Learning end-to-end respiratory rate prediction of dairy cows from RGB videos

Respiratory rate (RR) is an important indicator of the health and welfare status of dairy cows. In recent years, progress has been made in monitoring the RR of dairy cows using video data and learning methods. However, existing approaches often involve multiple processing modules, such as region of interest (ROI) detection and tracking, which can introduce errors that propagate through successive steps. The objective of this study was to develop an end-to-end computer vision method to predict RR of dairy cows continuously and automatically. The method leverages the capabilities of a state-of-the-art Transformer model, VideoMAE, which divides video frames into patches as input tokens, enabling the automated selection and featurization of relevant regions, such as a cow's abdomen, for predicting RR. The original encoder of VideoMAE was retained, and a classification head was added on top of it. Further, the weights of the first 11 layers of the pre-trained model were kept, while the weights of the final layer and classifier were fine-tuned using video data collected in a tie-stall barn from 6 dairy cows. Respiratory rates measured using a respiratory belt for individual cows were serving as the ground truth (GT). The evaluation of the developed model was conducted using multiple metrics, including mean absolute error (MAE) of 2.58 breaths per minute (bpm), root mean squared error (RMSE) of 3.52 bpm, root mean squared prediction error (RMSPE; as a proportion of observed mean) of 15.03%, and Pearson correlation (r) of 0.86. Compared with a conventional method involving multiple processing modules, the end-to-end approach performed better in terms of MAE, RMSE and RMSPE. These results suggest the potential to implement the developed computer vision method for an end-to-end solution, for monitoring RR of dairy cows automatically in a tie-stall setting. Future research on integrating this method with other behavioral detection and animal identification algorithms for animal monitoring in a free-stall dairy barn can be beneficial for a broader application.

How lignin biosynthesis responds to nitrogen in plants: a scoping review

Nitrogen (N) plays a critical role in the functioning of key amino acids and synthetic enzymes responsible for the various stages of lignin biosynthesis. However, the precise mechanisms through which N influences lignin biosynthesis have not been fully elucidated. This scoping review explores how lignin biosynthesis responds to N in plants. A systematic search of the literature in several databases was conducted using relevant keywords. Only 44 of the 1842 selected studies contained a range of plant species, experimental conditions, and research approaches. Lignin content, structure, and biosynthetic pathways in response to N are discussed, and possible response mechanisms of lignin under low N are proposed. Among the selected studies, 64.52% of the studies reter to lignin content found a negative correlation between N availability and lignin content. Usually, high N decreases the lignin content, delays cell lignification, increases p-hydroxyphenyl propane (H) monomer content, and regulates lignin synthesis through the expression of key genes (PAL, 4CL, CCR, CAD, COMT, LAC, and POD) encoding miRNAs and transcription factors (e.g., MYB, bHLH). N deficiency enhances lignin synthesis through the accumulation of phenylpropanoids, phenolics, and soluble carbohydrates, and indirect changes in phytohormones, secondary metabolites, etc. This review provides new insights and important references for future studies on the regulation of lignin biosynthesis.

Assessing the Prognostic Utility of the New Mayo Adhesive Probability Score in East Asian Populations and its Correlation with Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease

We assessed the prognostic utility of the new perinephric fat adherence risk score - Mayo Adhesive Probability (MAP), in patients of East Asian ethnicity undergoing either laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) or laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN). A retrospective analysis of clinical data was carried out on 169 patients who either underwent LPN or LRN surgery. These patients were categorized into two groups, group A (0-2 points) and group B (3-4 points) using the new MAP score. The overall clinical data between these two groups was compared and potential risk factors were investigated using logistic regression analyses. The new MAP score yielded an area under the curve of 0.761 (95 % CI: 0.691-0.831), indicating its effectiveness. Group B had a significantly higher incidence of adherent perirenal fat (APF) during surgery (p<0.001) and had a greater average age (p<0.001). There was an increased prevalence of hypertension (p=0.009), type 2 diabetes mellitus (p<0.001), and MAFLD (p<0.001) in group B. Additionally, there were significant differences in posterior perinephric fat thickness (p<0.05), lateral perinephric fat thickness (p<0.001), and perinephric stranding (p<0.001) between the two groups. The new MAP score holds significance in predicting APF in people of East Asian ethnicity undergoing LPN or LRN, and there is a strong correlation between elevated MAP scores and risk factors such as MAFLD and advanced age.

