Image enhancement of color fundus photographs for age-related macular degeneration:the Shanghai Changfeng Study

AIM:To develop and evaluate a new fundus image optimization software based on red,green,blue channels(RGB) for the evaluation of age-related macular degeneration(AMD) in the Chinese population.METHODS:Fundus images that were diagnosed as AMD from the Shanghai Changfeng Study database were analyzed to develop a standardized optimization procedure.Image brightness,contrast,and color balance were measured.Differences between central lesion area and normal retinal area under different image brightness,contrast,and color balance were observed.The optimal optimization parameters were determined based on the visual system to avoid image distortion.A paired-sample diagnostic test was used to evaluate the enhancement software.Fundus optical coherence tomography(OCT) was used as the gold standard.Diagnostic performances were compared between original images and optimized images using Mc Nemar’s test.RESULTS:A fundus image optimization procedure was developed using 86 fundus images of 74 subjects diagnosed with AMD.By observing gray-scale images,choroid can be best displayed in red channel and retina in green channel was found.There was limited information in blue channel.Totally 104 participants were included in the paired sample diagnostic test to assess the performance of the optimization software.After the image enhancement,sensitivity increased from 74% to 88%(P=0.008),specificity decreased slightly from 88% to 84%(P=0.500),and Youden index increased by 0.11.CONCLUSION:The standardized image optimization software increases diagnostic sensitivity and may help ophthalmologists in AMD diagnosis and screening.

Red organic light-emitting diodes based photobiomodulation therapy enabling prominent hair growth

Hair loss can cause psychological distress.Here,red organic light-emitting diode(OLED)light source is first introduced as the photobiomodulation therapy(PBMT)for hair growth and demonstrated as a promising and non-invasive therapeutic modality for alopecia.OLED exhibits unique advantages of homogeneous irradiation,flexible in form factor,less heat generation.These features enable OLED to be an ideal candidate for wearable PBMT light sources.A systematic study of using red OLEDs to facilitate hair growth was conducted.The results show that OLEDs excellently promote hair regrowth.OLED irradiation can increase the length of the hair by a factor of 1.5 as compared to the control,the hair regrowth area is enlarged by over 3 times after 20 days of treatments.Moreover,the mechanism of OLED that stimulates hair follicle regeneration is investigated invivo by conducting a systematic controlled experiments on mice with or without OLED PBMT.Based on the comprehensive histological and immunofluorescence staining studies,two key factors are identified for red OLEDs to facilitate hair follicle regeneration:(i)increased autophagy during the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle;(ii)increased blood oxygen content promoted by the accelerated microvascular blood flow.

Facile Fabrication of High-performance Polyimide Nanocomposites with in situ Formed“Impurity-free”Dispersants

Polyimide/carbon black（PI/CB） nanocomposite films were fabricated via the direct ball-milling method with poly（amic acid）（PAA）, the precursor of PI, as an in situ formed impurity-free dispersant. FTIR and Raman spectral results reveal that, besides physical adsorption, chemical grafting of PAA chains onto the CB surface occurs during the ball-milling process. Comparative studies show that introduction of various commercial dispersants improves the dispersion of CB. However, the mixtures exhibit poor reproducibility, unstable electrical properties, and decreased tensile strength; these issues may be attributed to interfacial pollution brought about by differences in the chemical structures of the dispersant and the matrix. The impurity-free dispersant is effective not only in ensuring the uniform dispersion of CB particles but also in enhancing filler-matrix interfacial adhesion. High-molecular weight PAA chains are effective reagents for impurity-free modification and can therefore be used to improve the electrical and mechanical properties of the resultant composite.

Research status of lacustrine mudrock deposition constrained from astronomical forcing

The sources,transportation and depositional processes of lacustrine mudrock are still poorly understood.Existing studies have demonstrated the controlling effect of astronomical forcing on lacustrine mudrock deposition,but its depositional mechanism and evolution are still not systematically investigated.Most research related to astronomical forcing exclusively highlights the sedimentation of carbonate rocks in deep-water lacustrine setting,with insufficient attention paid to the thick organic-rich,deep-lake mudrock.With the increasing interest in exploration and development of shale oil and gas accumulations,it is urgent to deeply understand depositional rules of lacustrine mudrock.This study reviews sediment sources,depositional mechanism and evolution process of mudrock through expounding the correlations between the periodic changes of astronomical forces,the parameters of Earth orbital and mudrock compositions.By investigating the existing literature and using some actual data of Jiyang Depression,Bohai Bay Basin in East China,this study expounds on the influence of astronomical cycles on the deposition of lacustrine mudrock.Moreover,efforts are made to analyze the effects of various orbital parameters(e.g.,precession,obliquity,and eccentricity with the periods ranging from tens of thousands years to million years)on the deposition of mudrock from small-scale(decimeters to meters)to large-scale(10s to 100s meters).Further,it is feasible to apply the high-precision isochronous stratigraphic correlation into clarifying the distribution of favorable shale oil and gas reservoirs.To conclude,this study enunciates the sedimentation of mudrock from a new perspective(astronomical forcing)and provides a direction for the research on sedimentation of fine-grained sedimentary rocks.

Psychosocio-economic impacts of COVID-19 on gastroenterology and endoscopy practice

Beyond posing a major health crisis,the COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted profound psychological,social,and economic impacts on populations worldwide.Mass quarantines and social isolation have affected the mental health of the wider population,exacerbating other stressors,including fear of the virus and its repercussions,general uncertainty,and financial insecurity.The pandemic has challenged the broader delivery of healthcare––ranging from the need to triage limited hospital resources to balancing risk mitigation with maintaining medical care.Specific to gastroenterology,severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)has not only been associated with complicating extant medical conditions of the gastrointestinal(GI)tract,but has also forced a shift in the practice of gastroenterology by patients,families,and healthcare providers alike.The gastroenterology field has been required to adapt its practices to minimize the possibility of viral spread while still upholding patient care.Healthcare practitioners in GI have helped to treat COVID-19 patients,stratified inpatient and outpatient visits and procedures,and shifted to telemedicine.Still,as is the case with much of the general population,healthcare providers working in GI practice or endoscopy have faced personal and professional stressors,mental health difficulties,social isolation,financial pressures,and familial burdens––all of which can take a toll on practitioners and,by extension,the provision of GI care overall.This article will highlight how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the psychological wellbeing,social engagement,and economic conditions of the public,healthcare providers,and GI professionals specifically.Recommendations for strategies that can continue GI services while maintaining safety for both caregivers and patients are put forth to help uphold critical GI care during this worldwide crisis.