A visually secure image encryption method based on semi-tensor product compressed sensing and IWT-HD-SVD embedding

The conventional approach for images encryption entails transforming a regular image into an encrypted image that resembles noise. However, this noise-like encrypted image is susceptible to drawing the attention of an attacker when transmitted through a public channel. Hence, there has been a recent surge in the interest of academics towards visually secure image encryption techniques. In a broad sense, encryption methods that include visual significance should prioritize four key elements: the resemblance between the cypher picture and the carrier image, the capacity for embedding, the attainment of good recovery quality, and resilience against many forms of attacks. To address the issues pertaining to inadequate visual security, limited resistance against attacks, and subpar quality of reconstructed images observed in contemporary image encryption and compression methodologies. This paper proposes a visually secure image encryption method based on improved semi-tensor product compressed sensing, two-way cross zigzag obfuscation, and IWT-HD-SVD embedding. Firstly, the plain image is sparsely represented in the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) domain, and a two-way cross zigzag mismatch strategy is proposed to disarrange the coefficient vectors. Then the plain image is encrypted as a secret image by the improved semi-tensor product compression sensing technique. After that, IWT-HD-SVD embedding technique is proposed to embed the secret image into the carrier image to generate the final meaningful cryptographic image. This dramatically improves the visual security of the cryptographic image. Simulation results show that the quality of the decrypted image is approximately 36 dB and up to 44 dB. In addition, the cryptographic image is highly robust against common noise attacks of 0.05 %.

Choroidal thickness in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy, as determined by swept-source optical coherence tomography

AIM

This study used swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) to investigate subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) who displayed different levels of disease activity and severity.

METHODS

Thirty patients with TAO (60 eyes) and 38 healthy controls (67 eyes) in Shanghai, China, were recruited for this study. Disease activity and severity were graded using European Group on Graves' Orbitopathy standardised criteria. SFCT values were determined by SS-OCT.

RESULTS

In total, 129 eyes were included in the final analysis. The mean SFCT was significantly thicker among patients with active disease (276.23±84.01 µm) than among patients with inactive disease (224.68±111.61 µm; p=0.049) or healthy controls (223.56±78.69 µm; p=0.01). There were no differences in SFCT among patients with moderate-to-severe disease, patients with severe disease and healthy controls (p>0.05). Changes in SFCT demonstrated strong predictive ability to distinguish active TAO from inactive TAO (area under the curve=0.659, 95% CI 0.496 to 0.822).

CONCLUSIONS

SFCT was strongly associated with Clinical Activity Score in patients with TAO. Choroidal thickening was observed during active TAO. SS-OCT offers a non-invasive method for follow-up assessment.

Generation of fruit and vegetable wastes in the farmers' market and its influencing factors: A case study from Hangzhou, China

There remains little understanding of fruit and vegetable wastage and the influencing factors within retail. This study aimed to examine the processes contributing to vegetable and fruit wastage in traditional farmers' markets widely existing in China, Thailand, and South Korea, with the farmers' market in Hangzhou, China used as a case study. Questionnaires and follow-up surveys were conducted with the market stakeholders (market managers, retailers, and market cleaners) from April 2021 to January 2022. The results showed that the categories of discarded fruits and vegetables were related to their sales varieties, with leaf vegetables and bananas constituting the categories of vegetables and fruit with the most daily wastage. Wastage of fruits and vegetables mostly occurred in the morning. However, there was seasonal variation in fruit and vegetable wastage, with wastage in summer exceeding that in winter. The quantity of fruit and vegetable wastage was related to the size of the farmers' market. The volume of sales was also shown to be positively correlated to wastage. The analysis showed that the rank of factors influencing fruit and vegetable sales was: market service community size > appearance of fruits and vegetables > weather > market environment > fruit and vegetable price > fruit and vegetable origin. Finally, most stakeholders were motivated to reduce wastage, with their motivations including ethics, legal requirements, and economic reasons. The results of this study can act as an important reference for improving the management fruit and vegetable waste.

