A Clinical Decision Support System for Malignant Pleural Effusion Analysis

Pleural effusion occurs when fluid accumulates in the pleural cavity surrounding the lung. This condition is commonly caused by infection, but can also be associated with the presence of a metastatic tumor. Samples of pleural fluid are used to analyze the morphologies of mesothelial cells and can typically be used to make a diagnosis between benignity and malignancy. Atypical pleural effusion samples are not easily identified as benign or malignant due to a lack of differentiable visual features, and such a problem has a significant influence in clinicians\u27 decision making. In this paper, the goal is to develop a clinical decision support system (CDSS) using computer imaging and machine learning techniques for diagnosing atypical pleural effusion. The proposed approach involves four steps for analyzing slides of pleural effusion samples: image processing, feature measurement, feature selection, and classification. Processing and measurement of images produced a preliminary data set of 500 samples; each is described by 398 features. A genetic algorithm was applied for feature selection and identified a subset of 39 important features. The experimental results showed that the selected features can distinguish atypical nuclei as benign or malignant with a five-fold cross validation accuracy of 91%

Table1_The new ceRNA crosstalk between mRNAs and miRNAs in intervertebral disc degeneration.XLS

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc has been linked to lower back pain. To date, pathophysiological mechanisms of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) remain unclear; it is meaningful to find effective diagnostic biomarkers and new therapeutic strategies for IDD. This study aimed to reveal the molecular mechanism of IDD pathogenesis from the multidimensional transcriptomics perspective. Here, we acquired IDD bulk omics datasets (GSE67567 and GSE167199) including mRNA, microRNA expression profiles, and single-cell RNA sequencing (GSE199866) from the public Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Through principal component analysis and Venn analysis, we found different expression patterns in the IDD transcription level and identified 156 common DEGs in both bulk datasets. GO and KEGG functional analyses showed these dysregulators were mostly enriched in the collagen-containing extracellular matrix, cartilage development, chondrocyte differentiation, and immune response pathways. We also constructed a potentially dysregulated competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network between mRNAs and miRNAs related to IDD based on microRNA target information and co-expression analysis of RNA profiles and identified 36 ceRNA axes including ZFP36/miR-155-5p/FOS, BTG2/hsa-miR-185-5p/SOCS3, and COL9A2/hsa-miR-664a-5p/IBA57. Finally, in integrating bulk and single-cell transcriptome data analyses, a total of three marker genes, COL2A1, PAX1, and ZFP36L2, were identified. In conclusion, the key genes and the new ceRNA crosstalk we identified in intervertebral disc degeneration may provide new targets for the treatment of IDD.</p

Image2_The new ceRNA crosstalk between mRNAs and miRNAs in intervertebral disc degeneration.TIFF

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc has been linked to lower back pain. To date, pathophysiological mechanisms of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) remain unclear; it is meaningful to find effective diagnostic biomarkers and new therapeutic strategies for IDD. This study aimed to reveal the molecular mechanism of IDD pathogenesis from the multidimensional transcriptomics perspective. Here, we acquired IDD bulk omics datasets (GSE67567 and GSE167199) including mRNA, microRNA expression profiles, and single-cell RNA sequencing (GSE199866) from the public Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Through principal component analysis and Venn analysis, we found different expression patterns in the IDD transcription level and identified 156 common DEGs in both bulk datasets. GO and KEGG functional analyses showed these dysregulators were mostly enriched in the collagen-containing extracellular matrix, cartilage development, chondrocyte differentiation, and immune response pathways. We also constructed a potentially dysregulated competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network between mRNAs and miRNAs related to IDD based on microRNA target information and co-expression analysis of RNA profiles and identified 36 ceRNA axes including ZFP36/miR-155-5p/FOS, BTG2/hsa-miR-185-5p/SOCS3, and COL9A2/hsa-miR-664a-5p/IBA57. Finally, in integrating bulk and single-cell transcriptome data analyses, a total of three marker genes, COL2A1, PAX1, and ZFP36L2, were identified. In conclusion, the key genes and the new ceRNA crosstalk we identified in intervertebral disc degeneration may provide new targets for the treatment of IDD.</p

Image1_The new ceRNA crosstalk between mRNAs and miRNAs in intervertebral disc degeneration.TIFF

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc has been linked to lower back pain. To date, pathophysiological mechanisms of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) remain unclear; it is meaningful to find effective diagnostic biomarkers and new therapeutic strategies for IDD. This study aimed to reveal the molecular mechanism of IDD pathogenesis from the multidimensional transcriptomics perspective. Here, we acquired IDD bulk omics datasets (GSE67567 and GSE167199) including mRNA, microRNA expression profiles, and single-cell RNA sequencing (GSE199866) from the public Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Through principal component analysis and Venn analysis, we found different expression patterns in the IDD transcription level and identified 156 common DEGs in both bulk datasets. GO and KEGG functional analyses showed these dysregulators were mostly enriched in the collagen-containing extracellular matrix, cartilage development, chondrocyte differentiation, and immune response pathways. We also constructed a potentially dysregulated competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network between mRNAs and miRNAs related to IDD based on microRNA target information and co-expression analysis of RNA profiles and identified 36 ceRNA axes including ZFP36/miR-155-5p/FOS, BTG2/hsa-miR-185-5p/SOCS3, and COL9A2/hsa-miR-664a-5p/IBA57. Finally, in integrating bulk and single-cell transcriptome data analyses, a total of three marker genes, COL2A1, PAX1, and ZFP36L2, were identified. In conclusion, the key genes and the new ceRNA crosstalk we identified in intervertebral disc degeneration may provide new targets for the treatment of IDD.</p