Pitavastatin ameliorates myocardial injury by inhibiting myocardial inflammation and oxidative stress by modulating the microRNA-106B-5p/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 2 axis

Myocarditis (MC) is a myocardial inflammatory disease that threats human life. Pitavastatin (Pit) is a unique lipophilic statin with potent effects on lowering plasma total cholesterol and triacylglycerols. It has been reported to have pleiotropic effects, such as reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. However, the regulatory mechanism of Pit in MC remains a mystery. Two MC models were established in vitro (lipopolysaccharides-(LPS)-stimulated H9c2 cells) and in vivo (intraperitoneal injection of LPS in mice). The levels of microRNA-106b-5p (miR-106b-5p) and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 2 (MAP3K2) were detected. ELISA was used to analyze in vivo cell inflammatory factors and myocardial injury markers, kits were used to detect the expression of antioxidant enzymes, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to detect cell proliferation, and flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to detect the pathological changes of myocardial tissue in mice, and TUNEL staining was used to detect in vivo tissue cell apoptosis. The regulatory mechanism of Pit on miR-106b-5p/MAP3K2 was verified by a series of functional rescue experiments. The results demonstrated that in LPS-induced H9c2 cells, antioxidant enzymes decreased and pro-inflammatory factors and cardiac injury markers increased (p<0.05). However, these phenomenons were attenuated by Pit pretreatment. LPS decreased miR-106b-5p and elevated MAP3K2 in H9c2 cells, while Pit could recover their expression patterns (p<0.05). MAP3K2 was confirmed as a target gene of miR-106b-5p. Upregulating miR-106b-5p or downregulating MAP3K2 could further promote the protective effect of Pit, and vice versa (p<0.05). In addition, in the LPS-induced MC mouse model, histological examination showed that Pit significantly improved the myocardial tissue damage in MC mice, while downregulating miR-106b-5p or upregulating MAP3K2 could suppress the ameliorative effect of Pit (p<0.05). In conclusion, our study demonstrated that Pit ameliorates myocardial injury by suppressing myocardial inflammation and oxidative stress by modulating the miR-106b-5p/MAP3K2 axis.

[Analysis of factors influencing the efficacy and prognosis of surgical treatment for primary malignant pelvic bone tumors]

Objective: To analyze the prognostic factors and the influence of surgical margin to prognosis. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for 208 pelvic tumors who received surgical treatment from January 2000 to December 2017 in our instituition. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Log rank test, and impact factor analysis was performed using Cox regression models. Results: There were 183 initial patients and 25 recurrent cases. According to Enneking staging, 110 cases were stage ⅠB and 98 cases were stage ⅡB. 19 lesions were in zone Ⅰ, 1 in zone Ⅱ, 15 in zone Ⅲ, 29 in zone Ⅰ+Ⅱ, 71 in zone Ⅱ+Ⅲ, 29 in zone Ⅰ+Ⅳ, 35 in zone Ⅰ+Ⅱ+Ⅲ, 3 in zone Ⅰ+Ⅱ+Ⅳ, and 6 in zone Ⅰ+Ⅱ+Ⅲ+Ⅳ. Surgical margins including Intralesional excision in 7 cases, contaminated margin in 21 cases, marginal resection in 67 cases, and wide resection in 113 cases. Local recurrence occurred in 37 cases (17.8%), 25 cases were performed by reoperation and 12 cases received amputation finally. The 5-year recurrence rate of marginal resection was higher than wide resection (P＜0.05), and the recurrence-free survival rate of marginal resection was lower than wide resection (P＜0.05). There was significant differences in recurrence rate and recurrence-free survival rate between R0 and R1 resection (P＜0.05). 92 cases were not reconstructed and 116 cases were reconstructed after pelvic surgery. At the last follow-up, 63 patients (30.3%) died, and the 5-year, 10-year and 15-year survival rates were 70.4%, 66.8% and 61.3%, respectively. The 5-year survival rate of stage ⅠB and ⅡB tumor was 90.4% and 46.8%, respectively. There were 29 cases had postoperative wound complications (13.8%), 1 case with pelvic organ injury. The final function was evaluated in 132 patients, with an average MSTS score of 25.1±3.6. Cox multivariate analysis showed that surgical staging, R0/R1 margin and metastasis were independent prognostic factors for pelvic tumors. Conclusions: The safe surgical margin is the key factor for recurrence-free of pelvic tumor. The survival rate of stage ⅡB pelvic tumors was significantly lower than that of stage ⅠB tumors. Wound infection is the main postoperative complication. Surgical staging, R0/R1 margin and metastasis were independent prognostic factors of pelvic tumors.

Observation of Seven Astrophysical Tau Neutrino Candidates with IceCube

We report on a measurement of astrophysical tau neutrinos with 9.7 yr of IceCube data. Using convolutional neural networks trained on images derived from simulated events, seven candidate ν_{τ} events were found with visible energies ranging from roughly 20 TeV to 1 PeV and a median expected parent ν_{τ} energy of about 200 TeV. Considering backgrounds from astrophysical and atmospheric neutrinos, and muons from π^{±}/K^{±} decays in atmospheric air showers, we obtain a total estimated background of about 0.5 events, dominated by non-ν_{τ} astrophysical neutrinos. Thus, we rule out the absence of astrophysical ν_{τ} at the 5σ level. The measured astrophysical ν_{τ} flux is consistent with expectations based on previously published IceCube astrophysical neutrino flux measurements and neutrino oscillations.

