ViT-GCN: a novel hybrid model for accurate pneumonia diagnosis from x-ray images.

This study aims to enhance the accuracy of pneumonia diagnosis from x-ray images by developing a model that integrates Vision Transformer (ViT) and Graph Convolutional Networks (GCN) for improved feature extraction and diagnostic performance. The ViT-GCN model was designed to leverage the strengths of both ViT, which captures global image information by dividing the image into fixed-size patches and processing them in sequence, and GCN, which captures node features and relationships through message passing and aggregation in graph data. A composite loss function combining multivariate cross-entropy, focal loss, and GHM loss was introduced to address dataset imbalance and improve training efficiency on small datasets.

Design, Synthesis, and Anticancer Evaluation of Novel 6-Alkynylated Harmine Derivatives.

In order to explore the effect of alkynyl introduction at the 6-position of harmine on the antitumor activity, 23 novel 6-alkynylated harmine derivatives (3a-3w) were synthesized and investigated for their anti-proliferative activity on a panel of cancer cell lines. Compound 3u demonstrated the most potent anti-proliferative activity, with IC = 0.77 µM against MDA-MB-231 cell lines.

Assessing the relationships among the initial conditions, PSD and SWCC of compacted soil.

An understanding of the mechanical properties and macroscopic behavior of unsaturated soil can be improved through an in-depth microscopic insight of the variables controlling the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC). In this study, the effects of the initial conditions on the pore structure and SWCC of silty soil was examined. Their relationships to the soil behavior during water loss was addressed from both macroscopic and microscopic perspectives.

Effect of nanosilica on the hydrological properties of loess and the microscopic mechanism.

Loess areas, such as the Loess Plateau, are characterized by a fragile ecological environment, high soil erosion, and frequent geological disasters due to the unique hydrological properties of loess (e.g., collapsibility and permeability).

Physics-Informed Neural Networks Integrating Compartmental Model for Analyzing COVID-19 Transmission Dynamics.

Modelling and predicting the behaviour of infectious diseases is essential for early warning and evaluating the most effective interventions to prevent significant harm. Compartmental models produce a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) that are renowned for simulating the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases. However, the parameters in compartmental models are often unknown, and they can even change over time in the real world, making them difficult to determine.

Epi-DNNs: Epidemiological priors informed deep neural networks for modeling COVID-19 dynamics.

Differential equations-based epidemic compartmental models and deep neural networks-based artificial intelligence (AI) models are powerful tools for analyzing and fighting the transmission of COVID-19. However, the capability of compartmental models is limited by the challenges of parameter estimation, while AI models fail to discover the evolutionary pattern of COVID-19 and lack explainability. This paper aims to provide a novel method (called Epi-DNNs) by integrating compartmental models and deep neural networks (DNNs) to model the complex dynamics of COVID-19.

Experimental Study on the Mechanical Behaviors of Aeolian Sand Treated by Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) and Basalt Fiber Reinforcement (BFR).

Aeolian sand flow is a major cause of land desertification, and it is prone to developing into a dust storm coupled with strong wind and thermal instability. The microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) technique can significantly improve the strength and integrity of sandy soils, whereas it easily leads to brittle destruction. To effectively inhibit land desertification, a method coupled with MICP and basalt fiberreinforcement (BFR) was put forward to enhance the strength and toughness of aeolian sand.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and preliminary mechanisms of 6-amino substituted harmine derivatives as potential antitumor agents.

To explore the effect of the introduction of the amino and substituted amino groups on the antitumor activity of harmine, twenty-five novel 6-amino substituted harmine derivatives (3a-3j and 5a-5o) were synthesized and evaluated for anti-proliferative activity on a panel of cancer cell lines. Compounds 3i and 5n exhibited the most potent antiproliferative activity with IC values lower than 2.2 μM.

Urban sediment pollutants alternate human cell essential behaviour through promoting oxidative damage.

The main objective of this study was to establish a human cell-based platform to assess the effects of sediment toxicity on oxidative damage and cell essential behaviour. Since sediment pollution has increased as a consequence of including but not limited to industrialisation, the contaminants accumulated in sediments have already led to human health concerns. The Hsinchu Science Park is one of the most prominent semiconductor manufacturing centres in the world, and the Ke-Ya River flows through Hsinchu Science Park and the Hsinchu urban district.

A longitudinal analysis of collapsibility with predictions over the southeastern Loess Plateau in China.

Loess presents very unique collapsible behaviour due to its special under-compactness, weak cementation and porousness. Many environmental issues and geological hazards including subgrade subsidences, slope collapses or failures, building cracking and so on are directly caused by the collapsible deformation of loess. Such collapsible behaviour may also severe accidents due to sinkholes, underground caves or loess gullies.

Construction and validation of a novel prognostic nomogram for patients with sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma: a SEER-based study.

Objective: The only one established prognostic nomogram for patients with sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma (sRCC) was based on a small sample-sized study without external validation, and a nomogram can be applied to western sRCC patients has not yet been developed. Therefore, our study aimed to construct and validate an effective nomogram to predict overall survival (OS) for these patients.

Methods: The independent predictors for OS were identified and the nomogram was constructed on the basis of a retrospective study of a training cohort consisted of 428 non-Hispanic white sRCC patients registered in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database from January 2010 to December 2015.

The near-infrared fluorescent dye IR-780 was coupled with cabazitaxel for castration-resistant prostate cancer imaging and therapy.

