Multi-Layer Feature Boosting Framework for Pipeline Inspection using an Intelligent Pig System

As pipelines take an increasingly important role in energy transportation, their health management is necessary. In-pipe inspection is a common pipeline life maintenance method. The signal obtained through internal inspection contains strong noise and interference where the internal environment of the pipeline is extremely complicated. Thus, it is challenging to accurately identify the defect signal. In this paper, a defect detection framework based on feature boosting is proposed by using the multi sensing pipeline pig as the detection signals. Through boosting construction of features and hierarchical classification, the framework can not only correctly classify various signals in the internal detection signals but also realize the accurate identification of defect signals. Concurrently, in order to demonstrate the high flexibility and robustness of the detection framework, experiments and verifications have been carried out on specimens in three different environments i.e., laboratory environment, simulated environment and actual environment. In the classification of actual environmental detection signals, quantitative evaluation with different algorithms have been undertaken using the F-score to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework

Toward a natural classification of Botryosphaeriaceae : a study of the type specimens of Botryosphaeria sensu lato

The genus Botryosphaeria includes more than 200 epithets, but only the type species, Botryosphaeria dothidea and a dozen or more other species have been identified based on DNA sequence data. The taxonomic status of the other species remains unconfirmed because they lack either morphological information or DNA sequence data. In this study, types or authentic specimens of 16 “Botryosphaeria” species are reassessed to clarify their identity and phylogenetic position. nuDNA sequences of four regions, ITS, LSU, tef1-a and tub2, are analyzed and considered in combination with morphological characteristics. Based on the multigene phylogeny and morphological characters, Botryosphaeria cruenta and Botryosphaeria hamamelidis are transferred to Neofusicoccum. The generic status of Botryosphaeria aterrima and Botryosphaeria mirabile is confirmed in Botryosphaeria. Botryosphaeria berengeriana var. weigeliae and B. berengeriana var. acerina are treated synonyms of B. dothidea. Botryosphaeria mucosa is transferred to Neodeightonia as Neodeightonia mucosa, and Botryosphaeria ferruginea to Nothophoma as Nothophoma ferruginea. Botryosphaeria foliicola is reduced to synonymy with Phyllachorella micheliae. Botryosphaeria abuensis, Botryosphaeria aesculi, Botryosphaeria dasylirii, and Botryosphaeria wisteriae are tentatively kept in Botryosphaeria sensu stricto until further phylogenetic analysis is carried out on verified specimens. The ordinal status of Botryosphaeria apocyni, Botryosphaeria gaubae, and Botryosphaeria smilacinina cannot be determined, and tentatively accommodate these species in Dothideomycetes incertae sedis. The study demonstrates the significance of a polyphasic approach in characterizing type specimens, including the importance of using of DNA sequence data.Supplementary Figure 1 | Botryosphaeria gaubae (W 1992-05937, holotype). (A,B) Ascomata erumpent through the lower side of the leaf. (C) Squash showing cylindrical or broadly cylindrical asci in cotton blue. (D) Part of the peridium. (E) Septate pseudoparaphyses in cotton blue. (F-H) Aseptate, fusiform to ellipsoid ascospores in cotton blue. Scale bars: (A) = 1 mm, (B) = 200 mm, (C) = 50 mm, (E) = 20 mm, (D,F-H) = 10 m m.Supplementary Figure 2 | Laestadia apocyni (MICH 14281, isotype). (A) Ascomata erumpent through a piece of twig epidermis. (B) Released, hyaline, 1-septate ascospores. (C) Ascus in water. (D) Line drawing of ascus in water. Scale bars: (A) = 200 mm, (B-D) = 20 m m.Supplementary Figure 3 | Sphaeria smilacinina (NYS f2818, holotype). (A) Ascomata erumpent through the twig epidermis. (B,C) Immature asci. (D) Released ascospores. (E) Line drawing of broadly clavate ascus. Scale bars: (A) = 500 mm, (B-D) = 20 mm, (E) = 40 m m.Supplementary Figure 4 | One of the most parsimonious trees obtained from combined ITS, LSU, tub2, and tef1-a sequence data of Botryosphaeria spp. Outgroup taxa are Neofusicoccum luteum and Neofusicoccum parvum. Maximum parsimony (MP) support values above 70% and Bayesian posterior probabilities (PP) support above 80% are shown with MP bootstrap followed by Bayesian PP (MP/PP) values at the nodes. The species characterized in this study are in boldface.Supplementary Figure 5 | One of the most parsimonious trees obtained based on combined ITS, tef1-a, and tub2 sequence data of Neofusicoccum spp. Outgroup taxon are Botryosphaeria dothidea and B. corticis. Maximum parsimony (MP) support values above 60% and Bayesian posterior probabilities (PP) support above 80% are shown with MP/PP, values at the nodes. The species characterized in this study are in boldface.Supplementary Figure 6 | One of the most parsimonious trees obtained from LSU sequence dataset of Neofusicoccum spp. Outgroup taxa are Botryosphaeria corticis and B. dothidea. Maximum parsimony (MP) support values above 70% and Bayesian posterior probabilities (PP) support above 80% are shown with MP bootstrap followed by Bayesian PP (MP/PP) values at the nodes. The species characterized in this study are in boldface.Supplementary Figure 7 | One of the most parsimonious trees obtained from ITS and LSU sequence dataset of Nothophoma spp. Outgroup taxa is Didymella calidophila. Maximum likelihood (ML) support values above 50%, Maximum parsimony (MP) support values above 50%, and Bayesian posterior probabilities (PP) support above 95% are shown with ML and MP bootstrap followed by Bayesian PP (MP/PP/ML) values at the nodes. The species characterized in this study are in boldface.Supplementary Table 1 | Species, specimens and GenBank accession numbers of sequences used in this study (newly generated sequences are indicated in bold).The National Natural Science Foundation of China and NSFC Projects of International Cooperation and Exchanges.http://www.frontiersin.org/Microbiologyam2022Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)GeneticsMicrobiology and Plant Patholog