Labile assembly of a tardigrade protein induces biostasis

Tardigrades are microscopic animals that survive desiccation by inducing biostasis. To survive drying tardigrades rely on intrinsically disordered CAHS proteins, which also function to prevent perturbations induced by drying in vitro and in heterologous systems. CAHS proteins have been shown to form gels both in vitro and in vivo, which has been speculated to be linked to their protective capacity. However, the sequence features and mechanisms underlying gel formation and the necessity of gelation for protection have not been demonstrated. Here we report a mechanism of fibrillization and gelation for CAHS D similar to that of intermediate filament assembly. We show that in vitro, gelation restricts molecular motion, immobilizing and protecting labile material from the harmful effects of drying. In vivo, we observe that CAHS D forms fibrillar networks during osmotic stress. Fibrillar networking of CAHS D improves survival of osmotically shocked cells. We observe two emergent properties associated with fibrillization; (i) prevention of cell volume change and (ii) reduction of metabolic activity during osmotic shock. We find that there is no significant correlation between maintenance of cell volume and survival, while there is a significant correlation between reduced metabolism and survival. Importantly, CAHS D's fibrillar network formation is reversible and metabolic rates return to control levels after CAHS fibers are resolved. This work provides insights into how tardigrades induce reversible biostasis through the self-assembly of labile CAHS gels.

Imaging features of temporomandibular joint synovial chondromatosis with associated osseous degenerative changes

Synovial chondromatosis (SC) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a rare benign disease associated with the formation of multiple cartilaginous nodules in the synovial tissue of the TMJ. This can result in pain, swelling, clicking, limited mouth opening, and osseous degenerative joint changes. A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed to summarize the clinical features, radiographic findings, and surgical and histopathological findings of TMJ SC patients who underwent open surgery over a 24-year period. A radiographic scoring system was used to evaluate osseous changes and correlate condyle and joint fossa degeneration. The study included 38 patients and focused on 38 joints. All 38 of these joints showed degenerative changes in the condyle, while 37 showed osseous degenerative changes in the articular fossa. The degree of condylar degenerative changes was related to the duration of the chief complaints (r = 0.342, P = 0.036) and the histopathological stage of the TMJ SC (r = 0.440, P = 0.006), while the degree of joint fossa degenerative changes was associated with the radiographic extent of the SC (r = 0.504, P = 0.001), type of calcification (r = 0.365, P = 0.024), and the histopathological stage (r = 0.458, P = 0.004).

Study on the construction of nomogram prediction model for prognostic assessment of heart failure patients based on serological markers and echocardiography

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to construct a nomogram prediction model for prognostic assessment of patients with heart failure (HF) based on serological markers and echocardiography.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 200 HF patients admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from January 2018 to January 2020 were selected as the research objects. According to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) cardiac function classification, they were divided into 3 groups, including 65 cases of grade II, 97 cases of grade III, and 38 cases of grade IV. Three groups of echocardiographic parameters were compared [including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV)], differences in serum markers brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), soluble growth-stimulating expression gene 2 (sST2) and the Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS). The patients were divided into two groups according to their clinical outcomes during the follow-up period, including 52 cases in the death group and 148 cases in the survival group. The clinical data of the two groups were compared, and multi-factor logistic regression analysis was performed to screen out the independent risk factors affecting the patient's death. A nomogram model of the patient's mortality risk was constructed based on the independent risk factors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves were used to evaluate the discrimination and accuracy of the nomogram model.

RESULTS

As the cardiac function class of elderly chronic heart failure (CHF) patients increases, LVEDD, LVESD, sST2, and MEWS increase and LVEF decreases (p<0.05). Multifactor analysis results showed that LVEF, LVEDD, sST2, and MEWS were independent factors affecting the clinical outcome of patients. The AUCs predicted using LVEF, LVEDD, sST2, and MEWS alone were 0.738, 0.775, 0.717, 0.831, and 0.768, respectively. There is a certain degree of discrimination, and the model has extremely high accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS

MEWS, LVEDD, and sST2 increase as the NYHA cardiac function grade of HF patients increases and LVEF decreases, which can reflect the severity of the disease to a certain extent. Additionally, the nomogram model established based on this has a high predictive value for the long-term prognosis of patients and can formulate effective intervention measures for quantitative values.