A new drug, Caba-780, was synthesized by chemical coupling of the heptamethyl phthalocyanine near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) dye IR-780 and the paclitaxel-based chemotherapeutic drug cabazitaxel. Then, the potential value of Caba-780 in the diagnosis and treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) was evaluated. The CRPC cell lines DU145 and PC-3, as well as the normal human prostate stromal cell line WPMY-1, were used to evaluate the uptake of Caba-780 and its antitumor effect in vitro.

The RNA-binding protein QKI suppresses tumorigenesis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma by regulating the expression of HIF-1α.

: A number of genetic and biological phenomena imply that tumorigenesis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is highly correlated with hypoxia-induced factor-1a (HIF-1α). Recently, research focusing on the post-transcriptional regulation of HIF-1α has provided a new perspective for ccRCC therapy. In this study, we observed the expression pattern of the RNA-binding protein QKI, which could regulate HIF expression in ccRCC both and .

Development and validation of a prognostic nomogram for patients with intravesical recurrence after radical nephroureterectomy for non-metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

Purpose: To develop and validate a prognostic nomogram for patients with intravesical recurrence (IVR) after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for non-metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

Methods: The clinical data of 468 patients registered in the surveillance, epidemiology and end results database between 2010 and 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine independent prognostic factors for the development of a nomogram to predict the 1-, 3-, and 5-year probability of individual cancer-specific survival (CSS).

Development and validation of a SEER-based prognostic nomogram for patients with bone metastatic prostate cancer.

Controversies exist between the previous two prognostic nomograms for patients with bone metastatic prostate cancer (PCa), and a nomogram applied to western patients has yet to be established. Thus, we aimed to build a reliable and generic nomogram to individualize prognosis.The independent prognostic factors were identified in a retrospective study of 1556 patients with bone metastatic PCa registered in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database.

Combined Aberrant Expression of NDRG2 and LDHA Predicts Hepatocellular Carcinoma Prognosis and Mediates the Anti-tumor Effect of Gemcitabine.

The Warburg effect is one of the important hallmarks of cancer. The activation of oncogene and inactivation of tumor suppressor gene contribute to the enhancement of glycolytic enzymes and the Warburg effect. The N-myc downstream regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) is a tumor suppressor gene and is frequently lost in various types of cancer.

The tumor suppressor NDRG2 cooperates with an mTORC1 inhibitor to suppress the Warburg effect in renal cell carcinoma.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, and metabolic reprogramming has a profound effect on RCC tumorigenesis. mTORC1 inhibitors are widely used in RCC treatment, yet some types of RCC cells are resistant to these compounds. Thus, clarification of the metabolic mechanism of mTORC1 inhibitors and exploration of new therapeutic approaches are urgently needed.

Deletion of discoidin domain receptor 2 attenuates renal interstitial fibrosis in a murine unilateral ureteral obstruction model.

Renal interstitial fibrosis is a common pathway of chronic kidney disease to end-stage renal disease, which is characterized by an imbalance between the synthesis and degradation of the collagen-rich extracellular matrix (ECM). While, discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) can be activated when it binds to some types of collagen. Therefore, we hypothesized that DDR2 may be a major player in renal interstitial fibrosis.

Effect of PTEN loss on metabolic reprogramming in prostate cancer cells.

The tumor suppressor gene PTEN is one of the most often deleted genes in human prostate cancer. Loss of PTEN is an important event in prostate carcinogenesis. Metabolic reprogramming induced by PTEN loss fuels malignant growth and proliferation of prostate cancer cells.

RNA-binding protein QKI regulates contact inhibition via Yes-associate protein in ccRCC.

Contact inhibition adjusts organ size to the proper size and ensures the cultured cells growing to a monolayer. By regulating the downstream coordinator YAP, the evolutionarily conserved Hippo transduction pathway attunes cell growth and death in response to cell contact inhibition, polarity, self-renewal, and differentiation. Dysregulation of this pathway is involved in various diseases such as cancer.

Androgen receptor‑mediated upregulation of quaking affects androgen receptor‑related prostate cancer development and anti‑androgen receptor therapy.

The androgen receptor (AR) has a crucial role in prostate cancer. RNA‑binding protein‑mediated post‑transcriptional regulation is important in the initiation and development of cancer. The present study attempted to elucidate the mutual association of AR and RNA‑binding protein quaking (QKI) in the development of prostate cancer.

Metal-free carbonitration of alkenes using K2S2O8.

A novel metal-free oxidative carbonitration of alkenes by a nitration and C-H functionalization cascade process has been developed. This methodology provides an efficient way to construct valuable nitro-containing oxindoles.

A mild, selective copper-catalyzed oxidative phosphonation of α-amino ketones.

A novel and selective method of simple copper-salt catalyzed phosphonation of α-amino carbonyl compounds to afford imidoylphosphonates is reported. This reaction system has a broad reaction scope. The convenient and environmentally benign process makes this protocol very attractive.

Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed dehydrogenative cyclization for synthesis of N-methylacridones.

A novel method has been developed for the synthesis of substituted N-methylacridones from 2-(N-methyl-N-phenylamino)benzaldehydes via dehydrogenative cyclization. This transformation involves two primary processes: the aldehyde first coordinates with Sc(OTf)3 and induces the aromatic electrophilic substitution (S(E)Ar) reaction to form the active intermediate N-methyl-acridin-9-ol, which is then quickly oxidized in situ to afford the acridones. Furthermore, the procedure involved is both environmental friendly and atom efficient; H2O is the only byproduct in this reaction.