Evaluating the OpenAI's GPT-3.5 Turbo's performance in extracting information from scientific articles on diabetic retinopathy.

We aimed to compare the concordance of information extracted and the time taken between a large language model (OpenAI's GPT-3.5 Turbo via API) against conventional human extraction methods in retrieving information from scientific articles on diabetic retinopathy (DR). The extraction was done using GPT3.5 Turbo as of October 2023. OpenAI's GPT-3.5 Turbo significantly reduced the time taken for extraction. Concordance was highest at 100% for the extraction of the country of study, 64.7% for significant risk factors of DR, 47.1% for exclusion and inclusion criteria, and lastly 41.2% for odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). The concordance levels seemed to indicate the complexity associated with each prompt. This suggests that OpenAI's GPT-3.5 Turbo may be adopted to extract simple information that is easily located in the text, leaving more complex information to be extracted by the researcher. It is crucial to note that the foundation model is constantly improving significantly with new versions being released quickly. Subsequent work can focus on retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), embedding, chunking PDF into useful sections, and prompting to improve the accuracy of extraction.

Epidemiological and Molecular Study on Tick-Borne Pathogens in Argun Port Area Near the Chinese-Russian Border.

Objective: We aim to investigate the species composition of ticks and the pathogen characteristics they carry in the Argun port area of the China-Russia border. Materials and Methods: Ticks were collected in surrounding grassland, mixed forest land, and other different habitats around the Argun port area at the Sino-Russian Border of Inner Mongolia in China in April 2019. The presence of 16 potential pathogens, including Yersinia Pestis, Francisella tularensis, Coxiella burnetii (Cb), Anaplasma sp. (Ap), spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFG Rk), Borrelia sp. (Bl), Leptospira, Bartonella spp., Babesia, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Bhanja virus, West Nile Virus, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus, Hantaan virus, and bocavirus (boca) was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. The DNA and amino acid sequences of tick-borne pathogens were compared for homology, and the phylogenetic trees were constructed by using Mega and Lasergene software. Results: A total of 210 ticks were collected and they belonged to three species: Dermacentor nuttalli, Ixodes persulcatus, and Haemaphysalis verticalis. Among them, 165 (78.57%) ticks tested positive for 5 pathogens, namely Ap, SFG Rk, Cb, Bl, and boca. Fifteen (7.14%) ticks were detected coinfection with two pathogens, and none were coinfected with three or more pathogens. Conclusion: This study shows the prevalence of at least five tick-borne pathogens in Argun, and there is a risk of coinfection by two pathogens in one tick. This study reveals the great importance of controlling tick-borne diseases in this region.

Inner wall temperature distribution measurement of the ladle based on cavity effective emissivity correction.

Inner wall temperature of ladle is closely related to the quality of steelmaking and control of steel-making tapping temperature. This article adopts a rotating platform to drive an infrared temperature sensor and a laser sensor to scan the temperature field distribution of the ladle inner wall at the hot repair station, where the scanning laser sensor obtains coordinates of each measured point. Because of measuring errors of infrared thermal radiation caused by emissivity uncertainty of the ladle inner wall surface, this article proposes a method for temperature measurement based on Monte Carlo model for effective emissivity correction of each measured point. In the model, we consider the ladle and fire baffle as a cavity. By calculation of the model, the effect of distance from the fire baffle to the ladle and the material surface emissivity of the ladle inner wall on the effective emissivity of the cavity are obtained. After that, the effective emissivity of each measured point is determined. Then the scanning temperature of each measured point is corrected to real temperature. By field measuring test and verification contrast, the results show that: the maximum absolute error of the method in this article is 4.7 °C, the minimum error is 0.6 °C, and the average error is less than 2.8 °C. The method in this article achieves high measurement accuracy and contributes to the control of metallurgical process based on temperature information.

Genetic differentiation of geographic populations of Rattus tanezumi based on the mitochondrial Cytb gene.

Rattus tanezumi is a common domestic rat and host of the bubonic plague pathogen in China and Southeast Asia (SEA). The origin, genetic differentiation and dispersal of R. tanezumi have received increasing attention from researchers. The population genetics of R. tanezumi based on its mitochondrial cytochrome b gene have been studied to explain the origin, relationships and dispersal of populations. In this study, we captured a total of 229 rats; morphological and molecular biological identification cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) confirmed 131 R. tanezumi individuals collected from 6 provincial areas, and their Cytb gene sequences were analyzed. The results showed that the population in Mohan (MH), Yunnan, had the highest genetic diversity, while that in Ningde (ND), Fujian, had the lowest. Tajima's D statistic for all populations was negative and nonsignificant, indicating the possible expansion of R. tanezumi populations. Low gene flow occurred between the Zhangmu (ZM) R. tanezumi population and other populations, and the genetic differentiation among them was high. Furthermore, our analyses revealed the ZM lineage was the oldest lineage among the groups and diverged ~1.06 Mya, followed by the Luoyang (LY) lineages (~0.51 Mya) and Yunnan lineage (~0.33 Mya). In southeastern Yunnan, the Jinshuihe (JSH) and MH populations were more closely related to the populations in southeastern China (Fuzhou (FZ), ND, Quanzhou (QZ), Nanchang (NC)) and inland areas (Chongqing (CQ), LY) than to those in other areas of Yunnan (Jiegao (JG) and Qingshuihe (QSH)), indicating that R. tanezumi may have spread from southeastern Yunnan to the interior of China. In summary, R. tanezumi may have originated in ZM and adjacent areas, spread to Yunnan, and then spread from the southeast of Yunnan inland or directly eastward from ZM to inland China.