HMGN1 down-regulation in the diabetic kidney attenuates tubular cells injury and protects against renal inflammation via suppressing MCP-1 and KIM-1 expression through TLR4

BACKGROUND

Renal tubular injury, accompanied by damaging inflammation, has been identified to drive diabetic kidney disease (DKD) toward end-stage renal disease. However, it is unclear how damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) activate innate immunity to mediate tubular epithelial cell (TEC) injury, which in turn causes with subsequent sterile inflammation in diabetic kidneys. High mobility group nucleosome-binding protein 1 (HMGN1) is a novel DAMP that contributes to generating the innate immune response. In this study, we focused on determining whether HMGN1 is involved in DKD progression.

METHODS

Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice model was established. Then we downrergulated HMGN1 expression in kidney with or without HMGN1 administration. The renal dysfunction and morphological lesions in the kidneys were evaluated. The expressions of KIM-1, MCP-1, F4/80, CD68, and HMGN1/TLR4 signaling were examined in the renal tissue. In vitro, HK2 cells were exposed in the high glucose with or without HMGN1, and further pre-incubated with TAK242 was applied to elucidate the underlying mechanism.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that HMGN1 was upregulated in the tubular epithelial cells of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 and type 2 diabetic mouse kidneys compared to controls, while being positively correlated with increased TLR4, KIM-1, and MCP-1. Down-regulation of renal HMGN1 attenuated diabetic kidney injury, decreased the TLR4, KIM-1, and MCP-1 expression levels, and reduced interstitial infiltrating macrophages. However, these phenotypes were reversed after administration of HMGN1. In HK-2 cells, HMGN1 promoted the expression of KIM-1 and MCP-1 via regulating MyD88/NF-κB pathway; inhibition of TLR4 effectively diminished the in vitro response to HMGN1.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides novel insight into HMGN1 signaling mechanisms that contribute to tubular sterile injury and low-grade inflammation in DKD. The study findings may help to develop new HMGN1-targeted approaches as therapy for immune-mediated kidney damage rather than as an anti-infection treatments.

Norovirus outbreaks in hospitals in China: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Norovirus outbreaks in hospitals can potentially impair patient care and result in significant financial expenses. There is currently limited information on hospital norovirus outbreaks in the Chinese mainland.

AIM

To systematically review the published literature to describe the characteristics of norovirus outbreaks in Chinese mainland hospitals to facilitate prompt identification and control of outbreaks.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis standards. Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Chinese Journals Online databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Wan Fang digital database (WANFANG) were searched from inception to July 18th, 2022.

FINDINGS

A total of 41 norovirus Chinese hospital outbreaks occurring before July 18th, 2022 were reported in 32 articles. Most reported outbreaks were from Shanghai and Beijing, and occurred in December and January. Cases were mainly adults. The male:female ratio was 1.22:1. The majority of cases in norovirus outbreaks were hospitalized patients (56.82%); medical staff were affected in 15 outbreaks. Norovirus outbreaks occurred in both private and public hospitals, and in secondary and tertiary care centres, and occurred mainly in internal medicine and geriatric departments. Person-to-person transmission was the primary transmission mode and GII was more prevalent.

CONCLUSION

Norovirus outbreaks in hospitals can affect both patients and healthcare workers, sometimes causing serious financial losses. In order to have a more complete understanding of the disease burden caused by norovirus outbreaks, surveillance needs to be established in hospitals.

[Vaginal microbiota abnormalities in women with unexplained infertility and its treatment]

The vaginal microbiota is a complex and dynamic environment that plays an important role in the healthy reproduction of women. The mechanism of unexplained infertility is not yet clear, and the imbalance and low stability of vaginal microbiota may be related to unexplained infertility. Taking probiotic composite preparations to restore normal vaginal microbiota may be a safe and natural method for treating unexplained infertility. This article reviews the probiotic composite preparations used in the treatment of unexplained infertility both domestically and internationally, including the isolation site of the bacterial species, the use method of the composite preparation, the course of treatment, and the final therapeutic effect, aiming to provide a basis for the clinical application of probiotic composite preparations in the treatment of unexplained infertility.

Introducing an Experimental Approach to Predict Spot Scanning Time Parameters for a Superconducting Cyclotron Proton Therapy Machine

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Proton pencil beam scanning (PBS) delivery sequence varies a lot among institutions due to the differences in vendors, machine types, and beamline configurations, which impacts PBS interplay effects and treatment delivery time estimation. This study aims to develop an independent experimental approach to predict the spot scanning time parameters for a clinical superconducting cyclotron proton therapy machine.

MATERIALS/METHODS

This independent experimental approach employed an open-air parallel-plate detector with a temporal resolution of 0.05ms. A series of spot, energy, and dose rate patterns were designed and delivered, including (1) Spot switching time (SSWT) under different spot spacing for IEC-X, IEC-Y directions and diagonal direction (traveling in both X and Y direction) for three energy layers (110, 170 and 230 MeV); The Wilcoxon test is used to validate the prediction of SSWT along the diagonal direction. (2) Energy layer switching time (ELST) with different descending energy gaps for a fixed initial energy and different initial energies for a fixed descending energy gap. (3) Dose rate (MU/min) are measured for different minimum-MU-per-energy-layer (MMPEL), which are compared with the previous publication.

