We use an agnostic information-theoretic approach to investigate the statistical properties of natural images. We introduce the Multiscale Relevance (MSR) measure to assess the robustness of images to compression at all scales. Starting in a controlled environment, we characterize the MSR of synthetic random textures as function of image roughness [Formula: see text] and other relevant parameters. We then extend the analysis to natural images and find striking similarities with critical ([Formula: see text]) random textures. We show that the MSR is more robust and informative of image content than classical methods such as power spectrum analysis. Finally, we confront the MSR to classical measures for the calibration of common procedures such as color mapping and denoising. Overall, the MSR approach appears to be a good candidate for advanced image analysis and image processing, while providing a good level of physical interpretability.

In practical deep-learning applications, such as medical image analysis, autonomous driving, and traffic simulation, the uncertainty of a classification model's output is critical. Evidential deep learning (EDL) can output this uncertainty for the prediction; however, its accuracy depends on a user-defined threshold, and it cannot handle training data with unknown classes that are unexpectedly contaminated or deliberately mixed for better classification of unknown class. To address these limitations, I propose a classification method called modified-EDL that extends classical EDL such that it outputs a prediction, i.e. an input belongs to a collective unknown class along with a probability. Although other methods handle unknown classes by creating new unknown classes and attempting to learn each class efficiently, the proposed m-EDL outputs, in a natural way, the "uncertainty of the prediction" of classical EDL and uses the output as the probability of an unknown class. Although classical EDL can also classify both known and unknown classes, experiments on three datasets from different domains demonstrated that m-EDL outperformed EDL on known classes when there were instances of unknown classes. Moreover, extensive experiments under different conditions established that m-EDL can predict unknown classes even when the unknown classes in the training and test data have different properties. If unknown class data are to be mixed intentionally during training to increase the discrimination accuracy of unknown classes, it is necessary to mix such data that the characteristics of the mixed data are as close as possible to those of known class data. This ability extends the range of practical applications that can benefit from deep learning-based classification and prediction models.

New therapeutic approaches are needed for the management of the highly chemo- and radioresistant chondrosarcoma (CHS). In this work, we used polyethylene glycol-encapsulated iron oxide nanoparticles for the intracellular delivery of the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin (IONPDOX) to augment the cytotoxic effects of carbon ions in comparison to photon radiation therapy. The in vitro biological effects were investigated in SW1353 chondrosarcoma cells focusing on the following parameters: cell survival using clonogenic test, detection of micronuclei (MN) by cytokinesis blocked micronucleus assay and morphology together with spectral fingerprints of nuclei using enhanced dark-field microscopy (EDFM) assembled with a hyperspectral imaging (HI) module. The combination of IONPDOX with ion carbon or photon irradiation increased the lethal effects of irradiation alone in correlation with the induction of MN. Alterations in the hyperspectral images and spectral profiles of nuclei reflected the CHS cell biological modifications following the treatments, highlighting possible new spectroscopic markers of cancer therapy effects. These outcomes showed that the proposed combined treatment is promising in improving CHS radiotherapy.

Real estate developers in China exhibit different boundedly rational behaviors when bidding in different land auction formats, resulting in deviation from fully rational bidding, and the transformation of China's real estate industry has intensified this deviation. To address this problem, this study establishes a reference utility model and a subjective decision probability model under the framework of incomplete information game to characterize developers' utility distortion and winning probability distortion in open-bid auctions and sealed-bid auctions for land, respectively. The results show that the deviation between bounded rational bidding and fully rational bidding increases as developer competition intensifies. The equilibrium bidding of cost-disadvantaged developers in the boundedly rational model deviates less from the standard model. Moreover, in sealed-bid auctions, the "hiding degree" of cost-advantaged developers is greater, showing size effects, while the bids in open-bid auctions are more complex and affected by market conditions and developers' risk preferences. Thus, this study characterizes boundedly rational bidding in land auctions and interprets the deviation from fully rational bidding, which can provide a more real basis for land auction mechanism design.

