Rician Noise Removal via a Learned Dictionary

This paper proposes a new effective model for denoising images with Rician noise. The sparse representations of images have been shown to be efficient approaches for image processing. Inspired by this, we learn a dictionary from the noisy image and then combine the MAP model with it for Rician noise removal. For solving the proposed model, the primal-dual algorithm is applied and its convergence is studied. The computational results show that the proposed method is promising in restoring images with Rician noise

Cell metabolism-based optimization strategy of CAR-T cell function in cancer therapy

Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells has revolutionized the field of immune-oncology, showing remarkable efficacy against hematological malignancies. However, its success in solid tumors is limited by factors such as easy recurrence and poor efficacy. The effector function and persistence of CAR-T cells are critical to the success of therapy and are modulated by metabolic and nutrient-sensing mechanisms. Moreover, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), characterized by acidity, hypoxia, nutrient depletion, and metabolite accumulation caused by the high metabolic demands of tumor cells, can lead to T cell “exhaustion” and compromise the efficacy of CAR-T cells. In this review, we outline the metabolic characteristics of T cells at different stages of differentiation and summarize how these metabolic programs may be disrupted in the TME. We also discuss potential metabolic approaches to improve the efficacy and persistence of CAR-T cells, providing a new strategy for the clinical application of CAR-T cell therapy

Reconsidering English Grammar Teaching for Improving Non-English Majors’ English Writing Ability

Orientador: Floresval Armando Bianchi FilhoMonografia (licenciatura) - Universidade Federal do Paraná. Setor de Ciências Biológicas. Curso de Educação Física

Six-Year BDS-2 Broadcast Navigation Message Analysis from 2013 to 2018: Availability, Anomaly, and SIS UREs Assessment

The second-generation of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System (BDS-2) has been officially providing positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services within the Asia–Pacific region for six years, starting from 2013. A comprehensive analysis of BDS-2 satellite broadcast navigation message performance during the past six years is highly demanded, not only for the regional service but also for the global service announced in December 2018. Therefore, this study focuses on the performance assessment of six-year BDS-2 broadcast navigation messages from 2013 to 2018 in three aspects: Message availability, anomaly detection, and signal-in-space user range errors (SIS UREs). Firstly, our results, based on International GNSS service (IGS) Multi-GNSS Experiment (MGEX) navigation files, indicate that the BDS-2 Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) and Inclined Geosynchronous Satellite Orbit (IGSO) satellites have >98.51% broadcast navigation message availability, and the Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites has a ~90.03% availability. Secondly, the comparison between broadcast navigation messages and IGS precise products reveals that the User Range Accuracy Index (URAI) contained in the broadcast message could not reflect satellite performance correctly. Another satellite status indicator, space vehicle (SV) health, can only partially detect a satellite anomaly. The anomaly detection result using IGS precise products for reference shows 20241 anomalies out of 651038 broadcast navigation messages within six years. Finally, compared with the IGSO and MEO satellites, the orbit qualities of GEO satellites are significantly worse due to their large along-track orbit error. The clock performance of all satellites are at the comparable level. The satellite orbit type (GEO/IGSO/MEO) does not impact the orbit-only URE, global-average URE, and worst-case URE

Rician Noise Removal via a Learned Dictionary

This paper proposes a new effective model for denoising images with Rician noise. The sparse representations of images have been shown to be efficient approaches for image processing. Inspired by this, we learn a dictionary from the noisy image and then combine the MAP model with it for Rician noise removal. For solving the proposed model, the primal-dual algorithm is applied and its convergence is studied. The computational results show that the proposed method is promising in restoring images with Rician noise

Effects of WeChat platform-based continuing care on self-management and quality of life in patients with arthritis: A quasi-experimental study