RESULTS

A SSWT jump at 10mm (can be customized) spot spacing is observed because of triggering the machine's "raster mode" threshold. Discontinuous two variable piecewise linear functions were used to fit the SSWT in X/Y for spot spacing and energy. SSWT in X/Y is increasing as spot spacing and energy increase. SSWT in the diagonal direction is determined by the time either in the x-direction or y-direction, whichever takes longer (see Table 1 for one example of validations). ELST is linear depending on descending energy gap. The dose rate dependence on MMPEL is confirmed with previous publications of a similar type of machine.

CONCLUSION

The study provided the first independent quantitative experimental modeling of the beam delivery time parameters without any information from vendors. Such machine-specific delivery sequence models could pave the foundation of precise interplay effect evaluation for clinical decision-making.

Pencil Beam Scanning Proton Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT): A Robust Single Institution Experience

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

To describe the feasibility of treating a complex and diverse group of patients using pencil beam scanning (PBS) proton stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT: 5 or fewer fractions, with a fraction size of at least 5 Gy).

MATERIALS/METHODS

Our center treats on average 105-120 PBS proton treatments daily, of which 9.5% of treatment courses are proton SBRT. Statistics of disease sites, treatment planning parameters (target volume, prescriptions, number of fields, SFO vs. MFO), and treatment efficiencies (scheduled time slots, actual treatment time) are presented for 305 consecutive SBRT patients receiving 1507 fractions in the past three years. Thermoplastic masks or Vacuum-lock bags are used to immobilize SBRT patients and index the patients' treatment position. Imaging guidance of orthogonal kV images and volumetric cone-beam CT is routinely used for patient setup.

RESULTS

SBRT patients are grouped based on the target locations: pelvis (31%), liver (17%), thoracic (13%), spine (8%), abdominal (8%), brain (7%), non-spine bone (7%), ocular (6%), and head and neck (2%). Only 112 patients (37%) were receiving their 1st RT course, whereas 113 (37%) had one prior in-field RT course, and 80 (26%) had multiple prior in-field RT courses. The median [IQR] target volume was 65.4 [29.3, 168] cc (range: 0.3-2475 cc). 72% of cases were planned with SFO and 28% with MFO. On average, 3.76 fields (range: 2 to 12) were planned for each treatment. 44% of the treatments were planned with three or fewer fields, and 10% received more than five fields, most of which involved repainting for moving targets. Over 97% of treatments were delivered in 5 fractions, with ∼3% delivered in 3 fractions. The median [IQR] prescription per treatment was 8 [7, 10] Gy (range: 5-18 Gy per treatment). 85% (84%) of the SBRT treatments were scheduled (delivered) in a 45-minute or shorter slot, and 6% (7%) of treatments were scheduled (delivered) in over a one-hour slot, most commonly for multiple isocenter treatments. 93% of treatments were delivered within 15 minutes of the planned treatment time or shorter. Deep-inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) was applied to 45% of liver SBRT cases, with the remaining 55% planned on 4D CT with (14%) or without (86%) abdominal compression. DIBH was applied in 13% of lung SBRT cases. The application of other motion mitigation approaches, such as volumetric repainting, was determined by the target motion amplitude and whether the patient could tolerate DIBH.

CONCLUSION

In the most diverse and largest proton SBRT experience delivered in the world over the past 3 years, over 300 patients were treated, demonstrating the feasibility and efficiency of delivering proton SBRT in a very busy center. The planning and treatment parameter statistics reported serve as a helpful reference for the proton community.

Prospective Evaluation of Patient-Reported Outcomes of Invisible Ink Tattoos for the Delivery of External Beam Radiation Therapy: The PREFER Trial

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Invisible ink tattoos allow for setup accuracy while avoiding the cosmetic permanence of visible ink tattoos. The goal of this trial was to evaluate patient-reported preference for the use of invisible ink tattoos in a radiation oncology clinic.

MATERIALS/METHODS

In an IRB-approved, prospective, feasibility trial, patients at a single institution receiving pencil beam scanning proton therapy to the thorax, abdomen, or pelvis underwent invisible ink tattoo-based treatment setup. Patient preference surveys comparing visible and invisible ink tattoos were completed prior to simulation (17 questions), immediately following simulation (5 questions), and at the end of treatment (18 questions), with preference scored on a 5-point Likert scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree, and cosmesis scored on a 4-point Likert scale of excellent-good-fair-poor. Differences in distributions were examined using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, Fisher's exact tests, or chi-square tests, where statistical significance was considered at p<0.05.

