In clinical practice,the microscopic examination of urine sediment is considered an important in vitro examination with many broad applications.Measuring the amount of each type of urine sediment allows for screening,...In clinical practice,the microscopic examination of urine sediment is considered an important in vitro examination with many broad applications.Measuring the amount of each type of urine sediment allows for screening,diagnosis and evaluation of kidney and urinary tract disease,providing insight into the specific type and severity.However,manual urine sediment examination is labor-intensive,time-consuming,and subjective.Traditional machine learning based object detection methods require hand-crafted features for localization and classification,which have poor generalization capabilities and are difficult to quickly and accurately detect the number of urine sediments.Deep learning based object detection methods have the potential to address the challenges mentioned above,but these methods require access to large urine sediment image datasets.Unfortunately,only a limited number of publicly available urine sediment datasets are currently available.To alleviate the lack of urine sediment datasets in medical image analysis,we propose a new dataset named UriSed2K,which contains 2465 high-quality images annotated with expert guidance.Two main challenges are associated with our dataset:a large number of small objects and the occlusion between these small objects.Our manuscript focuses on applying deep learning object detection methods to the urine sediment dataset and addressing the challenges presented by this dataset.Specifically,our goal is to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the detection algorithm and,in doing so,provide medical professionals with an automatic detector that saves time and effort.We propose an improved lightweight one-stage object detection algorithm called Discriminatory-YOLO.The proposed algorithm comprises a local context attention module and a global background suppression module,which aid the detector in distinguishing urine sediment features in the image.The local context attention module captures context information beyond the object region,while the global background suppression module emphasizes objects in uninformative backgrounds.We comprehensively evaluate our method on the UriSed2K dataset,which includes seven categories of urine sediments,such as erythrocytes(red blood cells),leukocytes(white blood cells),epithelial cells,crystals,mycetes,broken erythrocytes,and broken leukocytes,achieving the best average precision(AP)of 95.3%while taking only 10 ms per image.The source code and dataset are available at https://github.com/binghuiwu98/discriminatoryyolov5.展开更多
Fluoride and nitrate enriched groundwater are potential threats to the safety of the groundwater supply that may cause significant effects on human health and public safety,especially in aggregated population areas an...Fluoride and nitrate enriched groundwater are potential threats to the safety of the groundwater supply that may cause significant effects on human health and public safety,especially in aggregated population areas and economic hubs.This study focuses on the high F^(−)and NO_(3)^(−)concentration groundwater in Tongzhou District,Beijing,North China.A total of 36 groundwater samples were collected to analyze the hydrochemical characteristics,elucidate genetic mechanisms and evaluate the potential human health risks.The results of the analysis indicate:Firstly,most of the groundwater samples are characterized by Mg-HCO_(3) and Na-HCO_(3) with the pH ranging from 7.19 to 8.28 and TDS with a large variation across the range 471-2337 mg/L.The NO_(3)^(−)concentration in 38.89%groundwater samples and the F^(−)concentration in 66.67%groundwater samples exceed the permissible limited value.Secondly,F^(−)in groundwater originates predominantly from water-rock interactions and the fluorite dissolution,which is also regulated by cation exchange,competitive adsorption of HCO_(3)−and an alkaline environment.Thirdly,the effect of sewage disposal and agricultural activities have a significant effect on high NO3-concentration,while the high F^(−)concentration is less influenced by anthropogenic activity.The alkaline environment favors nitrification,thus being conducive to the production of NO_(3)^(−).Finally,the health risk assessment is evaluated for different population groups.The results indicate that high NO_(3)^(−)and F^(−)concentration in groundwater would have the largest threat to children’s health.The findings of this study could contribute to the provision of a scientific basis for groundwater supply policy formulation relating to public health in Tongzhou District.展开更多
The quality upgrading and deashing of inferior coal by chemical method still faces great challenges.The dangers of strong acid,strong alkali,waste water and exhaust gas as well as high cost limit its industrial produc...The quality upgrading and deashing of inferior coal by chemical method still faces great challenges.The dangers of strong acid,strong alkali,waste water and exhaust gas as well as high cost limit its industrial production.This paper systematically investigates the ash reduction and desilicification of two typical inferior coal utilizing ammonium fluoride roasting method.Under the optimal conditions,for fat coal and gas coal,the deashing rates are 69.02%and 54.13%,and the desilicification rates are 92.64%and 90.27%,respectively.The molar dosage of ammonium fluoride remains consistent for both coals;however,the gas coal,characterized by a lower ash and silica content(less than half that of the fat coal),achieves optimum deashing effect at a reduced time and temperature.The majority of silicon in coal transforms into gaseous ammonium fluorosilicate,subsequently preparing nanoscale amorphous silica with a purity of 99.90%through ammonia precipitation.Most of the fluorine in deashed coal are assigned in inorganic minerals,suggesting the possibility of further fluorine and ash removal via flotation.This research provides a green and facile route to deash inferior coal and produce nano-scale white carbon black simultaneously.展开更多
High-entropy catalysts featuring exceptional properties are,in no doubt,playing an increasingly significant role in aprotic lithium-oxygen batteries.Despite extensive effort devoted to tracing the origin of their unpa...High-entropy catalysts featuring exceptional properties are,in no doubt,playing an increasingly significant role in aprotic lithium-oxygen batteries.Despite extensive effort devoted to tracing the origin of their unparalleled performance,the relationships between multiple active sites and reaction intermediates are still obscure.Here,enlightened by theoretical screening,we tailor a high-entropy perovskite fluoride(KCoMnNiMgZnF_(3)-HEC)with various active sites to overcome the limitations of conventional catalysts in redox process.The entropy effect modulates the d-band center and d orbital occupancy of active centers,which optimizes the d–p hybridization between catalytic sites and key intermediates,enabling a moderate adsorption of LiO_(2)and thus reinforcing the reaction kinetics.As a result,the Li–O2 battery with KCoMnNiMgZnF_(3)-HEC catalyst delivers a minimal discharge/charge polarization and long-term cycle stability,preceding majority of traditional catalysts reported.These encouraging results provide inspiring insights into the electron manipulation and d orbital structure optimization for advanced electrocatalyst.展开更多