The Relationship Between Postgraduates' Emotional Intelligence and Well-Being: The Chain Mediating Effect of Social Support and Psychological Resilience

Background

Postgraduates usually face more life challenges than undergraduate students, including social, emotional and financial issues, and the prevalence of mental health problems in postgraduates is higher than undergraduates. Therefore, the attention on postgraduates' mental health status is needed.

Objectives

The current study explored the relationship between postgraduates' emotional intelligence and well-being by investigating the mediating effects of social support and psychological resilience and the relationship between them through the construction of a chain mediation model.

Method

1,228 postgraduates completed the Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Social Support Rate Scale, the Psychological Resilience Scale, and the Subject Well-being Scale.

Results

There is a chain effect between postgraduates' social support and psychological resilience mediated by their emotional intelligence and well-being, with a total effect value of 0.049.

Conclusion

Emotional intelligence has a predictive effect on postgraduates' well-being. The mechanism of this effect includes the indirect effects of social support and psychological resilience. Study results revealed the relationship mechanism between emotional intelligence and postgraduates' well-being, and provide reference for explorations of how to development postgraduates' emotional intelligence and further improving their abilities to strengthen their emotional resilience.

Noninvasive prenatal prediction of fetal haplotype with Spearman rank correlation analysis model

Background

Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) has been widely used clinically to detect fetal chromosomal aneuploidy with high accuracy rates, gradually replacing traditional serological screening. However, the application of NIPT for monogenic diseases is still in an immature stage of exploration. The detection of mutations in peripheral blood of pregnant women requires precise qualitative and quantitative techniques, which limits its application. The bioinformatic strategies based on the SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) linkage analysis are more practical, which can be divided into two types depending on whether proband information is needed. Hidden Markov Mode (HMM) and Sequential probability ratio test (SPRT) are suitable for families with probands. In contrast, methods based on databases and population demographic information are suitable for families without probands.

Methods

In this study, we proposed a Spearman rank correlation analysis method to infer the fetal haplotypes based on core family information. Allele frequencies of SNPs that were used to construct parental haplotypes were calculated as sets of nonparametric variables, in contrast to their theoretical values represented by a fetal fraction (FF). The effects on the calculation of the fetal concentration of two DNA enrichment methods, multiple‐PCR amplification, and targeted hybrid capture, were compared, and the heterozygosity distribution of SNPs within pedigrees was analyzed to reveal the best conditions for the model application.

Results

Predictions of the paternal haplotype inheritance were in line with expectations for both DNA library construction methods, while for maternal haplotype inheritance prediction, the rates were 96.55% for method multiple‐PCR amplification and 95.8% for method targeted hybrid capture.

Conclusion

Positive prediction rates showed that the maternal haplotype prediction was not as accurate as paternal one, due to the large amount of maternal noise in the mother's peripheral blood. Although this model is relatively immature, it provides a new perspective for noninvasive prenatal clinical tests of monogenic diseases.

Preparation and catalytic property of composite ionic liquid immobilized on SBA-15

In this work, we report a more simple and efficient way to synthesize a composite ionic liquid (IL) ([BMIM][Zn2Br5]) by directly coupling the IL with molecular sieves. Two kinds of immobilized catalysts were successfully synthesized: SBA-15-[BMIM][Zn2Br5] and SBA-15-CPTES-[BMIM][Zn2Br5]. The catalysts were used to catalyze the cycloaddition reaction of continuous transformation of CO2 and propylene oxide, and the catalytic performance of catalysts was further studied. Compared with the traditional IL catalysts, the catalysts not only have excellent catalytic performance, but also have a significantly longer service life. This is because the catalysts are formed by a high energy chemical bond of silane between IL catalysts and molecular sieves, which can effectively solve the problem of the loss of IL active components in the catalytic process.