RESULTS

Of 107 patients screened, 102 were enrolled and 94 completed all surveys. Mean age was 55.0 years, and 58.5% were female. Most patients were white (79.1%) and non-Hispanic (92.6%). Patients most commonly had breast (34.0%), prostate (16.0%), and lung (9.6%) cancer. An average of 5 (range 3-8) invisible ink tattoos were placed per patient. Overall, 75.5% of patients reported that they would prefer to receive invisible tattoos vs. visible tattoos, and 88.3% rated the overall cosmetic outcome of invisible ink tattoo marks as excellent or good. Compared to males, females were more willing to travel farther from their home in order to avoid receiving visible tattoos (45.4% vs. 23.1%, p = 0.035) and would pay additional money to avoid receiving visible tattoos (34.5% vs. 5.1%, p = 0.002). Patients who had previously received any tattoo (cosmetic or visible RT tattoos) were more satisfied with the appearance of their invisible ink tattoos compared to those who had never previously received tattoos (82.9% vs. 61.5%, p = 0.022). Patients receiving definitive intent RT were more satisfied with the appearance of the tattoos compared to those receiving palliative intent RT (67.1% vs. 38.9%, p = 0.011). Patients with at least a college education were less satisfied with the appearance of tattoos compared to those without a college education (67.0% vs. 95.0% p = 0.018).

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrate stronger avoidance of visible tattoos and patient preference for invisible tattoos. The standard incorporation of invisible ink tattoos for patient setup should be strongly considered.

A Dosimetric Assessment of Sexual Organ Sparing Proton Radiotherapy in Female Pelvic Cancer Patients

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Optimizing treatment techniques for female patients undergoing curative treatment for pelvic cancers requires incorporating the goals of maximizing cure while maintaining quality of life. Optimizing treatment to maintain sexual quality of life has received little attention in female patients despite the presence of and toxicity risks to functional anatomic organs and their associated neurovasculature, including the bulboclitoris, vagina, and ovaries. Recent dosimetric data without employing sexual organ sparing suggest that mean VMAT dose to the bulboclitoris in low rectal cancer is around 3300 cGy, and in anal cancer, mean dose is around 2000 cGy to the external genitalia and 4500-5000 cGy to the bulboclitoris, all of which would be expected to result in clinically significant toxicity. Therefore, investigation of the avoidance of these important organs is needed and we hypothesize that proton techniques may achieve greater sparing than photon techniques.

MATERIALS/METHODS

In this study, we dosimetrically compare proton- vs. photon-based techniques in sparing functional sexual organs. The cohort consisted of four consecutive female pelvic cancer cases that had received 5000 cGy or greater. All cases were re-planned with VMAT and protons while optimizing dose to functional sexual organs and maintaining target coverage. Sexual organ structures assessed include the genitalia, vagina, ovaries, bulboclitoris and internal pudendal arteries. Given the small number of patients included in this demonstration study, statistical tests were not performed.

RESULTS

MRI was required to appropriately delineate soft tissue. In all cases, dosimetric sparing of sexual organs was improved with proton therapy without compromising target coverage. Mean doses were marginally decreased for structures within the PTV, while structures such as the bulboclitoris were spared substantially. Mean dose to the external genitalia was low with sparing using both VMAT (Median [IQR] (cGy): 852 [811, 1090]) and Proton techniques (Median [IQR] (cGy): 39.4 [11.9, 78.5]). Similarly, mean dose with sparing to the external genitalia was lower than would be expected without sparing, using both VMAT and Proton techniques (Median (IQR) Dmean (cGy) VMAT 3100 [2890, 3580] vs. Proton 1530 [1100, 2090]), with protons demonstrating greater sparing. In one case of a sacral chordoma, ovaries were substantially spared to below ablative thresholds (Dmean (cGy) VMAT 3598.8 and 3548.0 vs Proton 34.1 and 103.3).

CONCLUSION

Magnetic resonance imaging at simulation combined with proton radiotherapy for female sexual organ sparing may provide a technically feasible route to more equitable sexual outcomes for female patients. These results will guide future studies to optimize proton treatment techniques for female sexual organ sparing for future trials.

Analysis of the dust-methane two-phase coupling blowdown effect at different air duct positions in an excavation anchor synchronous tunnel

Bolter miners are being increasingly used. Unfortunately, this mining technology causes a considerable amount of air pollution (especially by methane and dust) during excavation. In this study, the multiphase coupling field of airflow-dust-methane for different distances between the pressure air outlet and the working face (Lp) was simulated by using the FLUENT software. The migration law of pollutants in the multiphase coupling field was analyzed, and the distance parameters between the pressure air outlet and the working face were optimized. Finally, the simulation results were verified based on the field measurement results. We found that the blowdown effect was more obvious when 14 m ≤ Lp < 16 m compared with other conditions. The peak value of dust concentration within this distance range was the smallest (44.4% lower than the highest peak value, which was verified when Lp = 18 m), while the methane concentration was < 0.6%. A high-concentration area (where methane concentration > 0.75%), identified near the walking part of the bolter miner, was 13 m shorter than the largest (when Lp = 18 m). Therefore, we determined that the optimal blowdown distance would be 14 m ≤ Lp < 16 m. Within this range, the dust removal and methane dilution effects are optimal, effectively improving the tunnel air quality and providing a safe and clean environment for mine workers.