High Expression of Cancer-Derived Glycosylated Immunoglobulin G Predicts Poor Prognosis in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Background: Cancer-derived immunoglobulin G (CIgG) has been detected in various cancers and plays important roles in carcinogenesis. The present study aimed to investigate its clinical significance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods: Using tissue microarrays (TMAs) and immunohistochemistry, we assessed CIgG expression in 326 patients who underwent surgical resection for PDAC. The associations between CIgG expression and clinicopathological features and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Functional experiments were also performed to investigate the effect of CIgG on PDAC cells. Results: High CIgG expression was related to poor tumor differentiation and metastasis during follow-up and was associated with poor disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). A multivariate Cox regression analysis identified high CIgG expression as an independent prognostic factor for DFS and OS. The incorporation of CIgG expression improved the accuracy of an established prognosis prediction model for 1-year OS and 2-year OS. In vitro studies showed that knocking down CIgG profoundly suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion capacity of PDAC cells. Conclusions: CIgG contributes to the malignant behaviors of PDAC and offers a powerful prognostic predictor for these patients

Biliary Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Clinical Profiles, Management, and Analysis of Prognostic Factors

Biliary neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) represent <1% of all NENs. The aim of this retrospective study is to present the clinical characteristics, management and prognosis profiles of 28 biliary NEN patients from a large tertiary center, and identify factors related to prognosis. Nine tumors originated from the gallbladder, two from the extrahepatic bile duct and 17 from the ampulla of Vater. One patient was classified as neuroendocrine tumor (NET) Grade 1, three patients were classified as NET Grade 2, 18 were graded neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) Grade 3 and six were classified as mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC). The overall survival rate and disease-free survival rate did not have statistically significant differences between tumors of different locations or different grading. Recurrence of disease correlated with poor prognosis (p < 0.001). Lymphovascular invasion and invasion beyond the submucosa were related to higher risk of local lymph node metastases. Multivariate analysis identified patient age (p = 0.021) and R0 resection margin (p = 0.027) as independent prognostic factors associated with overall survival. Our study included relatively large numbers of biliary tract NENs with intact follow-up information. Patients with biliary neuroendocrine tumors showed different clinical outcomes according to tumor locations and tumor grades. Achieving R0 resection is important for better prognosis

Global Survey on Pancreatic Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This global survey among members of seven international pancreatic associations and study groups elucidates the role of pancreatic surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic, regarding patient selection for the surgical and oncological treatment of pancreatic diseases to support clinical decision-making and creating a starting point for further discussion