Effect and Mechanism of Chaihu Yueju Decoction on Depression Model Rats Induced by CUMS / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Chaihu Yueju decoction on model rats induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress （CUMS）. Method:The 60 SD rats were randomly divided into normal group， model group， Chaihu Yueju decoction low， medium and high-dose groups（0.3， 0.6， 1.2 g·kg-1） and fluoxetine hydrochloride group（0.2 mg·kg-1）， 10 for each group. The model rats was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress for 5 weeks， and then Chaihu Yueju decoction and fluoxetine hydrochloride were given to the corresponding treatment group by gavage for 3 weeks. In the last week of gavage， Morris water maze training and testing were conducted. After the last day of gavage， sugar water preference and other behavioral experiment were tested. The sugar water preference test was used to detect the degree of pleasure deficiency in rats before and after treatment， the open field test was used to detect the depression of rats before and after treatment， the spatial memory ability was tested by Morris water maze. Western blot was used to detect the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α）， 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1A （5-HT1A）， extracellular signal-regulated kinase （ERK） and synapse associated protein in hippocampus of each group， Gloji and Nissl staining was used to observe the changes of dendritic spines and Nissl bodies in the hippocampus CA3. Result:Compared with normal group， the weight， sugar water preference rate， the scores of horizontal and vertical movement were significantly reduced （P<0.05）， and the immobility time was significantly prolonged in model group （P<0.05）. Meanwhile， the ability of learning and memory in model group decreased （P<0.05）. Western blot results showed that the levels of TNF-α was significantly increased （P<0.05）， and the levels of 5-HT1A， p-ERK， cyclic adenosine phosphate reactive element binding protein （CREB）， p-CREB， Synapsin-1，Synaptophysin， glutamate receptor subtype-1（GluR-1）and postsynaptic membrane protein-95（PSD-95） in model group were significantly decreased （P<0.05）. Gloji and Nissl staining results showed that the density of dendritic spines and the number of Nissl body in the hippocampal CA3 of the model group was obviously attenuate （P<0.05）. The results show that the neurons were evidently damaged. Compared with model group， the weight， sugar water preference rate， the scores of horizontal and vertical movement were clearly increased （P<0.05） and the immobility time was significantly shortened in fluoxetine hydrochloride group， middle dose and high dose Chaihu Yueju decoction group （P<0.05）. Western blot results showed that the levels of synaptophysin， GluR-1 and PSD-95 were significantly increased in fluoxetine hydrochloride group， middle dose and high dose Chaihu Yueju decoction group. The level of TNF-α was significantly decreased （P<0.05）， the levels of 5-HT1A， p-ERK， CREB， p-CREB and Synapsin-1 were remarkably increased （P<0.05）， especially the high dose group of Chaihu Yueju decoction. Gloji and Nissl staining results showed that the density of dendritic spines and the number of Nissl body in the hippocampal CA3 of high dose group were similarly increased in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion:Chaihu Yueju decoction could improves the weight， the depressive despair， autonomous activity ability and learning and memory ability of DP model rats. Its mechanism is closely related to attenuating the inflammatory reaction and enhancing the levels of 5-HT1A receptor protein， ERK and synapse related protein， then activating 5-HT/CREB and ERK/CREB signaling pathways， increasing the number and distribution of dendritic spines and repairing damaged neurons in the DP model rat's hippocampus.

Study on encapsulation of chlorine dioxide in gelatin microsphere for reducing release rate.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the effects of encapsulation of chlorine dioxide in a hydrophilic biodegradable polymer gelatin to reduce its release rate. METHODS: An emulsification-coacervation method was adopted. The characterizations of chlorine dioxide-gelatin microspheres were described. Using UV-vis spectrophotometer the λmax of chlorine dioxide was observed at 358 nm. The particle size and distribution of chlorine oxide-gelatin microspheres was measured by a dynamic light scattering (DLS) method, the diameter was (1400~1900) nm. The entrapment of chlorine dioxide-gelatin microspheres was confirmed by IR. The surface morphology, size, and shape of chlorine dioxide-gelatin microspheres were analyzed using Scanning electron microscope (SEM). RESULTS: It showed that the encapsulated microspheres size was around 2000 nm with uniform distribution. The percentage entrapment of chlorine dioxide in the encapsulated samples was about 80~85%. A slow release study of chlorine dioxide from the encapsulated biopolymer (gelatin) in air was also carried out, which showed continuous release up to ten days. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that it is possible to make a slow release formulation of ClO2 by entrapped in a hydrophilic biodegradable polymer gelatin. ClO2-gelatin microspheres can stable release low concentration ClO2 gas over an extended period.