Objective To assess the effects of WeChat platform-based continuing care for arthritis on patients’ self-management, self-efficiency, quality of life (QoL), and medication compliance. Methods A study was conducted on arthritis patients recruited between December 2017 and February 2018 and divided into two groups. The intervention group received continuing care from the WeChat platform and regular follow-ups, while the control group only received regular follow-ups. The outcomes in both groups were assessed using questionnaires twice: before the study (T0) and eight weeks after T0 (T1), which consists of the evaluation of self-management, QoL, self-efficacy, and medication compliance. Results There were 23 people in each of the intervention and control groups completed two outcome measures. At eight weeks, participants in the intervention group showed an improvement in psychological QoL, cognitive symptom management, and self-efficacy, compared to the control group (QoL scores: mean difference in change between groups was 12.29, 95% CI: 4.51, 20.07, p  < 0.001; cognitive symptom management: mean difference in change between groups was 0.65, 95% CI: 0.24, 1.05, p  < 0.001; self-efficacy: mean difference in change between groups was 0.69, 95% CI: 0.14, 1.24, p  < 0.05). Self-management, self-efficacy, and psychological quality of life were significantly improved in the intervention group before and after the intervention ( p  < 0.05). Conclusion Using the WeChat platform for continuing care is useful in improving the psychological state, self-efficacy, and self-management ability of patients with arthritis. The study is relevant to Clinical Practice

Effect of Preoperative Lifestyle Management and Prehabilitation on Postoperative Capability of Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: The surgical intervention serves as the paramount and prevalent remedy for individuals afflicted with colorectal malignancies, with the significance of perioperative stewardship and convalescence being indisputable. Prehabilitation coupled with preoperative lifestyle modulation has demonstrated efficacy in patients subjected to certain classifications of abdominal procedures. However, the evidence pertaining to its impact on those battling colorectal cancer remains equivocal. Methods: A meta-analysis, grounded in pairwise contrast, of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was orchestrated, coupled with a systematic review, to probe the efficacy of preoperative lifestyle modulation and prehabilitation on patients’ postoperative functionality and recuperation. An exhaustive exploration of 8 electronic databases and trial registries was undertaken to encompass all pertinent RCTs disseminated in English or Chinese from January 2012 through December 2022. Employing a random-effects model, we evaluated parameters such as the 6-minute walk test (6 MWT), complications, quality of life (QoL), aggregate and postoperative duration of hospitalization (tLHS and postLHS), and healthcare expenditure (HExp) for postoperative patients. Results: A total of 28 RCTs were incorporated into the systematic review and meta-analysis. Relative to conventional preoperative care, rehabilitation or preoperative lifestyle management was found to enhance postoperative 6MWT ( SMD 1.30, 95% CI 0.30 to 2.29 ) and diminish the complication rate ( OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.69 ). Nonetheless, no significant discrepancies were observed in QoL ( SMD 1.81, 95% CI −0.26 to 3.87 ), tLHS ( SMD −0.26, 95% CI −0.68 to 0.15 ), and postLHS ( SMD −1.46, 95% CI −3.12 to 0.20 ) between the groups. HExp could not be evaluated due to a lack of sufficient data for synthesis. Most pooled outcomes exhibited significant heterogeneity, urging a cautious interpretation. Subgroup analysis revealed that nutritional interventions could mitigate the incidence of complications, and preoperative exercise could improve tLHS and postLHS. A combined approach of physical, nutritional, and psychological intervention or prehabilitation proved superior to any single intervention in enhancing postoperative capabilities. Conclusion: This meta-analysis delineated the efficacy of preoperative interventions on postoperative capabilities in patients with colorectal cancer, thereby offering evidence for clinical practice. It was concluded that preoperative interventions are unequivocally beneficial for postoperative functional recovery and the reduction of complication rates in patients with colorectal cancer. Nonetheless, the acquisition of more high-level evidence is still necessitated to further ascertain the effectiveness of this strategy for other patient groups and to establish its best practices. The heterogeneity in the pooled outcomes underlines the need for future studies to be more uniform in their design and reporting, which would facilitate more robust and reliable meta-analyses