Evaluation of extraocular muscles in patients with thyroid associated ophthalmopathy using apparent diffusion coefficient measured by magnetic resonance imaging before and after radiation therapy

BACKGROUND

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is an autoimmune orbital disease characterized by edema of extraocular muscles (EOMs).

PURPOSE

To characterize the inflammation of EOMs in patients with TAO before and after radiation therapy using apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and to analyze the correlation between ADC and clinical activity of TAO.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The ADCs of superior rectus (SR), inferior rectus (IR), medial rectus (MR), and lateral rectus (LR) muscles were measured in 52 eyes of 26 patients with TAO before and three months after orbital radiation therapy. In addition, 38 eyes of 20 healthy volunteers were included. The clinical activity score (CAS) was evaluated. The ADC maps were reconstructed and measured on the coronal diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequence and calculated in mm²/s.

RESULTS

The mean ADCs of EOMs before treatment were 1.42 ± 0.23 in SR, 1.37 ± 0.23 in IR, 1.41 ± 0.21 in MR, and 1.28 ± 0.25 in LR. The mean ADCs after treatment were 1.27 ± 0.18, 1.22 ± 0.26, 1.30 ± 0.22, and 1.15 ± 0.21, respectively. The ADCs were significantly decreased after treatment (all P < 0.001). The ADCs of patients with TAO were significantly higher than those of controls. There was a statistically significant correlation between the mean ADCs and the CAS in each patient with TAO both before and after treatment (before: r = 0.520; P < 0.001; after: r = 0.625; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The ADC values of EOMs can be exploited as a quantitative indicator to evaluate the clinical activity and monitor the therapeutic responses of patients with TAO.

The Preventive Effect of IL-1beta Antagonist on Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Objective:

To investigate the relationship between Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) using animal models.

Materials:

The rat model of diabetic neuropathy was induced by intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) at 65mg/kg. Diabetic rats were randomly divided into two groups (10 each), one treated with 0.9% saline (DMS group) and the other with interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) at 50mg/kg (DMI group) twice a day for 5 weeks. Ten normal rats matched for weight, age and sex served as normal controls (Con group) and were treated with saline. Morphologic studies of sciatic nerves were achieved using light and transmission electron microscopy.

Results:

Transmission electron microscopy of the sciatic nerve showed the ultrastructure of myelin and the axon in the IL-1RA group was highly protected compared to diabetic controls.

Conclusions:

High levels of circulating IL-1beta may be associated with the risk of DPN and anti-IL-1 treatment may provide a potential strategy for the prevention of diabetic neuropathy.

Temperature-dependent study of Fermi resonance of CH3CN and CH3CN---Li+ complex in CH3CN-LiClO4 mixture by Raman spectroscopy

The Raman spectra of acetonitrile-LiClO₄ mixture solution have been measured in the temperature range 20 to -196 °C at ambient pressure. Detailed Raman spectroscopy analysis revealed that, in acetonitrile-LiClO₄ mixture solution, the liquid CH₃CN transformed into solid phase β at approximately -50 °C, and then into solid phase α at approximately -60 °C. Besides, the Fermi resonance parameters of CH₃CN and CH₃CN---Li⁺ complex at different temperatures were calculated by using the Bertran's equations, respectively. It was found that the Fermi resonance coefficient W of CH₃CN---Li⁺ complex was not sensitive to the variation of temperature from 20 to -45 °C. In the case of CH₃CN, however, the Fermi resonance coefficient W decreased from the temperature of 20 to -196 °C during which a sudden increase was observed at the temperature of -50 °C coinciding with the temperature of phase transition from liquid to solid phase β. Finally, the temperature induced precipitation behavior of LiClO₄ and the structural evolution of CH₃CN on the Fermi resonance have been analyzed.