In this study, the author determined fluorine in drinking water and urine of residents who are divided into four age groups (5, 12, 35-44, 65-74 aged), living in Huangling City, Shaanxi Province and at 6 villages of Q...In this study, the author determined fluorine in drinking water and urine of residents who are divided into four age groups (5, 12, 35-44, 65-74 aged), living in Huangling City, Shaanxi Province and at 6 villages of Qin'an County, Gansu Province, P.R.China. Some residents are living in fluorine exposure areas. A total of 929 residents (463 females and 466 males) involved in the study were selected from 7 tap water systems. Drinking water samples were collected from each area and analyzed using the fluoride ion-selective method. No positive correlation relationship was found between fluorine concentrations in urine and those in drinking water in the area where the fluorine concentrations of drinking water are within the range of 1-2 mg/L. The fluorine absorbed by resistents of different ages is different in amount. With the same concentrations of fluorine in drinking water, more fluorine would be absorbed by young residents than old residents. No difference can be seen in absorption amount of fluorine among different genders.展开更多
Objective Arsenic(As) and fluoride(F) are two of the most common elements contaminating groundwater resources. A growing number of studies have found that As and F can cause neurotoxicity in infants and children, lead...Objective Arsenic(As) and fluoride(F) are two of the most common elements contaminating groundwater resources. A growing number of studies have found that As and F can cause neurotoxicity in infants and children, leading to cognitive, learning, and memory impairments. However, early biomarkers of learning and memory impairment induced by As and/or F remain unclear. In the present study, the mechanisms by which As and/or F cause learning memory impairment are explored at the multi-omics level(microbiome and metabolome).Methods We stablished an SD rats model exposed to arsenic and/or fluoride from intrauterine to adult period.Results Arsenic and/fluoride exposed groups showed reduced neurobehavioral performance and lesions in the hippocampal CA1 region. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that As and/or F exposure significantly altered the composition and diversity of the gut microbiome, featuring the Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Ruminococcus_1, Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group, [Eubacterium]_xylanophilum_group. Metabolome analysis showed that As and/or F-induced learning and memory impairment may be related to tryptophan, lipoic acid, glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acidergic(GABAergic) synapse, and arachidonic acid(AA) metabolism. The gut microbiota, metabolites, and learning memory indicators were significantly correlated.Conclusion Learning memory impairment triggered by As and/or F exposure may be mediated by different gut microbes and their associated metabolites.展开更多
At least 15% of 0.1 million people residing in 117 villages of Tamnar block (Chhattisgarh, central India) are suffering from fluorosis diseases. In this work, the contamination of F- in the environment (i.e. water, so...At least 15% of 0.1 million people residing in 117 villages of Tamnar block (Chhattisgarh, central India) are suffering from fluorosis diseases. In this work, the contamination of F- in the environment (i.e. water, soil, rock and urine) of the Tamnar block is described. The concentration variations of F-, Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Al, Mn, Fe and Zn in the groundwater are reported. The F- content in the water was ranged from 1.7 - 17 mg/L with mean value of 9.0 ± 3.7 mg/L. Fluoride was enriched up to 3-, 54-, 69- and 244-folds in the urine, soil, dust and rock, respectively. The cluster and factor analysis models were used to apportion sources of F- and other elements in the water.展开更多
Here we prepared PEO coatings on Mg alloys in silicate-NaOH-phosphate electrolyte containing different concentrations of NaF addition.The detailed microstructural characterizations combining with potentiodynamic polar...Here we prepared PEO coatings on Mg alloys in silicate-NaOH-phosphate electrolyte containing different concentrations of NaF addition.The detailed microstructural characterizations combining with potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectra(EIS)were employed to investigate the roles of fluoride in the growth and corrosion properties of PEO coating on Mg.The result shows the introduction of NaF led to a fluoride-containing nanolayer(FNL)formed at the Mg/coating interface.The FNL consists of MgO nanoparticles and insoluble MgF_(2)nanoparticles(containing rutile phase and cubic phase).The increase in the NaF concentration of the electrolyte increases the thickness and the MgF_(2)content in the FNL.When anodized in the electrolyte containing 2 g/L NaF,the formed FNL has the highest thickness of 100-200 nm along with the highest value of x of∼0.6 in(MgO)_(1-x)(MgF_(2))x resulted in the highest corrosion performance of PEO coating.In addition,when anodized in the electrolyte containing a low NaF concentration(0.4-0.8 g/L),the formed FNL was thin and discontinuous,which would decrease the pore density and increase the coating's uniformness simultaneously.展开更多
First-principles calculation of muons in ionic fluorides has been proposed recently.However,there is a considerable difference between the obtained F-μbond length and the experimental data obtained by muon spin relax...First-principles calculation of muons in ionic fluorides has been proposed recently.However,there is a considerable difference between the obtained F-μbond length and the experimental data obtained by muon spin relaxation(μSR).Considering that the difference may be caused by ignoring the quantum effect of muons,we use two-component density functional theory(TCDFT)to consider the quantized muon and recalculate the bond length and theμSR depolarization spectrum.After testing several muon-electron correlation,we show that TCDFT can give better results than the commonly used“DFT+μ”.展开更多