Mortality from breast cancer (BC) is among the top causes of cancer death in women. BC can be effectively treated when diagnosed early, improving the likelihood that a patient will survive. BC masses and calcification clusters must be identified by mammography in order to prevent disease effects and commence therapy at an early stage. A mammography misinterpretation may result in an unnecessary biopsy of the false-positive results, lowering the patient's odds of survival. This study intends to improve breast mass detection and identification in order to provide better therapy and reduce mortality risk. A new deep-learning (DL) model based on a combination of transfer-learning (TL) and long short-term memory (LSTM) is proposed in this study to adequately facilitate the automatic detection and diagnosis of the BC suspicious region using the 80-20 method. Since DL designs are modelled to be problem-specific, TL applies the knowledge gained during the solution of one problem to another relevant problem. In the presented model, the learning features from the pre-trained networks such as the squeezeNet and DenseNet are extracted and transferred with the features that have been extracted from the INbreast dataset. To measure the proposed model performance, we selected accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and area under the ROC curve (AUC) as our metrics of choice. The classification of mammographic data using the suggested model yielded overall accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and AUC values of 99.236%, 98.8%, 99.1%, 96%, and 0.998, respectively, demonstrating the model's efficacy in detecting breast tumors.

The atmospheric oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) by OH radicals over tropical rainforests impacts local particle production and the lifetime of globally distributed chemically and radiatively active gases. For the pristine Amazon rainforest during the dry season, we empirically determined the diurnal OH radical variability at the forest-atmosphere interface region between 80 and 325 m from 07:00 to 15:00 LT using BVOC measurements. A dynamic time warping approach was applied showing that median averaged mixing times between 80 to 325 m decrease from 105 to 15 min over this time period. The inferred OH concentrations show evidence for an early morning OH peak (07:00-08:00 LT) and an OH maximum (14:00 LT) reaching 2.2 (0.2, 3.8) × 106 molecules cm-3 controlled by the coupling between BVOC emission fluxes, nocturnal NOx accumulation, convective turbulence, air chemistry and photolysis rates. The results were evaluated with a turbulence resolving transport (DALES), a regional scale (WRF-Chem) and a global (EMAC) atmospheric chemistry model.

In recent years, debris flows have frequently erupted in the narrow-steep gully of the earthquake-hit Wenchuan region, displaying high flow velocities and powerful scouring abilities. However, few scouring studies in the narrow-steep gully have been conducted. A model experiment simulated the debris flow scouring process in a narrow-steep flume, in which several important physical parameters, including the debris flow density (ρ), flume slope (θ), and grain size of the sediment (D), were varied to investigate their influences on the erodible strength. The experimental flows were composed of 50 L of water and grains, which scoured 2.3 m of erodible bed down a steeply inclined flume. A high-speed camera photographed the scouring processes, while a 3D laser device captured the final bed shapes. The experiments show that the debris flow first collides with the sediment at the head of the gully to form a pit, which is enlarged by continuous impact; the velocity of the debris flow out of the pit is significantly reduced due to the change in flow direction, resulting in a much lesser scouring effect after the pit; and finally, the gully bed presents the shape of a pit at the entrance and a groove in the middle and rear. The critical scour slope, where the gully bed shows scouring, increases with increasing debris flow density but decreases with increasing grain size of sediment. Following scouring, the maximum scouring depth is further positively correlated with the flume slope. In narrow-steep gullies, the gully bed is extremely susceptible to scouring by debris flow with a low density, and even headward erosion appears, at which the maximum scouring depth only increased from 148.04 to 149.97 mm, but the erosion amount had a significant increase of 36.9%. The research results have an important significance for revealing the disaster-causing phenomena and mechanisms of debris flows in the narrow-steep gully.

