Reconstructing 3d lung shape from a single 2d image during the deaeration deformation process using model-based data augmentation

Three-dimensional (3D) shape reconstruction is particularly important for computer assisted medical systems, especially in the case of lung surgeries, where large deaeration deformation occurs. Recently, 3D reconstruction methods based on machine learning techniques have achieved considerable success in computer vision. However, it is difficult to apply these approaches to the medical field, because the collection of a massive amount of clinic data for training is impractical. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a novel 3D shape reconstruction method that adopts both data augmentation techniques and convolutional neural networks. In the proposed method, a deformable statistical model of the 3D lungs is designed to augment various training data. As the experimental results demonstrate, even with a small database, the proposed method can realize 3D shape reconstruction for lungs during a deaeration deformation process from only one captured 2D image. Moreover, the proposed data augmentation technique can also be used in other fields where the training data are insufficient

Quality Analysis of Different Kinds of Trial-Processed Tea from Tea Germplasm with Almond-like Aroma in Guangxi

To evaluate the tea processing suitability of the leaves of ‘Guixing’ tea, a wild tea plant germplasm resource in Guangxi, the water extract content, polyphenolic composition, sensory properties and volatile aroma composition of the tea leaves as well as green, oolong, white and black tea processed from the tea leaves were measured and compared with each other. The results showed that ‘Guixing’ tea was a unique tea germplasm resource with low caffeine content and a ratio of phenol to ammonia of 11.8, which was more suitable for black tea production. After processing into white and black tea, the epigallocatechin content in the leaves decreased to 0, and the catechin content of green tea decreased significantly compared with that of the leaves. The results of sensory evaluation showed that white and black tea had a rich almond-like aroma, while the other kinds of tea did not. A total of 53 aroma components were detected, which could be divided into two types. Each type had same aroma components. The first type included tea leaves, green tea and oolong tea, without almond-like aroma, and had 40 aroma components, the major ones being β-linalool and limonene. The second type included white tea and black tea, with strong almond-like aroma, and contained 42 aroma components, the main one being benzaldehyde. A total of 28 aroma components were found to be common to these tea samples, all of which contained benzaldehyde. The decreasing order of the relative contents of benzaldehyde in them was black tea (61.97%) > white tea (31.73%) > oolong tea (14.65%) > leaves (4.24%) > green tea (2.88%). Benzaldehyde was mainly produced during withering, rolling and fermentation. With extended withering time, the content of benzaldehyde increased. The higher the content of benzaldehyde, the stronger the almond-like aroma of tea. Therefore, benzaldehyde is key for almond-like aroma formation

Advanced lung cancer inflammation index is associated with long-term cardiovascular death in hypertensive patients: national health and nutrition examination study, 1999–2018

Background: Hypertension is one of the main causes of cardiovascular death. Inflammation was considered influential factors of cardiovascular (CVD) death in patients with hypertension. Advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) is an index to assess inflammation, few studies have investigated the relationship between advanced lung cancer inflammation index and cardiovascular death in hypertensive patients.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between advanced lung cancer inflammation index and long-term cardiovascular death in hypertensive patients.Method: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2018 with mortality follow-up through 31 December 2019 were analyzed. Advanced lung cancer inflammation index was calculated as BMI (kg/㎡) × serum albumin level (g/dL)/neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR). A total of 20,517 participants were evaluated. Patients were divided into three groups based on tertiles of advanced lung cancer inflammation index as follows: T1 (n = 6,839), T2 (n = 6,839), and T3 (n = 6,839) groups. The relationship between advanced lung cancer inflammation index and long-term cardiovascular death was assessed by survival curves and Cox regression analysis based on the NHANES recommended weights.Results: The median advanced lung cancer inflammation index value in this study was 61.9 [44.4, 84.6]. After full adjustment, the T2 group (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.50–0.69; p < 0.001) and T3 group (HR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.39–0.58; p < 0.001) were found to have a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular death compared to the T1 group.Conclusion: High levels of advanced lung cancer inflammation index were associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular death in hypertensive patients

The Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide on the Circadian Rhythms of Microcystis aeruginosa