[Status and associated factors of pre-exposure prophylaxis use among men who have sex with men in 24 cities in China]

Objective: To understand the cognition and medication use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China and its associated factors. Method: From August 25 to September 5, 2021, 2 447 MSM were recruited in 24 cities to complete the online questionnaire through a male social interaction platform, Blued 7.5 software. The survey contents included demographic information of the respondents, PrEP awareness and usage, and risk behaviors. Descriptive analysis and multi-level logistic regression were performed for data analysis. SPSS 24.0 and SAS 9.4 software were used for statistical analysis. Results: Among the 2 447 respondents of MSM, 1 712 (69.96%) had heard of PrEP, 437 (17.86%) ever used PrEP, 274 (11.20%) were on PrEP, and 163 (6.66%) had discontinued PrEP; among the 437 cases (whoever used PrEP), more than 61.88% (388/627) adopted emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate regimen, and most of them adopted on-demand regimen. The average PrEP dosage reported in the past year is 1.12 tabletsper person per week. PrEP purchase was primarily via an online channel, and the most concerned factor was the PrEP effectiveness on HIV prevention. The most common reasons for discontinuing PrEP, reported by 163 cases, were the lack of HIV risk perception, the use of a condom to prevent HIV, and the economic burden of PrEP use. The logistic regression analysis showed that PrEP use among MSM in 24 cities was statistically associated with age, monthly income, ever having unprotected anal sex in the past year, used sexual drugs and sexually transmitted disease (STD) diagnosis in the past year. Compared with MSM aged 18-24, the proportion of MSM was relatively lower among those aged 25-44, who discontinued the PrEP (aOR=0.54,95%CI:0.34-0.87) or never used PrEP (aOR=0.62,95%CI:0.44-0.87). The proportion of unprotected anal sex among MSM currently on PrEP use was higher than those who have stopped PrEP and never used PrEP (all P<0.05). Those MSM group, with monthly income higher than 5 000 Yuan, used sexual drugs and STD diagnosis in the past year were more likely to have a higher rate for PrEP usage (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Currently, pre-exposure prophylaxis in the MSM group is primarily obtained via the online channel and adopted in an on-demand mode. Although the PrEP users have reached a certain proportion, it is still necessary to strengthen health education on the PrEP effects and side effects of MSM and to improve the awareness and use rate, especially for young MSM group, which can be combined with the advantages of the internet targeting its needs and use barriers.

Study on the effect of Ce-Cu doping on Mn/γ-Al2O3 catalyst for selective catalytic reduction in NO with NH3

A series of Mn/γ-Al₂O₃, Mn-Cu/γ-Al₂O₃, Mn-Ce/γ-Al₂O₃ and Mn-Ce-Cu/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared by equal volume impregnation. The denitrification effects of the different catalysts were studied by activity measurement, X-ray diffraction, Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller surface area tests, Scanning electron microscopy, H₂-temperature programmed reduction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The experimental results show that Ce and Cu are added to a Mn/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst as bimetallic additives, which weakens the interaction between Mn and the carrier, improves the dispersion of MnO_x on the surface of the carrier, improves the specific surface area of the catalyst, and improves the reducibility. Mn-Ce-Cu/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst reaches a maximum conversion of 92% at 202 °C. Also, the addition of the auxiliary metals promotes the reaction mechanism to a certain extent, and the addition of Ce especially promotes the conversion of NO-NO₂, which is conducive to the production of intermediate products that promote the NH₃-SCR reaction.

Chronological and Replicative Aging of CD51+/PDGFR-α+ Pulp Stromal Cells

As a crucial source of mesenchymal stromal cells, CD51⁺/PDGFR-α⁺ human dental pulp stromal cells (hDPSCs) are promising seeding cells for regenerative medicine. Cellular senescence hinders the translational application of hDPSCs. However, it remains unclear whether chronological and replicative senescence results in distinct outcomes for hDPSCs. To investigate the influence of senescence on DPSCs, we used transgenic lineage tracking, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and various molecular experiments to depict the dynamic pattern of hDPSCs in mice and humans during chronological and replicative senescence. The data demonstrated that CD51⁺/PDGFR-α⁺ cells were decreased in chronological senescence. Impaired self-renewal and higher ossificatory differentiation were observed in chronologically senescent hDPSCs. Regarding replicative senescence, a decreased CD51⁺ but upregulated PDGFR-α⁺ population was observed in culture. Furthermore, weakened self-renewal and osteogenic differentiation were observed in replicatively senescent hDPSCs. In summary, CD51⁺/PDGFR-α⁺ hDPSCs decrease in chronologically aged pulp, with self-renewal that is impaired without impaired osteogenic differentiation. However, replicative senescence has a different impact: self-renewal and ossific differentiation are impaired and CD51 expression is reduced, but PDGFR-α expression remains. These findings demonstrate the different outcomes of chronological and replicative senescence in CD51⁺/PDGFR-α⁺ hDPSCs. Furthermore, we revealed that impaired self-renewal is the core dysfunction for both types of cellular aging and that osteogenic differentiation capability differs between them. This study provides insights into the influence of chronological and replicative senescence on the characteristics and capabilities of hDPSCs. These advances provide fundamental knowledge to alleviate cellular aging of CD51⁺/PDGFR-α⁺ hDPSCs and promote their translational applications.

