal Husbandry

Silk fibroin (SF), a unique natural polymeric fibrous protein extracted from Bombyx mori cocoons, accounts for approximately 75% of the total mass of silk. It has great application prospects due to its outstanding biocompatibility, biodegradability, low immunogenicity, and mechanical stability. Additionally, it is non-toxic and environmentally friendly. Nanoparticle delivery systems constructed with SF can improve the bioavailability of the carriers, increase the loading rates, control the release behavior of the deliverables, and enhance their action efficiencies. Animal husbandry is an integral part of agriculture and plays a vital role in the development of the rural economy. However, the pillar industry experiences a lot of difficulties, like drug abuse while treating major animal diseases, and serious environmental pollution, restricting sustainable development. Interestingly, the limited use cases of silk fibroin nanoparticle (SF NP) delivery systems in animal husbandry, such as veterinary vaccines and feed additives, have shown great promise. This paper first reviews the SF NP delivery system with regard to its advantages, disadvantages, and applications. Moreover, we describe the application status and developmental prospects of SF NP delivery systems to provide theoretical references for further development in livestock production and promote the high-quality and healthy development of animal husbandry

Global Metabolic Profiling of Baculovirus Infection in Silkworm Hemolymph Shows the Importance of Amino-Acid Metabolism

Viruses rely on host cell metabolism to provide the necessary energy and biosynthetic precursors for successful viral replication. Infection of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, by Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV), has been studied extensively in the past to unravel interactions between baculoviruses and their lepidopteran hosts. To understand the interaction between the host metabolic responses and BmNPV infection, we analyzed global metabolic changes associated with BmNPV infection in silkworm hemolymph. Our metabolic profiling data suggests that amino acid metabolism is strikingly altered during a time course of BmNPV infection. Amino acid consumption is increased during BmNPV infection at 24 h post infection (hpi), but their abundance recovered at 72 hpi. Central carbon metabolism, on the other hand, particularly glycolysis and glutaminolysis, did not show obvious changes during BmNPV infection. Pharmacologically inhibiting the glycolytic pathway and glutaminolysis also failed to reduce BmNPV replication, revealing that glycolysis and glutaminolysis are not essential during BmNPV infection. This study reveals a unique amino acid utilization process that is implemented during BmNPV infection. Our metabolomic analysis of BmNPV-infected silkworm provides insights as to how baculoviruses induce alterations in host metabolism during systemic infection