Background: The cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa is one of the principal bloom-forming cyanobacteria present in a wide range of freshwater ecosystems. M. aeruginosa produces cyanotoxins, which can harm human and animal health. Many metabolic pathways in M. aeruginosa, including photosynthesis and microcystin synthesis, are controlled by its circadian rhythms. However, whether xenobiotics affect the cyanobacterial circadian system and change its growth, physiology and biochemistry is unknown. We used real-time PCR to study the effect of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on the expression of clock genes and some circadian genes in M. aeruginosa during the light/dark (LD) cycle. Results: The results revealed that H 2O 2 changes the expression patterns of clock genes (kaiA, kaiB, kaiC and sasA) and significantly decreases the transcript levels of kaiB, kaiC and sasA. H2O2 treatment also decreased the transcription of circadian genes, such as photosynthesis-related genes (psaB, psbD1 and rbcL) and microcystin-related genes (mcyA, mcyD and mcyH), and changed their circadian expression patterns. Moreover, the physiological functions of M. aeruginosa, including its growth and microcystin synthesis, were greatly influenced by H 2O 2 treatment during LD. These results indicate that changes in the cyanobacterial circadian system can affect its physiological and metabolic pathways. Conclusion: Our findings show that a xenobiotic can change the circadian expression patterns of its clock genes t

The complete mitogenome of Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty (Poaceae), with its phylogenetic analysis

Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides), is a perennial and tussock C4 grass from the genus Chrysopogon of Poaceae, which has been widely used as a natural and inexpensive resource for multifarious environmental applications. The complete mitogenome of C. zizanioides was 551,622 bp in length, containing 40 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 19 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and six ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs). All PCGs started with ATG and stopped with TNN (TAA, TAG, and TGA). The overall nucleotide composition is: 28.2% A, 28.2% T, 21.7% G, and 21.9% C, with a biased A + T content of 56.4%. Phylogenetic analysis using 14 PCGs of 22 species showed that C. zizanioides display a close relationship with Saccharum officinarum (LC107874) and Sorghum bicolor (DQ984518) in Poaceae

Innovative Synthesis of High-Strength α-Hemihydrate Gypsum:Effects and Mechanisms of TA Modification under Microwave Hydrothermal Conditions

Titanium gypsum (TG), a byproduct of the titanium dioxide industry, is recognized as a significant contributor to environmental pollution due to high water content, poor crystallinity and other characteristics that make it difficult to be reused/recycled effectively. This study evaluated the feasibility to recycle TG to produce α-hemihydrate gypsum via microwave hydrothermal method, wherein Tricarballylic acid (TA) was employed as modifier to modulate the crystallization of α-HH. The impact of TA dosage on the characteristics of α-HH crystals is comprehensively assessed through a series of microscale analyses. The findings reveal a notable reduction in the Length/Diameter ratio (L/D ratio) of α-HH crystals, diminishing from 17.79 to 0.96, in response to the incremental introduction of TA, ranging from 0% to 0.13%. An optimum TA dosage of 0.1% is found to yield a commendable compressive strength of 37.4 MPa. Additionally, this study validates the interaction between TA and α-HH crystals. Based on the experimental results, it is further postulated that microwave heating is conducive to expediting the rate of Ca2+ and SO42- ion accumulation at the (002) surface, thus altering the degree of solution supersaturation and consequently accelerating the growth kinetics of α-HH crystals. This study offers valuable insights into the utilization of this methodology in various industrial and scientific applications

Comparative Cyto-molecular Analysis of Repetitive DNA Provides Insights into the Differential Genome Structure and Evolution of Five Cucumis Species

The genus Cucumis, includes the cucumber (2n = 14), melon (2n = 24), and other wild species, which is a good model for studying genome organization and evolution due to their variation in genome size and basic chromosome number. In this study, five Cucumis species with different geographical origins and basic chromosome numbers (i.e., C. sativus, C. hystrix, C. melo, C. anguria, and C. metuliferus) were used to identify and characterize the repetitive DNA in detail using a phylogenetic method. Comparative cyto-molecular genetic analysis of repetitive DNA was carried out using a graph-based clustering method, construction of Neighbor-Joining tree and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The results revealed that the five Cucumis species had differences in the repeat content of their genome, as well as in the composition of repetitive DNA and their genomic proportions. Three species from subgenus Melo showed a decreased tendency in both repeat types and genomic proportions, while two species from subgenus Cucumis also showed a decreased tendency in repeat types, but an increased tendency in genomic proportions. Phylogenic analysis of Cucumis Ty1/Copia, Ty3/Gypsy, and 45S rDNA ITS regions revealed that C. sativus, C. hystrix, and C. melo were closely related species, which C. sativus and C. hystrix were closer, while C. anguria and C. metuliferus were closer to each other and further from the other three species. Differential accumulation and elimination of different repeat types divergently shaped the genomic architecture of these five Cucumis species, contributing to the genome's evolution and diversification. Overall, these results enhance our understanding of the genomes of these five Cucumis species, and contribute to a more holistic view of genome evolution and phylogenetics of this genus. Keywords: Cucumis, repetitive sequence, comparative genomics, FISH, phylogenetic evolutio