Numerical study on temporal and spatial distribution of particulate matter under multi-vehicle working conditions

The high growth in the use of underground diesel vehicles has led to a large number of exhaust pollutants, especially particulate matter (PM), which is a serious threat to the lives and health of underground personnel. In this paper, based on numerical simulations and field measurements, the temporal and spatial distribution of PM in the exhaust of two vehicles and the impact on the health of underground personnel was analyzed. The results showed that in both conditions, the airflow velocity between two vehicles showed a zonal distribution, and there was an airflow vortex in the chamber under the interaction of the wind. When the vehicles were running in the same direction into the wind, PM with a concentration range of 15.79-26.32 mg/m³ could reach the height of the human respiratory belt and was mainly distributed on the east side of the roadway. Therefore, underground personnel should avoid approaching the right area of the vehicle body. In addition, PM concentration around the driver position of the vehicle was still higher than the human contact limit, so the drivers of the vehicle would need personal protection. When the vehicles were running in the same direction with the wind, compared with the airflow inlet side, the amount of PM on the airflow outlet side increased more obviously with time, especially for PM with a concentration range of 21.05-31.58 mg/m³. Also, partial PM flowed into the chamber with the airflow, such that personnel should avoid being located on the downwind side of the vehicle, and personnel in the chamber should also have personal protection.

Carboxymethyl cellulose sodium gel: A modified material used to suppress coal dust pollution

To reduce the environmental pollution caused by coal dust, a new type of dust inhibitor with a wide application range, high efficiency, and production simplicity was synthesized by modifying sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-Na) with acrylamide (AM). Through molecular dynamics simulations and experiments, the surfactant composition and concentration were optimized. The experimental results showed that the graft copolymer of CMC-Na and AM (CMC-Na-co-AM) had more pores on the microscopic surface and a unique fiber network structure, which greatly increased its contact area with coal dust. After 14 h of drying at 60 °C, coal samples that were sprayed with the dust suppression agent retained >50% of the water in the spray, which was 9 times greater than the water retention of coal samples sprayed with just water. Additionally, the ability of the dust suppression agent to resist wind erosion was 6 times that of water. The CMC-Na-co-AM dust suppression agent showed that it could effectively inhibit the spread of coal dust under strong winds, offering a solution to the problem of coal dust pollution in coal production and storage.

Green surfactant-modified TiO2 nanoparticles doped with La-Cr bimetal for NOx removal

Cost-effective new environmental catalysts play a crucial role in purifying NO_x from exhaust gas of coal mine diesel vehicle. A new, environmentally friendly catalyst with high catalytic activity and good redox properties was prepared by a microwave-assisted sol-gel method using TiO₂ nanoparticles as a catalyst, which were doped with La and Cr, and adding the surfactant dimethyldiallylammonium chloride (DMDAAC) as an organic modifier. The morphological characteristics, crystalline structure, functional groups, and elemental types of the catalyst were characterized, and the properties of the catalyst, such as redox ability and catalytic activity, were examined with H₂-temperature-programmed reduction experiments and activity tests. The results showed that the addition of surfactant suppressed the growth of particle size, increased the specific surface area, and improved the redox ability and catalytic activity of the catalyst. I hope to reduce the pollution of NO_x to environment and achieve efficient cleaner production.

[Research advances in the application of bone metabolic markers in children's diseases associated with growth and development]

The incidence of children's growth and development diseases such as rickets, obesity, dwarfism and precocious puberty has increased year by year recently. The occurrence and development of these diseases are often closely related to children's malnutrition and endocrine disorders. Plenty of studies have indicated that bone is not only the structural scaffold of human body, but also an important endocrine and hormone target organ. As a series of substances closely related to bone formation and bone resorption, the levels of bone metabolic markers have been confirmed to change in the course of many children's growth and development diseases. The characteristics, classification and application of bone metabolism markers in children's growth and development related diseases was summarized and commented in this article in order to provide reference for the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment effect monitoring of children's growth and development diseases.