Elucidation of a reaction mechanism is the most critical aspect for designing electrodes for highperformance secondary batteries.Herein,we investigate the sodium insertion/extraction into an iron fluoride hydrate(FeF_...Elucidation of a reaction mechanism is the most critical aspect for designing electrodes for highperformance secondary batteries.Herein,we investigate the sodium insertion/extraction into an iron fluoride hydrate(FeF_(3)·0.5H_(2)O)electrode for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs).The electrode material is prepared by employing an ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-tetrafluoroborate,which serves as a reaction medium and precursor for F^(-)ions.The crystal structure of FeF_(3)·0.5H_(2)O is observed as pyrochlore type with large open 3-D tunnels and a unit cell volume of 1129A^(3).The morphology of FeF_(3)·0.5H_(2)O is spherical shape with a mesoporous structure.The microstructure analysis reveals primary particle size of around 10 nm.The FeF_(3)·0.5H_(2)O cathode exhibits stable discharge capacities of 158,210,and 284 mA h g^(-1) in three different potential ranges of 1.5-4.5,1.2-4.5,and 1.0-4.5 V,respectively at 0.05 C rate.The specific capacities remained stable in over 50 cycles in all three potential ranges,while the rate capability was best in the potential range of 1.5-4.5 V.The electrochemical sodium storage mechanism is studied using X-ray absorption spectroscopy,indicating higher conversion at a more discharged state.Ex-situ M?ssbauer spectroscopy strengthens the results for reversible reduction/oxidation of Fe.These results will be favorable to establish high-performance cathode materials with selective voltage window for SIBs.展开更多
It is well known that avian predators can use prey excretions such as urine and feces to track their prey, and the urine and feces of small mammalian herbivores can reflect ultraviolet (UV) light and emit fluorescent ...It is well known that avian predators can use prey excretions such as urine and feces to track their prey, and the urine and feces of small mammalian herbivores can reflect ultraviolet (UV) light and emit fluorescent light. There are still some debates as to whether UV visibility of small mammalian herbivores’ urine is used as a hunting cue by avian raptors. Some studies in Europe have demonstrated that diurnal raptors are capable of utilizing these cues to target key prey species. However, researchers in Australia have argued that raptors do not use the UV visibility of urine while hunting. To our knowledge, there are no reports from Asia concerning the ultraviolet spectral characteristics of small mammal herbivores’ urine. This study examined the UV spectral properties of urine from 6 small mammal herbivores species by comparing the UV reflectance and fluorescence spectra of urine from small mammalian herbivores living in plateau meadows, plateau shrubs, open marshland, farmland, and semi-desert grassland in China. In addition, we compared the UV spectral properties of urine from ground-dwelling species of rodents and subterranean species to determine whether ultraviolet visibility of small mammal herbivores’ urine could be used as a visual signal by Asian vole-eating raptors. The results showed that: 1) the SC<sub>370</sub> values of urine from four small mammal herbivores species were ordered as plateau pika (plateau meadow) > root voles (plateau bush) > reed voles (swampland) > Brandt’s vole (desert grassland);and 2) UV fluorescence peak intensity and the wavelengths of urine from ground-dwelling species (such as the root vole, plateau pika, or Brandt’s vole) were significantly higher than those of subterranean-dwelling species (mandarin vole and plateau zokor). These results indicate that UV visibility of small mammal herbivores’ urine may act as a visual cue for raptors.展开更多
Background: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), a prevalent bacterial infection in adults, heavily relies on cytobacteriological examination of urine (CBEU) for diagnosis. However, in resource-limited countries, accessibil...Background: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), a prevalent bacterial infection in adults, heavily relies on cytobacteriological examination of urine (CBEU) for diagnosis. However, in resource-limited countries, accessibility to CBEU remains hindered by cost and availability. This study aims to assess the utility of the Urinary Dipstick Test (UDT) in diagnosing UTIs among hospitalized patients in the context of limited resources. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2019, encompassing hospitalized patients who underwent CBEU at the bacteriology unit of Sour? Sanou University Hospital. UDT and CBEU were concurrently performed, and UDT’s analytical and diagnostic performance was evaluated against CBEU, considered the gold standard. Results: A total of 274 CBEU requests were registered, involving 274 patients (159 males) with a mean age of 45.8 ± 21.3 years (ranging from 1 to 90 years). UTI was confirmed in 90 patients, yielding a frequency of 32.85%. The UTI bacteriological profile was dominated by Enterobacteriaceae (75.23%), primarily Escherichia coli (60.55%). Nitrite and Leukocytes were positive in 54 (19.8%) and 157 (53.6%) of the samples tested. Among patients with confirmed UTI, Nitrite, and Leukocytes were positive in 30 (33%) and 71 (79%) patients respectively. UDT demonstrated variable performance based on nitrite and leukocyte combination: Sensitivity (57%-82%), Specificity (7%-98%), Positive Predictive Value (PPV) (43%-57%), Negative Predictive Value (NPV) (43%-67%). UDT performed slightly better in women (NPV = 88%) and inpatients without urinary catheters (NPV = 75% and PPV = 80%). Conclusion: This study underscores UDT’s potential utility in excluding UTIs among women, younger patients, and inpatients without urinary catheters, albeit with limited confidence. The UDT emerges as a complementary tool for UTI screening, particularly in resource-limited settings.展开更多
Vanadium flow batteries(VFBs)are considered ideal for grid-sc ale,long-duration energy storage applications owing to their decoupled output power and storage capacity,high safety,efficiency,and long cycle life.However...Vanadium flow batteries(VFBs)are considered ideal for grid-sc ale,long-duration energy storage applications owing to their decoupled output power and storage capacity,high safety,efficiency,and long cycle life.However,the widespread adoption of VFB s is hindered by the use of expensive Nafion membranes.Herein,we report a soft template-induced method to develop a porous polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF)membrane for VFB applications.By incorporating water-soluble and flexible polyethylene glycol(PEG 400)as a soft template,we induced the aggregation of hydrophilic sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone),resulting in phase separation from the hydrophobic PVDF polymer during membrane formation.This process led to the creation of a porous PVDF membrane with controllable morphologies determined by the polyethylene glycol content in the cast solution.The optimized porous PVDF membrane enabled a stable VFB performance for 200 cycles at a current density of 80 mA/cm^(2),and the VFB exhibited a Coulombic efficiency of 95.2%and a voltage efficiency of 87.8%.These findings provide valuable insights for the development of highly stable membranes for VFB applications.展开更多