Increased innovation on finding new ways to generate energy from different sources to meet the growing demand of consumers has led to various challenges in controlling the power network when it faces different disruptions. To address these challenges, a new approach has been proposed in this research paper, which combines a controller with a soft computing technique called Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The study considers a power system with four units, where three different energy sources are utilized and distributed across two areas. Each area has two power sources, with one area having a combination of thermal and gas power plants, and the other area consisting of a nuclear power plant and a gas power plant. Transmitting power from the nuclear power plant is particularly complex due to its high sensitivity to disturbances. Therefore, an intelligent and efficient controller is needed to ensure robust control in this type of power network that includes nuclear power. The paper also conducts a thorough analysis of the harmful emissions associated with electricity generation from the different power plants considered. The goal is to reduce the carbon footprint associated with power generation. The proposed work and analysis in the paper are implemented using the MATLAB/SIMULINK environment.

Transparent wood (TW) has garnered significant global attention due to its unique properties. In this study, TW composites were fabricated using two timber species of different density classes: Ailanthus triphysa (common name: Ailanthus wood) and Hevea brasiliensis (common name: Rubberwood). Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and Hydrogen peroxide-based alkali method was used to modify the lignin in these veneer samples, producing a white cellulose template with a fully intact hierarchical cell structure. Subsequently, a cost-effective thermosetting unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) was infiltrated into the redesigned framework and polymerized to create rigid nanostructured transparent composites. High optical haze (of 94% and 89%) and favourable light transmittance of 59 and 55 percent were exhibited by the UPR-TW composites made from rubberwood and ailanthus wood, respectively. TW was characterised using Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The mechanical properties of TW were measured and compared with those of natural wood and pure-polymer. Furthermore, the anisotropic light diffusion behaviour displayed by TW in accordance with the fibre orientation indicates the utility of material as a potential light shaping device. Therefore, a cost-effective and commercially viable strategy to fabricate multipurpose TW composites using a combination of lesser-known timber species (LKTS) and UPR resin was successfully demonstrated.

Ants are key ecosystem service providers and can serve as important biological control agents in pest management. However, the effects of insecticides on common farmland ant species are poorly understood. We tested the effects of three commonly used insecticides on ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). The tested insecticides were acetamiprid (neonicotinoid; formulated as Mospilan 20 SP), deltamethrin (pyrethroid; formulated as Sanium Ultra), and sulfoxaflor (sulfilimine; formulated as Gondola). We tested two ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) species with different colony founding strategies, Lasius niger (Linnaeus, 1758) and Myrmica rubra (Linnaeus, 1758). We sprayed their queens with insecticides at concentrations recommended for use in foliar applications in agriculture, i.e., at 1.25 g L-1 (acetamiprid), 0.6 g L-1 (sulfoxaflor), and 0.875 g L-1 (deltamethrin). Further, we diluted the compounds in distilled water and tested them at 10%, 1%, and 0.1% of the field-recommended concentrations, and used distilled water as a control. We monitored the survival of the queens and the number of eggs laid. All three tested insecticides caused severe lethal and sublethal concentration-dependent effects. Even at concentrations three orders of magnitudes lower than recommended for field applications, significantly lower numbers of eggs were found in the queens' nests. The extent of the sublethal effects of acetamiprid and sulfoxaflor was concentration-dependent and differed between the two ant species. Besides bees and bumblebees, ants represent an important group of hymenopterans that are severely affected even by low concentrations of the tested compounds and therefore should be included in risk assessment schemes.

During a previous study on microfungi associated with clematis roots, Penicillium-like fungi were isolated and identified based on morphology. In this study, we subjected those strains to a detailed examination which led to the proposal of two taxonomic novelties, named Rasamsonia chlamydospora and Talaromyces clematidis. The first taxon is characterized by rough-walled mycelium, acerose to flask shaped phialides, cylindrical conidia and by production of chlamydospore-like structures. The four-loci-based phylogeny analysis delineated the taxon as a taxonomic novelty in Rasamsonia. Talaromyces clematidis is characterized by restricted growth on Czapek yeast extract agar, dichloran 18% glycerol agar and yeast extract sucrose agar, and production of yellow ascomata on oatmeal agar. Phylogenetic analyses placed this taxon as a taxonomic novelty in Talaromyces sect. Bacillispori. Both taxa are introduced here with detailed descriptions, photoplates and information on their phylogenetic relationship with related species.