Design of B/N Co-doped micro/meso porous carbon electrodes from CNF/BNNS/ZIF-8 nanocomposites for advanced supercapacitors

Boron (B) and nitrogen (N) co-doped 3D hierarchical micro/meso porous carbon (BNPC) were successfully fabricated from cellulose nanofiber (CNF)/ boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS)/ zinc-methylimidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanocomposites prepared by 2D BNNS, ZIF-8 nanoparticles, and wheat straw based CNFs. Herein, CNF/ZIF-8 acts as versatile skeleton and imparts partial N dopant into porous carbon structure, while the introduced BNNS can help strengthen the hierarchical porous superstructure and endow abundant B/N co-dopants within BNPC matrix. The obtained BNPC electrode possesses a high specific surface area of 505.4 m2/g, high B/N co-doping content, and desirable hydrophilicity. Supercapacitors assembled with BNPC-2 (B/N co-doped porous carbon with a CNF/BNNS mass ratio of 1꞉2) electrodes exhibited exceptional electrochemical performance, demonstrating high capacitance stability even after 5 000 charge-discharge cycles. The devices exhibited outstanding energy density and power density, as well as the highest specific capacitance of 433.4 F/g at 1.0 A/g, when compared with other similar reports. This study proposes a facile and sustainable strategy for efficiently fabrication of rich B/N co-doped hierarchical micro/meso porous carbon electrodes from agricultural waste biomass for advanced supercapacitor performance

Robust Guar Gum/Cellulose Nanofibrils Multilayer Films with Good Barrier Properties

The pursuit of sustainable functional materials requires development of materials based on renewable resources and efficient fabrication methods. Hereby, we fabricated all-polysaccharides multilayer films using cationic guar gum (CGG) and anionic cellulose nanofibrils (i.e., TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils, TOCNs) through a layer-by-layer casting method. This technique is based on alternate depositions of oppositely charged water-based CGG and TOCNs onto laminated films. The resultant polyelectrolyte multilayer films were transparent, ductile, and strong. More importantly, the self-standing films exhibited excellent gas (water vapor and oxygen) and oil barrier performances. Another outstanding feature of these resultant films was their resistance to various organic solvents including methanol, acetone, <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and tetrahydrofuran (THF). The proposed film fabrication process is environmentally benign, cost-effective, and easy to scale-up. The developed CGG/TOCNs multilayer films can be used as a renewable material for industrial applications such as packaging

Dual-loaded nano pesticide system based on industrial grade scaleable carrier materials with combinatory efficacy and improved safety

Abstract Repeated and widespread use of single chemical pesticides raises concerns about efficiency and safety, developing multi-component synergistic pesticides provides a new route for efficient control of diseases. Most commercial compound formulations are open systems with non-adjustable released rates, resulting in a high frequency of applications. Meanwhile, although nano pesticide delivery systems constructed with different carrier materials have been extensively studied, realizing their actual scale-up production still has important practical significance due to the large-scale field application. In this study, a boscalid and pyraclostrobin dual-loaded nano pesticide system (BPDN) was constructed with industrial-grade carrier materials to facilitate the realization of large-scale production. The optimal industrial-scale preparation mechanism of BPDN was studied with surfactants as key factors. When agricultural emulsifier No.600 and polycarboxylate are used as the ratio of 1:2 in the preparation process, the BPDN has a spherical structure with an average size of 270 nm and exhibits superior physical stability. Compared with commercial formulation, BPDN maintains rate-stabilized release up to 5 times longer, exhibits better dispersion and spreading performance on foliar, has more than 20% higher deposition amounts, and reduces loss. A single application of BPDN could efficiently control tomato gray mold during the growing period of tomatoes due to extended duration and combinatory effectiveness, reducing two application times and labor costs. Toxicology tests on various objects systematically demonstrated that BPDN has improved safety for HepG2 cells, and nontarget organism earthworms. This research provides insight into creating safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly pesticide production to reduce manual operation times and labor costs. Accompanied by production strategies that can be easily scaled up industrially, this contributes to the efficient use of resources for sustainable agriculture

Nanofibrillated Cellulose (NFC) as a Pore Size Mediator in the Preparation of Thermally Resistant Separators for Lithium Ion Batteries

Battery separators play a vital role in the safety, sustainability, and electrochemical performance of lithium ion batteries (LIBs). In this work, thermally resistant composite membranes were fabricated by a wet-laid process using northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) fibers, polysulfonamide (PSA) fibers, and nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC), for lithium ion battery applications. NFC functioned as a mediator to control and optimize pore size in the composite membranes, while the PSA fibers provided superior heat resistance to the membranes. The as-prepared composite separator membranes have more uniform micropores and superior thermal stability and electrolyte absorption in comparison with a commercial separator membrane (Celgard 2350)