The effects of fluoride ions(F^(-)) on the electrochemical behavior and coordination properties of titanium ions(Ti^(n+)) were studied in this work,by combining electrochemical and mathematical analysis as well as spe...The effects of fluoride ions(F^(-)) on the electrochemical behavior and coordination properties of titanium ions(Ti^(n+)) were studied in this work,by combining electrochemical and mathematical analysis as well as spectral techniques.The α was taken as a factor to indicate the molar concentration ratio of F^(-) and Ti^(n+).Cyclic voltammetry(CV),square wave voltammetry(SWV),and open circuit potential method(OCP)were used to study the electrochemical behavior of titanium ions under conditions of various α,and in-situ sampler was used to prepare molten salt samples when α equal to 0.0,1.0,2.0,3.0,4.0,5.0,6.0,and 8.0.And then,samples were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and Raman spectroscopy.The results showed that F^(-) in molten salt can reduce the reduction steps of titanium ions and greatly affects the proportion of valence titanium ions which making the high-valence titanium content increased and more stable.Ti^(2+) cannot be detected in the molten salt when α is higher than 3.0 and finally transferred to titanium ions with higher valence state.Investigation revealed that the mechanism behind those phenomenon is the coordination compounds(TiCl_(j) F_(i)^(m-)) forming.展开更多
BACKGROUND Maple syrup urine disease(MSUD)is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder caused by defects in the catabolism of the branched-chain amino acids(BCAAs).However,the clinical and metabolic screening is limited...BACKGROUND Maple syrup urine disease(MSUD)is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder caused by defects in the catabolism of the branched-chain amino acids(BCAAs).However,the clinical and metabolic screening is limited in identifying all MSUD patients,especially those patients with mild phenotypes or are asymptomatic.This study aims to share the diagnostic experience of an intermediate MSUD case who was missed by metabolic profiling but identified by genetic analysis.CASE SUMMARY This study reports the diagnostic process of a boy with intermediate MSUD.The proband presented with psychomotor retardation and cerebral lesions on magnetic resonance imaging scans at 8 mo of age.Preliminary clinical and metabolic profiling did not support a specific disease.However,whole exome sequencing and subsequent Sanger sequencing at 1 year and 7 mo of age identified bi-allelic pathogenic variants of the BCKDHB gene,confirming the proband as having MSUD with non-classic mild phenotypes.His clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively analyzed.According to his disease course,he was classified into an intermediate form of MSUD.His management was then changed to BCAAs restriction and metabolic monitoring conforming to MSUD.In addition,genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis were provided to his parents.CONCLUSION Our work provides diagnostic experience of an intermediate MSUD case,suggesting that a genetic analysis is important for ambiguous cases,and alerts clinicians to avoid missing patients with non-classic mild phenotypes of MSUD.展开更多
The adsorption method has the advantages of low cost,high efficiency,and environmental friendliness in treating fluorinated wastewater,and the adsorbent material is the key.This study combines the inherent anion-excha...The adsorption method has the advantages of low cost,high efficiency,and environmental friendliness in treating fluorinated wastewater,and the adsorbent material is the key.This study combines the inherent anion-exchange adsorption properties of layered double hydroxides(LDHs).Self-supported porous adsorbent materials loaded with AFm and AFt were prepared from a composite cementitious system consisting of calcium aluminate cement(CAC)and flue gas desulfurization gypsum(FGDG)by chemical foaming technique.The mineral composition of the adsorbent material was characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD)and Scanning electron microscopy(SEM).Through the static adsorption experiment,the adsorption effect of the mineral composition of the adsorbent on fluoride ions was deeply analyzed,and the adsorption mechanism was revealed.XRD and SEM showed that the main hydration phases of the composite cementitious system consisting of CAC and FGDG are AFm,AFt,AH_(3),and CaSO_(4)·2H_(2)O.FGDG accelerates the hydration process of CAC and inhibits the transformation of AFt to AFm.The AFt content increased,and the AFm content decreased or even disappeared as the amount of FGDG increased.Static adsorption experiment results showed that AFm and AFt in adsorbent materials could significantly enhance the adsorption of fluoride ions.The adsorption of F^(−)in aqueous solution by PAG tends more towards monolayer adsorption with a theoretical maximum capacity of 108.70 mg/g and is similar to the measured value of 112.77 mg/g.展开更多
BACKGROUND A noninvasive biomarker with high diagnostic performance is urgently needed for the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer(CRC).AIM To evaluate the diagnostic value of matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs)2,7 and 9...BACKGROUND A noninvasive biomarker with high diagnostic performance is urgently needed for the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer(CRC).AIM To evaluate the diagnostic value of matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs)2,7 and 9 in urine for CRC.METHODS Of 59 healthy controls,47 patients with colon polyps and 82 patients with CRC were included in this study.Carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)in serum and MMP2,MMP7,and MMP9 in urine were detected.The combined diagnostic model of the indicators was established by binary logistic regression.The receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)of the subjects was used to evaluate the independent and combined diagnostic value of the indicators.RESULTS The MMP2,MMP7,MMP9,and CEA levels in the CRC group differed significantly from levels in the healthy controls(P<0.05).The levels of MMP7,MMP9,and CEA also differed significantly between the CRC group and the colon polyps group(P<0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)distinguishing between the healthy control and the CRC patients using the joint model with CEA,MMP2,MMP7 and MMP9 was 0.977,and the sensitivity and specificity were 95.10%and 91.50%,respectively.For early-stage CRC,the AUC was 0.975,and the sensitivity and specificity were 94.30%and 98.30%,respectively.For advanced stage CRC,the AUC was 0.979,and the sensitivity and specificity were 95.70%and 91.50%,respectively.Using CEA,MMP7 and MMP9 to jointly established a model distinguishing the colorectal polyp group from the CRC group,the AUC was 0.849,and the sensitivity and specificity were 84.10%and 70.20%,respectively.For early-stage CRC,the AUC was 0.818,and the sensitivity and specificity were 76.30%and 72.30%,respectively.For advanced stage CRC,the AUC was 0.875,and the sensitivity and specificity were 81.80%and 72.30%,respectively.CONCLUSION MMP2,MMP7 and MMP 9 may exhibit diagnostic value for the early detection of CRC and may serve as auxiliary diagnostic markers for CRC.展开更多
基金This work was partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.61906168,U20A20171)Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.LY23F020023,LY21F020027)Construction of Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory for Intelligent Visual Monitoring of Hydropower Projects(Grant Nos.2022SDSJ01).