Despite careful staging, the accuracy for preoperative detection of small distant metastases remains poor, creating a clinical need for enhanced operative staging to detect occult peritoneal metastases. This study evaluates a polarization-enhanced laparoscopy (PEL) prototype and assesses its potential for label-free contrast enhancement of peritoneal metastases. This is a first-in-human feasibility study, including 10 adult patients who underwent standard staging laparoscopy (SSL) for gastrointestinal malignancy along with PEL. Image frames of all detectable peritoneal lesions underwent analysis. Using Monte Carlo simulations, contrast enhancement based on the color dependence of PEL (mPEL) was assessed. The prototype performed safely, yet with limitations in illumination, fogging of the distal window, and image co-registration. Sixty-five lesions (56 presumed benign and 9 presumed malignant) from 3 patients represented the study sample. While most lesions were visible under human examination of both SSL and PEL videos, more lesions were apparent using SSL. However, this was likely due to reduced illumination under PEL. When controlling for such effects through direct comparisons of integrated (WLL) vs differential (PEL) polarization laparoscopy images, we found that PEL imaging yielded an over twofold Weber contrast enhancement over WLL. Further, enhancements in the discrimination between malignant and benign lesions were achieved by exploiting the PEL color contrast to enhance sensitivity to tissue scattering, influenced primarily by collagen. In conclusion, PEL appears safe and easy to integrate into the operating room. When controlling for the degree of illumination, image analysis suggested a potential for mPEL to provide improved visualization of metastases.

Unraveling molecular mechanisms of adaptation to complex environments is crucial to understanding tolerance of abiotic pressures and responses to climatic change. Epigenetic variation is increasingly recognized as a mechanism that can facilitate rapid responses to changing environmental cues. To investigate variation in genetic and epigenetic diversity at spatial and thermal extremes, we use whole genome and methylome sequencing to generate a high-resolution map of DNA methylation in the bumble bee Bombus vosnesenskii. We sample two populations representing spatial and environmental range extremes (a warm southern low-elevation site and a cold northern high-elevation site) previously shown to exhibit differences in thermal tolerance and determine positions in the genome that are consistently and variably methylated across samples. Bisulfite sequencing reveals methylation characteristics similar to other arthropods, with low global CpG methylation but high methylation concentrated in gene bodies and in genome regions with low nucleotide diversity. Differentially methylated sites (n = 2066) were largely hypomethylated in the northern high-elevation population but not related to local sequence differentiation. The concentration of methylated and differentially methylated sites in exons and putative promoter regions suggests a possible role in gene regulation, and this high-resolution analysis of intraspecific epigenetic variation in wild Bombus suggests that the function of methylation in niche adaptation would be worth further investigation.

