Informative scene decomposition for crowd analysis, comparison and simulation guidance

Crowd simulation is a central topic in several fields including graphics. To achieve high-fidelity simulations, data has been increasingly relied upon for analysis and simulation guidance. However, the information in real-world data is often noisy, mixed and unstructured, making it difficult for effective analysis, therefore has not been fully utilized. With the fast-growing volume of crowd data, such a bottleneck needs to be addressed. In this paper, we propose a new framework which comprehensively tackles this problem. It centers at an unsupervised method for analysis. The method takes as input raw and noisy data with highly mixed multi-dimensional (space, time and dynamics) information, and automatically structure it by learning the correlations among these dimensions. The dimensions together with their correlations fully describe the scene semantics which consists of recurring activity patterns in a scene, manifested as space flows with temporal and dynamics profiles. The effectiveness and robustness of the analysis have been tested on datasets with great variations in volume, duration, environment and crowd dynamics. Based on the analysis, new methods for data visualization, simulation evaluation and simulation guidance are also proposed. Together, our framework establishes a highly automated pipeline from raw data to crowd analysis, comparison and simulation guidance. Extensive experiments and evaluations have been conducted to show the flexibility, versatility and intuitiveness of our framework

Breath-, air- and surface-borne SARS-CoV-2 in hospitals

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought an unprecedented crisis to the global health sector. When discharging COVID-19 patients in accordance with throat or nasal swab protocols using RT-PCR, the potential risk of reintroducing the infection source to humans and the environment must be resolved. Here, 14 patients including 10 COVID-19 subjects were recruited; exhaled breath condensate (EBC), air samples and surface swabs were collected and analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in four hospitals with applied natural ventilation and disinfection practices in Wuhan. Here we discovered that 22.2% of COVID-19 patients (n = 9), who were ready for hospital discharge based on current guidelines, had SARS-CoV-2 in their exhaled breath (~10⁵ RNA copies/m³). Although fewer surface swabs (3.1%, n = 318) tested positive, medical equipment such as face shield frequently contacted/used by healthcare workers and the work shift floor were contaminated by SARS-CoV-2 (3–8 viruses/cm²). Three of the air samples (n = 44) including those collected using a robot-assisted sampler were detected positive by a digital PCR with a concentration level of 9–219 viruses/m³. RT-PCR diagnosis using throat swab specimens had a failure rate of more than 22% in safely discharging COVID-19 patients who were otherwise still exhaling the SARS-CoV-2 by a rate of estimated ~1400 RNA copies per minute into the air. Direct surface contact might not represent a major transmission route, and lower positive rate of air sample (6.8%) was likely due to natural ventilation (1.6–3.3 m/s) and regular disinfection practices. While there is a critical need for strengthening hospital discharge standards in preventing re-emergence of COVID-19 spread, use of breath sample as a supplement specimen could further guard the hospital discharge to ensure the safety of the public and minimize the pandemic re-emergence risk

Effect of Salt Solution Erosion on Mechanical Properties and Micropore Structure of Recycled Fine Aggregate ECC

This study examined the impact of sulfate and sulfate–chloride dry–wet cyclic erosion on the mechanical properties and microscopic pore structure of engineered cementitious composite (ECC) with recycled fine aggregate (RA). Uniaxial tensile tests and four-point bending tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties of RAECC, while the resonance frequency ratio was used to assess the integrity of the specimens. Finally, X-ray computed tomography (X-CT) reconstruction was employed to analyze the erosion effects on the microscopic pore structure. The results showed that the uniaxial tensile strength and flexural strength of the RAECC specimens in corrosive solution first increased and then decreased, and the 5% Na2SO4 solution caused the most serious erosion of the specimens. The resonance frequency ratio of the specimens reached the peak value when they were subjected to dry–wet cycles 15 times in the 5% Na2SO4 solution. During the erosion process, the pore space of the specimen first decreased and then increased, and the number of pores increased. The erosion process is the result of the erosion products continuously filling and eventually destroying the pores, and the erosion damage produces a large number of new pores and poor sphericity, leading to a decline in mechanical properties

Long noncoding RNA SMRG regulates Drosophila macrochaetes by antagonizing scute through E(spl)m

It is obvious that the majority of cellular transcripts are long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). Although studies suggested that lncRNAs participate in many biological processes through diverse mechanisms, however, little is known about their effects on epidermal mechanoreceptors. Here, we identified one novel Drosophila lncRNA, Scutellar Macrochaetes Regulatory Gene (SMRG), which regulates scutellar macrochaetes that act as mechanoreceptors by antagonizing the proneural gene scute (sc), through the repressor Enhancer-of-split m (E(spl)m). SMRG deficiency induced supernumerary scutellar macrochaetes and simultaneously a high sc RNA level in the adult thorax. Genetically, sc overexpression enhanced this supernumerary phenotype, while heterozygous sc mutant rescued this phenotype, both of which were mediated by E(spl)m. At the molecular level, SMRG recruited E(spl)m to the sc promoter region, which in turn suppressed sc expression. Our work presents a novel function of lncRNA and offers insights into the molecular mechanism underlying mechanoreceptor development.</p

Long noncoding RNA SMRG regulates Drosophila macrochaetes by antagonizing scute through E(spl)m