文摘In clinical practice,the microscopic examination of urine sediment is considered an important in vitro examination with many broad applications.Measuring the amount of each type of urine sediment allows for screening,diagnosis and evaluation of kidney and urinary tract disease,providing insight into the specific type and severity.However,manual urine sediment examination is labor-intensive,time-consuming,and subjective.Traditional machine learning based object detection methods require hand-crafted features for localization and classification,which have poor generalization capabilities and are difficult to quickly and accurately detect the number of urine sediments.Deep learning based object detection methods have the potential to address the challenges mentioned above,but these methods require access to large urine sediment image datasets.Unfortunately,only a limited number of publicly available urine sediment datasets are currently available.To alleviate the lack of urine sediment datasets in medical image analysis,we propose a new dataset named UriSed2K,which contains 2465 high-quality images annotated with expert guidance.Two main challenges are associated with our dataset:a large number of small objects and the occlusion between these small objects.Our manuscript focuses on applying deep learning object detection methods to the urine sediment dataset and addressing the challenges presented by this dataset.Specifically,our goal is to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the detection algorithm and,in doing so,provide medical professionals with an automatic detector that saves time and effort.We propose an improved lightweight one-stage object detection algorithm called Discriminatory-YOLO.The proposed algorithm comprises a local context attention module and a global background suppression module,which aid the detector in distinguishing urine sediment features in the image.The local context attention module captures context information beyond the object region,while the global background suppression module emphasizes objects in uninformative backgrounds.We comprehensively evaluate our method on the UriSed2K dataset,which includes seven categories of urine sediments,such as erythrocytes(red blood cells),leukocytes(white blood cells),epithelial cells,crystals,mycetes,broken erythrocytes,and broken leukocytes,achieving the best average precision(AP)of 95.3%while taking only 10 ms per image.The source code and dataset are available at https://github.com/binghuiwu98/discriminatoryyolov5.
基金supported by the project of China Geological Survey(Grant No.DD20221677-2)the fundamental research funds of Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences Basal Research Fund(Grant No.JKYQN202307).
文摘Fluoride and nitrate enriched groundwater are potential threats to the safety of the groundwater supply that may cause significant effects on human health and public safety,especially in aggregated population areas and economic hubs.This study focuses on the high F^(−)and NO_(3)^(−)concentration groundwater in Tongzhou District,Beijing,North China.A total of 36 groundwater samples were collected to analyze the hydrochemical characteristics,elucidate genetic mechanisms and evaluate the potential human health risks.The results of the analysis indicate:Firstly,most of the groundwater samples are characterized by Mg-HCO_(3) and Na-HCO_(3) with the pH ranging from 7.19 to 8.28 and TDS with a large variation across the range 471-2337 mg/L.The NO_(3)^(−)concentration in 38.89%groundwater samples and the F^(−)concentration in 66.67%groundwater samples exceed the permissible limited value.Secondly,F^(−)in groundwater originates predominantly from water-rock interactions and the fluorite dissolution,which is also regulated by cation exchange,competitive adsorption of HCO_(3)−and an alkaline environment.Thirdly,the effect of sewage disposal and agricultural activities have a significant effect on high NO3-concentration,while the high F^(−)concentration is less influenced by anthropogenic activity.The alkaline environment favors nitrification,thus being conducive to the production of NO_(3)^(−).Finally,the health risk assessment is evaluated for different population groups.The results indicate that high NO_(3)^(−)and F^(−)concentration in groundwater would have the largest threat to children’s health.The findings of this study could contribute to the provision of a scientific basis for groundwater supply policy formulation relating to public health in Tongzhou District.
文摘The quality upgrading and deashing of inferior coal by chemical method still faces great challenges.The dangers of strong acid,strong alkali,waste water and exhaust gas as well as high cost limit its industrial production.This paper systematically investigates the ash reduction and desilicification of two typical inferior coal utilizing ammonium fluoride roasting method.Under the optimal conditions,for fat coal and gas coal,the deashing rates are 69.02%and 54.13%,and the desilicification rates are 92.64%and 90.27%,respectively.The molar dosage of ammonium fluoride remains consistent for both coals;however,the gas coal,characterized by a lower ash and silica content(less than half that of the fat coal),achieves optimum deashing effect at a reduced time and temperature.The majority of silicon in coal transforms into gaseous ammonium fluorosilicate,subsequently preparing nanoscale amorphous silica with a purity of 99.90%through ammonia precipitation.Most of the fluorine in deashed coal are assigned in inorganic minerals,suggesting the possibility of further fluorine and ash removal via flotation.This research provides a green and facile route to deash inferior coal and produce nano-scale white carbon black simultaneously.
基金P.G.acknowledges the financial support from the Youth Foundation of Shandong Natural Science Foundation(No.ZR2023OB230)National Natural Science Foundation(No.22309035)Double First-class Discipline Construction Fund Project of Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai(No.2023SYLHY11).