The impact on glycemic control through progressive resistance training with bioDensityTM in Chinese elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: The PReTTy2 (Progressive Resistance Training in Type 2 Diabetes) Trial

AIMS

To evaluate the effects of a novel, low-volume, high-intensity Progressive Resistance Training (PRT) technique on blood glucose control in elderly Chinese patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The PReTTy2 trial enrolled 300 male and female patients with Type 2 Diabetes in a randomized resistance training program with the bioDensity™ technique. 100 were control patients with no training intervention and 200 had resistance training. Anthropometry, biochemical parameters, HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were measured at baseline, 3-month and 6-month intervals.

RESULTS

265 patients completed the study with no adverse events. There were no statistically significant differences in HbA1c for all patients, control and PRT groups, at baseline (p = 0.60), 3 months (p = 0.42) and 6-months (p = 0.45). Subgroup analysis with baseline HbA1c > 7.5% (58 mmol/mol), showed statistically significant differences in HbA1c and FPG between groups at 6 months (p < 0.05). All PRT group patients had statistically significant differences from baseline at 6 months for HDL (1.25 + 0.32 vs. 1.17 + 0.26 mmol/L, p < 0.001), LDL (3.23 ± 0.89 vs. 2.93 ± 0.80 mmol/L, p < 0.001) and total cholesterol (4.97 ± 1.22 vs. 4.58 ± 1.03 mmol/L, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

PRT improves glycemic indices in elderly patients with Type 2 Diabetes with poor glucose control as an adjunct to diet and medication. Progressive Resistance Training with bioDensity™ is feasible, safe and effective in elderly patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Design of Three-Dimensional Scaffolds with Tunable Matrix Stiffness for Directing Stem Cell Lineage Specification: An In Silico Study

Tissue engineering is a multi-disciplinary area of research bringing together the fields of engineering and life sciences with the aim of fabricating tissue constructs aiding in the regeneration of damaged tissues and organs. Scaffolds play a key role in tissue engineering, acting as the templates for tissue regeneration and guiding the growth of new tissue. The use of stem cells in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine becomes indispensable, especially for applications involving successful long-term restoration of continuously self-renewing tissues, such as skin. The differentiation of stem cells is controlled by a number of cues, of which the nature of the substrate and its innate stiffness plays a vital role in stem cell fate determination. By tuning the substrate stiffness, the differentiation of stem cells can be directed to the desired lineage. Many studies on the effect of substrate stiffness on stem cell differentiation has been reported, but most of those studies are conducted with two-dimensional (2D) substrates. However, the native in vivo tissue microenvironment is three-dimensional (3D) and life science researchers are moving towards 3D cell cultures. Porous 3D scaffolds are widely used by the researchers for 3D cell culture and the properties of such scaffolds affects the cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation. To this end, the design of porous scaffolds directly influences the stem cell fate determination. There exists a need to have 3D scaffolds with tunable stiffness for directing the differentiation of stem cells into the desired lineage. Given the limited number of biomaterials with all the desired properties, the design of the scaffolds themselves could be used to tune the matrix stiffness. This paper is an in silico study, investigating the effect of various scaffold parameter, namely fiber width, porosity, number of unit cells per layer, number of layers, and material selection, on the matrix stiffness, thereby offering a guideline for design of porous tissue engineering scaffolds with tunable matrix stiffness for directing stem cell lineage specification.

Therapeutic effects of Lactobacillus in treating irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

As the lack of reliable treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) prompts interest in the development of new therapies, we aimed to systematically evaluate the effect of Lactobacillus in treating this disease.

METHODS

We searched MEDLIINE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for the period from 1966 to August 2013 for double-blind, placebo-controlled trials investigating the efficacy of Lactobacillus treatment in the management of IBS. The studies were screened for inclusion based on randomization, controls and reported measurable outcomes. We used the Jadad score to assess the quality of the articles. The STATA 11.0 and Revman 5.0 software packages were used for the meta-analysis. The STATA 11.0 software program was also used to assess indicators of publication bias according to Begg's and Egger's tests.