All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), the retinoic acid receptors (RARs) agonist, regulates cell growth, differentiation, immunity, and survival. We report that ATRA-treatment repressed cancer growth in syngeneic immunocompetent, but not immunodeficient mice. The tumor microenvironment was implicated: CD8+ T cell depletion antagonized ATRA's anti-tumorigenic effects in syngeneic mice. ATRA-treatment with checkpoint blockade did not cooperatively inhibit murine lung cancer growth. To augment ATRA's anti-tumorigenicity without promoting its pro-tumorigenic potential, an RARγ agonist (IRX4647) was used since it regulates T cell biology. Treating with IRX4647 in combination with an immune checkpoint (anti-PD-L1) inhibitor resulted in a statistically significant suppression of syngeneic 344SQ lung cancers in mice-a model known for its resistance to checkpoints and characterized by low basal T cell and PD-L1 expression. This combined treatment notably elevated CD4+ T-cell presence within the tumor microenvironment and increased IL-5 and IL-13 tumor levels, while simultaneously decreasing CD38 in the tumor stroma. IL-5 and/or IL-13 treatments increased CD4+ more than CD8+ T-cells in mice. IRX4647-treatment did not appreciably affect in vitro lung cancer growth, despite RARγ expression. Pharmacokinetic analysis found IRX4647 plasma half-life was 6 h in mice. Yet, RARα antagonist (IRX6696)-treatment with anti-PD-L1 did not repress syngeneic lung cancer growth. Together, these findings provide a rationale for a clinical trial investigating an RARγ agonist to augment check point blockade response in cancers.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage after endoscopic skull base surgery remains a challenge despite multilayer reconstruction including nasoseptal flap (NSF) has become a standard technique. Injectable hydroxyapatite (HXA) has shown promising results to prevent CSF leakage. This study aimed to validate the efficacy of HXA-based skull base reconstruction performed by less-experienced neurosurgeons who had short-term clinical experiences as independent surgeons. Between March 2018 and November 2022, 41 patients who experienced intraoperative high-flow CSF leakage following endoscopic endonasal surgery at two independent tertiary institutions were enrolled. Skull base reconstruction was performed using conventional multilayer techniques combined with or without HXA. The primary outcome was postoperative CSF leakage. The surgical steps and nuances were described in detail. The most common pathology was craniopharyngioma. Injectable HXA was used in 22 patients (HXA group) and conventional techniques were performed in 19 patients (control group). The HXA group achieved a significantly lower incidence of postoperative CSF leakage than the control group (0% vs. 26.3%, p = 0.016). No HXA-related complications were observed. The use of injectable HXA in skull base reconstruction was highly effective and safe. This technique and its favorable results might be readily reproduced by less-experienced neurosurgeons.

Noise is present in cell biology. The capability of cells to respond to noisy environment have become essential. This study aimed to investigate whether noise can enhance the contractile response and Ca2+ handling in cardiomyocytes from a cardiomyopathy model. Experiments were conducted in an experimental setup with Gaussian white noise, frequency, and amplitude control to stimulate myocytes. Cell shortening, maximal shortening velocity, time to peak shortening, and time to half relaxation variables were recorded to cell shortening. Ca2+ transient amplitude and raise rate variables were registered to measure Ca2+ transients. Our results for cell shortening, Ca2+ transient amplitude, and raise rate suggest that cell response improve when myocytes are noise stimulated. Also, cell shortening, maximal shortening velocity, Ca2+ transient amplitude, and raise improves in control cells. Altogether, these findings suggest novel characteristics in how cells improve their response in a noisy environment.

The human-specific Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) causes typhoid fever, a systemic disease with no known reservoir. Curli fimbriae are major components of biofilm produced by Salmonella and are encoded by the csg gene cluster (csgBAC and csgDEFG). The role of curli in S. Typhi is unknown, although detection of anti-curli antibodies suggests they are produced during host infection. In this study, we investigated curli gene expression in S. Typhi. We demonstrated that the CsgD regulatory protein binds weakly to the csgB promoter. Yet, replacing S. Typhi csgD with the csgD allele from S. Typhimurium did not modify the curli negative phenotype on Congo Red medium suggesting that differential regulation of curli gene expression in S. Typhi is not dependent on modification of the CsgD regulator. The entire csg gene cluster from S. Typhimurium was also cloned into S. Typhi, but again, despite introduction of a fully functional csg gene cluster from S. Typhimurium, curli were still not detected in S. Typhi. Thus, in addition to intrinsic genomic differences in the csg gene cluster that have resulted in production of a modified CsgD protein, S. Typhi has likely undergone other changes independent of the csg gene cluster that have led to distinctive regulation of csg genes compared to other Salmonella serovars.

The spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) comprise a group of inherited neurodegenerative diseases. SCA3 is the most common form, caused by the expansion of CAG repeats within the ataxin 3 (ATXN3) gene. The mutation results in the expression of an abnormal protein, containing long polyglutamine (polyQ) stretches. The polyQ stretch confers a toxic gain of function and leads to misfolding and aggregation of ATXN3 in neurons. Thus, modulators of ATXN3 expression could potentially ameliorate the pathology in SCA3 patients. Therefore, we generated a CRISPR/Cas9 modified ATXN3-Exon4-Luciferase (ATXN3-LUC) genomic fusion- and control cell lines to perform a reporter cell line-based high-throughput screen comprising 2640 bioactive compounds, including the FDA approved drugs. We found no unequivocal inhibitors of, but identified statins as activators of the LUC signal in the ATXN3-LUC screening cell line. We further confirmed that Simvastatin treatment of wild type SK-N-SH cells increases ATXN3 mRNA and protein levels which likely results from direct binding of the activated sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) to the ATXN3 promotor. Finally, we observed an increase of normal and expanded ATXN3 protein levels in a patient-derived cell line upon Simvastatin treatment, underscoring the potential medical relevance of our findings.

While the importance of knowledge about contraceptives in improving their utilization and thereby reducing the risk of unintended pregnancies is well documented, there are limited studies documented about the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM). Thus, understanding the knowledge of postpartum mothers about LAM is essential for designing tailored interventions. This study assessed the level of knowledge about LAM and its associated factors among postpartum mothers in Ethiopia. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 3148 randomly selected postpartum participants. The study utilized multistage sampling approach in hospitals located across five regions and one city administration in Ethiopia. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews at discharge. A participant was categorized as having knowledge of LAM if she correctly answered the three LAM criteria: amenorrhea, the first 6 months, and exclusive breast feeding. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with knowledge of LAM. Variables with p < 0.25 in the binary logistic regression were included in the multiple logistic regression. Then, associations were described using the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) along with the 95% confidence interval (CI), and statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05. Only four in 10 participants (40.6%; 95% CI 38.9-42.3) had knowledge of LAM. Participants who attended college or above educational level (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.5-2.8), those with parity of two (AOR = 2.3; 95% CI 1.6-3.6) or more than two (AOR = 2.4; 95% CI 1.5-4.0), those who expressed a desire for further fertility (AOR = 1.3; 95% CI 1.1-1.5), individuals who received counselling on LAM (AOR = 3.0; 95% CI 2.6-3.7), and those who gave birth in hospital (AOR = 2.6; 95% CI 1.4-2.6) had higher odds of knowledge about LAM, compared to their counter parts. In contrary, participants resided far away from health facilities had 30% lower odd of knowledge about LAM compared to those resided near the health facilities (AOR = 0.70; 95% CI 0.6-0.8). The proportion of participants who had knowledge of LAM was low. Strengthening counseling about LAM during antenatal care and delivery with due attention to women with limited access to health facilities should be considered for increasing their level of knowledge on LAM.

The association between rosacea and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been studied in previous observational studies. It is unclear, however, whether the association is causal or not. Independent genetic variants for IBD were chosen as instruments from published Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) studies involving 38,155 cases with an IBD diagnosis and 48,485 controls in order to investigate the causal effect of IBD on rosacea. Summarized data for rosacea were gathered from various GWAS studies that included 1195 cases and 211,139 controls without rosacea. Reverse-direction Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was done to investigate the relationship between genetically proxied rosacea and IBD. With the use of the inverse variance-weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, and weighted median approaches, a 2-sample Mendelian randomization study was carried out. Analysis of heterogeneity and sensitivity was performed to examine the pleiotropy and robustness of effect estimates. The forward-direction of the MR study was to reveal that genetic predisposition to IBD including its two main subtypes: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) was associated with an increased risk of rosacea. The reverse-direction MR analyses did not demonstrate that a genetic predisposition to rosacea was associated with total IBD, UC and CD. Our findings provided evidence for a causal impact of IBD, UC, and CD on rosacea, but not vice versa. The elevated incidence of rosacea in patients with IBD should be recognized by doctors to make an early diagnosis and initiate specialized therapy.