文摘High-entropy catalysts featuring exceptional properties are,in no doubt,playing an increasingly significant role in aprotic lithium-oxygen batteries.Despite extensive effort devoted to tracing the origin of their unparalleled performance,the relationships between multiple active sites and reaction intermediates are still obscure.Here,enlightened by theoretical screening,we tailor a high-entropy perovskite fluoride(KCoMnNiMgZnF_(3)-HEC)with various active sites to overcome the limitations of conventional catalysts in redox process.The entropy effect modulates the d-band center and d orbital occupancy of active centers,which optimizes the d–p hybridization between catalytic sites and key intermediates,enabling a moderate adsorption of LiO_(2)and thus reinforcing the reaction kinetics.As a result,the Li–O2 battery with KCoMnNiMgZnF_(3)-HEC catalyst delivers a minimal discharge/charge polarization and long-term cycle stability,preceding majority of traditional catalysts reported.These encouraging results provide inspiring insights into the electron manipulation and d orbital structure optimization for advanced electrocatalyst.
文摘In this study, the author determined fluorine in drinking water and urine of residents who are divided into four age groups (5, 12, 35-44, 65-74 aged), living in Huangling City, Shaanxi Province and at 6 villages of Qin'an County, Gansu Province, P.R.China. Some residents are living in fluorine exposure areas. A total of 929 residents (463 females and 466 males) involved in the study were selected from 7 tap water systems. Drinking water samples were collected from each area and analyzed using the fluoride ion-selective method. No positive correlation relationship was found between fluorine concentrations in urine and those in drinking water in the area where the fluorine concentrations of drinking water are within the range of 1-2 mg/L. The fluorine absorbed by resistents of different ages is different in amount. With the same concentrations of fluorine in drinking water, more fluorine would be absorbed by young residents than old residents. No difference can be seen in absorption amount of fluorine among different genders.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China [No. 81773405 to Y.Q. and No. 82173644to X.Y.]Shanxi Natural Science Foundation of China [No.202203021211246 and No. 202103021224242]。
文摘Objective Arsenic(As) and fluoride(F) are two of the most common elements contaminating groundwater resources. A growing number of studies have found that As and F can cause neurotoxicity in infants and children, leading to cognitive, learning, and memory impairments. However, early biomarkers of learning and memory impairment induced by As and/or F remain unclear. In the present study, the mechanisms by which As and/or F cause learning memory impairment are explored at the multi-omics level(microbiome and metabolome).Methods We stablished an SD rats model exposed to arsenic and/or fluoride from intrauterine to adult period.Results Arsenic and/fluoride exposed groups showed reduced neurobehavioral performance and lesions in the hippocampal CA1 region. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that As and/or F exposure significantly altered the composition and diversity of the gut microbiome, featuring the Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Ruminococcus_1, Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group, [Eubacterium]_xylanophilum_group. Metabolome analysis showed that As and/or F-induced learning and memory impairment may be related to tryptophan, lipoic acid, glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acidergic(GABAergic) synapse, and arachidonic acid(AA) metabolism. The gut microbiota, metabolites, and learning memory indicators were significantly correlated.Conclusion Learning memory impairment triggered by As and/or F exposure may be mediated by different gut microbes and their associated metabolites.
文摘At least 15% of 0.1 million people residing in 117 villages of Tamnar block (Chhattisgarh, central India) are suffering from fluorosis diseases. In this work, the contamination of F- in the environment (i.e. water, soil, rock and urine) of the Tamnar block is described. The concentration variations of F-, Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Al, Mn, Fe and Zn in the groundwater are reported. The F- content in the water was ranged from 1.7 - 17 mg/L with mean value of 9.0 ± 3.7 mg/L. Fluoride was enriched up to 3-, 54-, 69- and 244-folds in the urine, soil, dust and rock, respectively. The cluster and factor analysis models were used to apportion sources of F- and other elements in the water.
基金Zhu.L.and Li.H.contributed equally to this work.This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51901121)the Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province(Grant No.2021JM-203,2019JQ-433,2020zdzx04-03-02)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.GK202103022).
文摘Here we prepared PEO coatings on Mg alloys in silicate-NaOH-phosphate electrolyte containing different concentrations of NaF addition.The detailed microstructural characterizations combining with potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectra(EIS)were employed to investigate the roles of fluoride in the growth and corrosion properties of PEO coating on Mg.The result shows the introduction of NaF led to a fluoride-containing nanolayer(FNL)formed at the Mg/coating interface.The FNL consists of MgO nanoparticles and insoluble MgF_(2)nanoparticles(containing rutile phase and cubic phase).The increase in the NaF concentration of the electrolyte increases the thickness and the MgF_(2)content in the FNL.When anodized in the electrolyte containing 2 g/L NaF,the formed FNL has the highest thickness of 100-200 nm along with the highest value of x of∼0.6 in(MgO)_(1-x)(MgF_(2))x resulted in the highest corrosion performance of PEO coating.In addition,when anodized in the electrolyte containing a low NaF concentration(0.4-0.8 g/L),the formed FNL was thin and discontinuous,which would decrease the pore density and increase the coating's uniformness simultaneously.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.12005221)。
文摘First-principles calculation of muons in ionic fluorides has been proposed recently.However,there is a considerable difference between the obtained F-μbond length and the experimental data obtained by muon spin relaxation(μSR).Considering that the difference may be caused by ignoring the quantum effect of muons,we use two-component density functional theory(TCDFT)to consider the quantized muon and recalculate the bond length and theμSR depolarization spectrum.After testing several muon-electron correlation,we show that TCDFT can give better results than the commonly used“DFT+μ”.