RESULTS

Six randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials met the criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The Jadad score of the articles was >3, and three articles were of high quality. We analyzed the heterogeneity of the studies and found no heterogeneity in the meta-analysis. In the forest plot, the diamond was on the right side of the vertical line and did not intersect with the line. The pooled relative risk for clinical improvement with Lactobacillus treatment was 7.69 (95% confidence interval: 2.33-25.43, p=0.0008). For adults, the pooled relative risk for clinical improvement with Lactobacillus treatment was 17.62 (95% confidence interval: 5.12-60.65, p<0.00001). For children, the pooled relative risk for clinical improvement with Lactobacillus treatment was 3.71 (95% confidence interval:1.05-13.11, p=0.04). Using the STATA 10.0 and Revman 5.0 software programs, we confirmed that Lactobacillus exhibited significant efficacy in treating IBS.

CONCLUSION

Compared with the placebo, Lactobacillus treatment was found to be associated with a significantly higher rate of treatment responders in the overall population with IBS, without any side effects. As to limitations of the analysis, additional research is needed.

Jejunal lipoma concealing intestinal adenocarcinoma: don't always regard CT imaging features like lipoma as benign or pseudomalignant features

Lipomas are benign submucosal tumors composed of mature adipose tissue. Some authors have described patients with persistent abdominal pain who were misdiagnosed as intestinal adenocarcinoma and the diagnosis turned out to be a lipoma on histological examination. We discuss the case of a 57-year-old woman presenting with abdominal pain for 4 weeks. Intestinal adenocarcinoma was found by double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE), but at first only lipoma was found by CT scan. Therefore we want to emphasize that lipoma should not always be regarded as pseudomalignant features, sometimes lipoma conceals intestinal adenocarcinoma, and DBE may be a better way to discover malignancy.

Small intestine Crohn's disease presenting as fever mistaken for adult onset Still's disease

Crohn's disease (CD) is not rare in recent years, but it is sometimes difficult to make a definite diagnosis particularly if it is in the small intestine. We report a patient with fever for 8 months whose disease was mistaken to be Adult onset Still's disease. The patient was diagnosed small intestine Crohn's disease at last by pathology. We want to emphasize that doctors should not forget small intestine Crohn's disease when encountering an unidentified feverish patient, they should not diagnose a feverish patient of Adult onset Still's disease at once. It is important to note that corticosteroids can conceal many diseases and they should not be considered lightly even if the patient is diagnosed with Adult onset Still's disease.

The reform of the rural cooperative medical system in the People's Republic of China: interim experience in 14 pilot counties

During the 1960's and 1970's the Chinese government encouraged the 'rural cooperative medical systems' (RCMS), in order to ensure access to basic health care among the rural population. There was a break in the development of the RCMS in the early 1980's, as a consequence of market economic reforms. These reforms involved a shift from a communal to a household production system. As a result the collective way of financing rural health care was more or less abandoned. However, the government of the People's Republic of China was aware of the need to provide social protection against health care expenses. In March 1994 the government initiated a project to reestablish the RCMS. This project was implemented on a pilot basis in 14 counties of seven provinces. The reestablishment of the RCMS would be guided by the basic principles of health insurance. In October 1995, a first mid-term evaluation of the RCMS Project was held. One of the major research questions concerned the extent to which the RCMS had reduced the risk of paying health care bills that would otherwise be a burden on families. This article addresses this question and assesses the results obtained after two years of RCMS experimental work. A general finding is that the population structure by occupation and income varies, and that the RCMS has adapted itself to this variety. It is also confirmed that the burden of health care costs on families was reduced, more so in some counties than in others, but this reduction has been modest. The research results indicate that there is ample room for improvement. The outlook is hopeful, however. At the national level, there is now systematic thinking about RCMS. The current RCMS work is also having a considerable influence on other counties that are keen to reestablish the RCMS.