AUTOMATED ADVERTISEMENT CREATION SYSTEM

An advertisement creation system generates sizeless creatives and renders the creatives as display advertisements of any arbitrary dimension. The system extracts text assets and image assets from creatives provided by an advertiser. In particular, the system selects assets to display based on scores for the respective text assets and image assets. The system then combines selected text assets and image assets to generate a final creative. Finally, the system optimizes the final creative and renders the final creative for display

Prediction of ventilator weaning failure in postoperative cardiac surgery patients using vasoactive-ventilation-renal score and nomogram analysis

ObjectiveThis study evaluated the predictive value of the vasoactive-ventilation-renal (VVR) score in identifying the risk of weaning failure after cardiac surgery and developing a nomogram model to help physicians improve the success rate of weaning from mechanical ventilation in adult patients undergoing postoperative cardiac surgery.MethodsClinical data were retrospectively collected from adult patients who underwent extracorporeal circulation cardiac surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between August 2022 and April 2023 and who were subsequently transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and treated with vasoactive drugs. Patients were divided into successful and unsuccessful weaning groups based on first-attempt weaning success. Variable selection was regularized using univariate logistic regression and Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regularization. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify predictors and a nomogram was created to predict the risk of weaning failure.ResultsA total of 519 patients were included in the study. After selecting multiple stepwise variables, the VVR score before weaning, the modified Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (mSOFA) score on weaning day, and mechanical ventilation duration before weaning were determined as predictive indicators of weaning failure in adult patients after cardiac surgery. The optimal cut-off values for these indicators were 18.46 points, 4.33 points, and 20.50 h, respectively. The predictive model constructed using these three factors demonstrated good predictive performance.ConclusionsThe VVR score before weaning accurately predicts the probability of weaning failure in adult patients after cardiac surgery. The weaning risk-predictive nomogram model, established based on the VVR score, mSOFA score, and mechanical ventilation duration before weaning, demonstrated robust predictive ability

Halogenated flame retardants in mangrove sediments from the Pearl River Estuary, South China: Comparison with historical data and correlation with microbial community

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) and dechlorane plus (DP) were measured in sediments collected from three mangrove wetlands of the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) in South China. This study aims to investigate the distribution of these halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) and the correlations between HFRs and microbial community structure in mangrove sediments. Concentrations of PBDEs, DBDPE, BTBPE, TBBPA, HBCDD and DP in mangrove sediments ranged from 6.97 to 216.1, 3.70-26.0, 0.02-0.73, 0.02-37.5, 0.44-127.5 and 0.07-2.23 ng/g dry weight, respectively. Higher levels of PBDEs, BTBPE, HBCDD and DP were observed in sediments from Futian mangrove wetland of Shenzhen, the only nature reserve located in the downtown of China. The highest concentration of TBBPA found in mangrove sediments from Guangzhou was proximate to a ferry terminal and a dockyard where TBBPA is widely used in the coatings. PBDEs were the predominant HFRs in mangrove sediments, with an average contribution of 63.0%. Mangrove sediments from Guangzhou and Zhuhai showed an enrichment of (-)-alpha-HBCDD, (-)-beta-HBCDD and (-)-gamma-HBCDD. Concentrations of HFRs in mangrove sediments from Guangzhou increased significantly from 2012 to 2015, which was probably due to the establishment and rapid development of Nansha Free Trade Zone of Guangzhou. Redundancy analysis showed that HFRs may cause a shift of microbial community structure in mangrove sediments and the variations were significantly correlated with TBBPA, syn-DP and BTBPE. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Mediates the Protective Effect of the Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Inhibitor on Renal Fibrosis via Reducing the Phenotypic Conversion of Renal Microvascular Cells in Monocrotaline-Treated Rats

Chronic kidney diseases are characterized by renal fibrosis with excessive matrix deposition, leading to a progressive loss of functional renal parenchyma and, eventually, renal failure. Renal microcirculation lesions, including the phenotypic conversion of vascular cells, contribute to renal fibrosis. Here, renal microcirculation lesions were established with monocrotaline (MCT, 60 mg/kg). Sitagliptin (40 mg/kg/d), a classical dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, attenuated the renal microcirculation lesions by inhibiting glomerular tuft hypertrophy, glomerular mesangial expansion, and microvascular thrombosis. These effects of sitagliptin were mediated by glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R), since they were blocked by the GLP-1R antagonist exendin-3 (Ex-3, 40 ug/kg/d). The GLP-1R agonist liraglutide showed a similar renal protective effect in a dose-independent manner. In addition, sitagliptin, as well as liraglutide, alleviated the MCT-induced apoptosis of renal cells by increasing the expression of survival factor glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), which was abolished by the GLP-1R antagonist Ex-3. Sitagliptin and liraglutide also effectively ameliorated the conversion of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from a synthetic phenotype to contractile phenotype. Moreover, sitagliptin and liraglutide inhibited endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) via downregulating transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Collectively, these findings suggest that DPP-4 inhibition can reduce microcirculation lesion-induced renal fibrosis in a GLP-1-dependent manner

The Association between Nutritional Markers and Biochemical Parameters and Residual Renal Function in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

<div><p>Residual renal function (RRF) is an important prognostic factor for peritoneal dialysis patients as it influences the quality of life and mortality. This study was conducted to explore the potential factors correlated with RRF. A cross-sectional study was conducted by recruiting 155 patients with residual GFR more than 1mL/min per 1.73m² at the initiation of peritoneal dialysis. We collected the demographic characteristics, nutritional markers and biochemical parameters of all participants, and analyzed the correlation between these variables and residual GFR as well. The odds ratio of RRF loss associated with each of the nutritional markers and biochemical parameters were estimated by logistic regression model. The residual GFR was negatively correlated with serum phosphate (OR_Q3 = 2.67, 95%CI: 1.03–6.92; OR_Q4 = 3.45, 95%CI: 1.35–9.04), magnesium (OR_Q4 = 3.77, 95%CI: 1.48–3.63), and creatinine (OR_Q3 = 2.93, 95%CI: 1.09–7.88; OR_Q4 = 8.64 95%CI: 2.79–26.78), while positively associated with normalized protein catabolic rate (OR_Q3 = 0.24, 95%CI: 0.09–0.65; OR_Q4 = 0.11, 95%CI: 0.03–0.35), 24 hours urine volume(OR_Q1 = 22.87, 95%CI: 2.76–189.24; OR_Q3 = 0.08, 95%CI: 0.02–0.28) and serum chlorine concentrations (OR_Q1 = 5.34, 95%CI: 1.94–14.68; OR_Q4 = 0.28, 95%CI: 0.09–0.85), respectively. Our study suggested that the nutritional markers and biochemical parameters, though not all, but at least in part were closely correlated with RRF in peritoneal dialysis patients.</p></div

The trend of the relationship between residual renal function and biochemical parameters.

<p>The trend of the relationship between residual renal function and biochemical parameters.</p

Comparisons of nutritional markers and biochemical parameters among the four groups stratified by the interquartile range of residual GFR.

<p>Comparisons of nutritional markers and biochemical parameters among the four groups stratified by the interquartile range of residual GFR.</p

Baseline characteristics of study subjects stratified by the interquartile range of residual GFR.

<p>Baseline characteristics of study subjects stratified by the interquartile range of residual GFR.</p