基金supported by the Basic Science Research Program of the National Research Foundation(NRF)of South Koreafunded by the Ministry of Science&ICT and Future Planning(NRF-2020M3H4A3081889)KIST Institutional Program of South Korea(Project Nos.2E31860)。
文摘Elucidation of a reaction mechanism is the most critical aspect for designing electrodes for highperformance secondary batteries.Herein,we investigate the sodium insertion/extraction into an iron fluoride hydrate(FeF_(3)·0.5H_(2)O)electrode for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs).The electrode material is prepared by employing an ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-tetrafluoroborate,which serves as a reaction medium and precursor for F^(-)ions.The crystal structure of FeF_(3)·0.5H_(2)O is observed as pyrochlore type with large open 3-D tunnels and a unit cell volume of 1129A^(3).The morphology of FeF_(3)·0.5H_(2)O is spherical shape with a mesoporous structure.The microstructure analysis reveals primary particle size of around 10 nm.The FeF_(3)·0.5H_(2)O cathode exhibits stable discharge capacities of 158,210,and 284 mA h g^(-1) in three different potential ranges of 1.5-4.5,1.2-4.5,and 1.0-4.5 V,respectively at 0.05 C rate.The specific capacities remained stable in over 50 cycles in all three potential ranges,while the rate capability was best in the potential range of 1.5-4.5 V.The electrochemical sodium storage mechanism is studied using X-ray absorption spectroscopy,indicating higher conversion at a more discharged state.Ex-situ M?ssbauer spectroscopy strengthens the results for reversible reduction/oxidation of Fe.These results will be favorable to establish high-performance cathode materials with selective voltage window for SIBs.
文摘It is well known that avian predators can use prey excretions such as urine and feces to track their prey, and the urine and feces of small mammalian herbivores can reflect ultraviolet (UV) light and emit fluorescent light. There are still some debates as to whether UV visibility of small mammalian herbivores’ urine is used as a hunting cue by avian raptors. Some studies in Europe have demonstrated that diurnal raptors are capable of utilizing these cues to target key prey species. However, researchers in Australia have argued that raptors do not use the UV visibility of urine while hunting. To our knowledge, there are no reports from Asia concerning the ultraviolet spectral characteristics of small mammal herbivores’ urine. This study examined the UV spectral properties of urine from 6 small mammal herbivores species by comparing the UV reflectance and fluorescence spectra of urine from small mammalian herbivores living in plateau meadows, plateau shrubs, open marshland, farmland, and semi-desert grassland in China. In addition, we compared the UV spectral properties of urine from ground-dwelling species of rodents and subterranean species to determine whether ultraviolet visibility of small mammal herbivores’ urine could be used as a visual signal by Asian vole-eating raptors. The results showed that: 1) the SC<sub>370</sub> values of urine from four small mammal herbivores species were ordered as plateau pika (plateau meadow) > root voles (plateau bush) > reed voles (swampland) > Brandt’s vole (desert grassland);and 2) UV fluorescence peak intensity and the wavelengths of urine from ground-dwelling species (such as the root vole, plateau pika, or Brandt’s vole) were significantly higher than those of subterranean-dwelling species (mandarin vole and plateau zokor). These results indicate that UV visibility of small mammal herbivores’ urine may act as a visual cue for raptors.
文摘Background: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), a prevalent bacterial infection in adults, heavily relies on cytobacteriological examination of urine (CBEU) for diagnosis. However, in resource-limited countries, accessibility to CBEU remains hindered by cost and availability. This study aims to assess the utility of the Urinary Dipstick Test (UDT) in diagnosing UTIs among hospitalized patients in the context of limited resources. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2019, encompassing hospitalized patients who underwent CBEU at the bacteriology unit of Sour? Sanou University Hospital. UDT and CBEU were concurrently performed, and UDT’s analytical and diagnostic performance was evaluated against CBEU, considered the gold standard. Results: A total of 274 CBEU requests were registered, involving 274 patients (159 males) with a mean age of 45.8 ± 21.3 years (ranging from 1 to 90 years). UTI was confirmed in 90 patients, yielding a frequency of 32.85%. The UTI bacteriological profile was dominated by Enterobacteriaceae (75.23%), primarily Escherichia coli (60.55%). Nitrite and Leukocytes were positive in 54 (19.8%) and 157 (53.6%) of the samples tested. Among patients with confirmed UTI, Nitrite, and Leukocytes were positive in 30 (33%) and 71 (79%) patients respectively. UDT demonstrated variable performance based on nitrite and leukocyte combination: Sensitivity (57%-82%), Specificity (7%-98%), Positive Predictive Value (PPV) (43%-57%), Negative Predictive Value (NPV) (43%-67%). UDT performed slightly better in women (NPV = 88%) and inpatients without urinary catheters (NPV = 75% and PPV = 80%). Conclusion: This study underscores UDT’s potential utility in excluding UTIs among women, younger patients, and inpatients without urinary catheters, albeit with limited confidence. The UDT emerges as a complementary tool for UTI screening, particularly in resource-limited settings.
基金financially supported by Open Fund of Material Corrosion and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province of China(No.2020CL09)Hunan Key Laboratory of Applied Environmental Photocatalysis(No.2214503)。
文摘Vanadium flow batteries(VFBs)are considered ideal for grid-sc ale,long-duration energy storage applications owing to their decoupled output power and storage capacity,high safety,efficiency,and long cycle life.However,the widespread adoption of VFB s is hindered by the use of expensive Nafion membranes.Herein,we report a soft template-induced method to develop a porous polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF)membrane for VFB applications.By incorporating water-soluble and flexible polyethylene glycol(PEG 400)as a soft template,we induced the aggregation of hydrophilic sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone),resulting in phase separation from the hydrophobic PVDF polymer during membrane formation.This process led to the creation of a porous PVDF membrane with controllable morphologies determined by the polyethylene glycol content in the cast solution.The optimized porous PVDF membrane enabled a stable VFB performance for 200 cycles at a current density of 80 mA/cm^(2),and the VFB exhibited a Coulombic efficiency of 95.2%and a voltage efficiency of 87.8%.These findings provide valuable insights for the development of highly stable membranes for VFB applications.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51804277)the State Key Laboratory of Complex Nonferrous Metal Resources Clean Utilization,China(No.CNMRCUKF2008)+1 种基金the State Key Laboratory of Special Rare Metal Materials,China(No.SKL2020K004)the Northwest Rare Metal Materials Research Institute,China。
文摘The effects of fluoride ions(F^(-)) on the electrochemical behavior and coordination properties of titanium ions(Ti^(n+)) were studied in this work,by combining electrochemical and mathematical analysis as well as spectral techniques.The α was taken as a factor to indicate the molar concentration ratio of F^(-) and Ti^(n+).Cyclic voltammetry(CV),square wave voltammetry(SWV),and open circuit potential method(OCP)were used to study the electrochemical behavior of titanium ions under conditions of various α,and in-situ sampler was used to prepare molten salt samples when α equal to 0.0,1.0,2.0,3.0,4.0,5.0,6.0,and 8.0.And then,samples were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and Raman spectroscopy.The results showed that F^(-) in molten salt can reduce the reduction steps of titanium ions and greatly affects the proportion of valence titanium ions which making the high-valence titanium content increased and more stable.Ti^(2+) cannot be detected in the molten salt when α is higher than 3.0 and finally transferred to titanium ions with higher valence state.Investigation revealed that the mechanism behind those phenomenon is the coordination compounds(TiCl_(j) F_(i)^(m-)) forming.