It is obvious that the majority of cellular transcripts are long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). Although studies suggested that lncRNAs participate in many biological processes through diverse mechanisms, however, little is known about their effects on epidermal mechanoreceptors. Here, we identified one novel Drosophila lncRNA, Scutellar Macrochaetes Regulatory Gene (SMRG), which regulates scutellar macrochaetes that act as mechanoreceptors by antagonizing the proneural gene scute (sc), through the repressor Enhancer-of-split m (E(spl)m). SMRG deficiency induced supernumerary scutellar macrochaetes and simultaneously a high sc RNA level in the adult thorax. Genetically, sc overexpression enhanced this supernumerary phenotype, while heterozygous sc mutant rescued this phenotype, both of which were mediated by E(spl)m. At the molecular level, SMRG recruited E(spl)m to the sc promoter region, which in turn suppressed sc expression. Our work presents a novel function of lncRNA and offers insights into the molecular mechanism underlying mechanoreceptor development

Risk Factors for Significant Intraoperative Blood Loss during Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion for Degenerative Cervical Diseases

Objectives Anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACF) has become a widely accepted surgical treatment for degenerative cervical diseases, but occasionally, significant intraoperative blood loss (SIBL), which is defined as IBL of 500 mL or more, will occur. We aimed to investigate the independent risk factors for SIBL during ACF for degenerative cervical diseases. Methods We enrolled 1150 patients who underwent ACF for degenerative cervical diseases at our hospital between 2013 and 2019. The patients were divided into two groups: the SIBL group (n = 38) and the non‐SIBL group (n = 1112). Demographic, surgical and radiographic data were recorded prospectively to investigate the independent risk factors for SIBL. For counting data, the chi‐square test or Fisher's exact probability test was used. Student's t‐test or the Mann–Whitney rank sum test was used for comparisons between groups of measurement data. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were further used to analyze the significance of potential risk factors. Results The incidence of SIBL during ACF was 3.3% (38/1150). A multivariate analysis revealed that female sex (odds ratio [OR], 6.285; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.707–14.595; p < 0.001), corpectomy (OR, 3.872; 95% CI, 1.616–9.275; p = 0.002), duration of operation ≥150 min (OR, 8.899; 95% CI, 4.042–19.590; p < 0.001), C3 involvement (OR, 4.116; 95% CI, 1.808–9.369; p = 0.001) and ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) at the surgical level (OR, 6.007; 95% CI, 2.218–16.270; p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for SIBL. Patients with SIBL had more days of first‐degree/intensive nursing (p = 0.003), longer length of stay (p = 0.003) and higher hospitalization costs (p = 0.023). Conclusion Female sex, corpectomy, duration of operation, C3 involvement and OPLL at the surgical level were independent risk factors for SIBL during ACF. SIBL in ACF was associated with more days of first‐degree/intensive nursing, longer length of stay and higher hospitalization costs

Catholyte engineering to release the capacity of iodide for high‐energy‐density iodine‐based redox flow batteries

Abstract Due to the high solubility, high reversibility, and low cost of iodide, iodine‐based redox flow batteries (RFBs) are considered to have great potential for upscaling energy storage. However, their further development has been limited by the low capacity of I− as one‐third of the I− is used to form I3− (I2I−) during the charging process. Herein, we have demonstrated that the pseudohalide ion, thiocyanate (SCN−), is a promising complexing agent for catholyte of iodine‐based RFBs to free up the I− by forming iodine‐thiocyanate ions ([I2SCN]−) instead of I3−, unlocking the capacity of iodide. Applying this strategy, we have demonstrated iodine‐based RFBs with full utilization of iodide to achieve high capacity and high energy density. Both the zinc/iodine RFB and polysulfide/iodine RFB with SCN− complex agent achieve their theoretical capacity of around 160 A h Lposolyte−1 (6.0 M I− in catholyte). Therefore, the zinc/iodine RFB delivers a high energy density of 221.34 W h Lposolyte−1, and the polysulfide/iodine RFB achieves a highenergy density of 165.62 W h Lposolyte−1. It is believed that this effective catholyte engineering can be further generalized to other iodine‐based RFBs, offering new opportunities to unlock the capacity of iodide and achieve high energy density for energy storage

Renal Artery Stenosis Alters Gene Expression in Swine Scattered Tubular-Like Cells

Background: Scattered tubular-like cells (STCs) proliferate and differentiate to support neighboring injured renal tubular cells during recovery from insults. Renal artery stenosis (RAS) induces renal ischemia and hypertension and leads to loss of kidney function, but whether RAS alters renal endogenous repair mechanisms, such as STCs, remains unknown. We hypothesize that RAS in swine modifies the messenger RNA (mRNA) profile of STCs, blunting their in vitro reparative capacity. Methods: CD24+/CD133+ STCs were isolated from pig kidneys after 10-weeks of RAS or sham (n = 3 each) and their gene cargo analyzed using high-throughput mRNAseq. Expression profiles for upregulated and downregulated mRNAs in RAS-STCs were functionally interpreted by gene ontology analysis. STC activation was assessed by counting the total number of STCs in pig kidney sections using flow cytometry, whereas cell proliferation was assessed in vitro. Results: Of all expressed genes, 1430 genes were upregulated and 315 downregulated in RAS- versus Normal-STCs. Expression of selected candidate genes followed the same fold change directions as the mRNAseq findings. Genes upregulated in RAS-STCs were involved in cell adhesion, extracellular matrix remodeling, and kidney development, whereas those downregulated in RAS-STCs are related to cell cycle and cytoskeleton. The percentage of STCs from dissociated kidney cells was higher in RAS versus Normal pigs, but their proliferation rate was blunted. Conclusions: Renal ischemia and hypertension in swine induce changes in the mRNA profile of STCs, associated with increased STC activation and impaired proliferation. These observations suggest that RAS may alter the reparative capacity of STCs