基金Supported by the Guangzhou Science Technology and Innovation Commission,No.202102020133。
文摘BACKGROUND Maple syrup urine disease(MSUD)is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder caused by defects in the catabolism of the branched-chain amino acids(BCAAs).However,the clinical and metabolic screening is limited in identifying all MSUD patients,especially those patients with mild phenotypes or are asymptomatic.This study aims to share the diagnostic experience of an intermediate MSUD case who was missed by metabolic profiling but identified by genetic analysis.CASE SUMMARY This study reports the diagnostic process of a boy with intermediate MSUD.The proband presented with psychomotor retardation and cerebral lesions on magnetic resonance imaging scans at 8 mo of age.Preliminary clinical and metabolic profiling did not support a specific disease.However,whole exome sequencing and subsequent Sanger sequencing at 1 year and 7 mo of age identified bi-allelic pathogenic variants of the BCKDHB gene,confirming the proband as having MSUD with non-classic mild phenotypes.His clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively analyzed.According to his disease course,he was classified into an intermediate form of MSUD.His management was then changed to BCAAs restriction and metabolic monitoring conforming to MSUD.In addition,genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis were provided to his parents.CONCLUSION Our work provides diagnostic experience of an intermediate MSUD case,suggesting that a genetic analysis is important for ambiguous cases,and alerts clinicians to avoid missing patients with non-classic mild phenotypes of MSUD.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52279138)supported by Scientific Research Project of Shanxi Province(2018SF-367).
文摘The adsorption method has the advantages of low cost,high efficiency,and environmental friendliness in treating fluorinated wastewater,and the adsorbent material is the key.This study combines the inherent anion-exchange adsorption properties of layered double hydroxides(LDHs).Self-supported porous adsorbent materials loaded with AFm and AFt were prepared from a composite cementitious system consisting of calcium aluminate cement(CAC)and flue gas desulfurization gypsum(FGDG)by chemical foaming technique.The mineral composition of the adsorbent material was characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD)and Scanning electron microscopy(SEM).Through the static adsorption experiment,the adsorption effect of the mineral composition of the adsorbent on fluoride ions was deeply analyzed,and the adsorption mechanism was revealed.XRD and SEM showed that the main hydration phases of the composite cementitious system consisting of CAC and FGDG are AFm,AFt,AH_(3),and CaSO_(4)·2H_(2)O.FGDG accelerates the hydration process of CAC and inhibits the transformation of AFt to AFm.The AFt content increased,and the AFm content decreased or even disappeared as the amount of FGDG increased.Static adsorption experiment results showed that AFm and AFt in adsorbent materials could significantly enhance the adsorption of fluoride ions.The adsorption of F^(−)in aqueous solution by PAG tends more towards monolayer adsorption with a theoretical maximum capacity of 108.70 mg/g and is similar to the measured value of 112.77 mg/g.
基金Supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China,No.2020YFC2004604 and 2020YFC2002700.
文摘BACKGROUND A noninvasive biomarker with high diagnostic performance is urgently needed for the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer(CRC).AIM To evaluate the diagnostic value of matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs)2,7 and 9 in urine for CRC.METHODS Of 59 healthy controls,47 patients with colon polyps and 82 patients with CRC were included in this study.Carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)in serum and MMP2,MMP7,and MMP9 in urine were detected.The combined diagnostic model of the indicators was established by binary logistic regression.The receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)of the subjects was used to evaluate the independent and combined diagnostic value of the indicators.RESULTS The MMP2,MMP7,MMP9,and CEA levels in the CRC group differed significantly from levels in the healthy controls(P<0.05).The levels of MMP7,MMP9,and CEA also differed significantly between the CRC group and the colon polyps group(P<0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)distinguishing between the healthy control and the CRC patients using the joint model with CEA,MMP2,MMP7 and MMP9 was 0.977,and the sensitivity and specificity were 95.10%and 91.50%,respectively.For early-stage CRC,the AUC was 0.975,and the sensitivity and specificity were 94.30%and 98.30%,respectively.For advanced stage CRC,the AUC was 0.979,and the sensitivity and specificity were 95.70%and 91.50%,respectively.Using CEA,MMP7 and MMP9 to jointly established a model distinguishing the colorectal polyp group from the CRC group,the AUC was 0.849,and the sensitivity and specificity were 84.10%and 70.20%,respectively.For early-stage CRC,the AUC was 0.818,and the sensitivity and specificity were 76.30%and 72.30%,respectively.For advanced stage CRC,the AUC was 0.875,and the sensitivity and specificity were 81.80%and 72.30%,respectively.CONCLUSION MMP2,MMP7 and MMP 9 may exhibit diagnostic value for the early detection of CRC and may serve as auxiliary diagnostic markers for CRC.
