Deep Learning-Based Real-Time Auto Classification of Smartphone Measured Bridge Vibration Data.

In this study, a simple and customizable convolution neural network framework was used to train a vibration classification model that can be integrated into the measurement application in order to realize accurate and real-time bridge vibration status on mobile platforms. The inputs for the network model are basically the multichannel time-series signals acquired from the built-in accelerometer sensor of smartphones, while the outputs are the predefined vibration categories. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed framework, data collected from long-term monitoring of bridge were used for training a model, and its classification performance was evaluated on the test set constituting the data collected from the same bridge but not used previously for training. An iOS application program was developed on the smartphone for incorporating the trained model with predefined classification labels so that it can classify vibration datasets measured on any other bridges in real-time. The results justify the practical feasibility of using a low-latency, high-accuracy smartphone-based system amid which bottlenecks of processing large amounts of data will be eliminated, and stable observation of structural conditions can be promoted.

Development of Tactile Imaging for Underwater Structural Damage Detection.

Underwater structural damage inspection has mainly relied on diver-based visual inspection, and emerging technologies include the use of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for improved efficiency. With the goal of performing an autonomous and robotic underwater inspection, a novel Tactile Imaging System for Underwater Inspection (TISUE) is designed, prototyped, and tested in this paper. The system has two major components, including the imaging subsystem and the manipulation subsystem. The novelty lies in the imaging subsystem, which consists of an elastomer-enabled contact-based optical sensor with specifically designed artificial lighting. The completed TISUE system, including optical imaging, data storage, display analytics, and a mechanical support subsystem, is further tested in a laboratory experiment. The experiment demonstrates that high-resolution and high-quality images of structural surface damage can be obtained using tactile 'touch-and-sense' imaging, even in a turbid water environment. A deep learning-based damage detection framework is developed and trained. The detection results demonstrate the similar detectability of five damage types in the obtained tactile images to images obtained from regular (land-based) structural inspection.

The Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Silver Nanoparticle/Chitosan Oligosaccharide/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Nanofiber-Mediated Wound Healing.

Wound healing is a complex pathophysiological process that occurs frequently in everyday pathology and remains a challenge during the treatment of trauma. Previously, we prepared silver nanoparticle/chitosan oligosaccharide/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA/COS-AgNP) nanofibers via an electrospinning technique. These nanofibers promoted the proliferation of human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) and the expression of transforming growth factor TGF-ß1 in the early stage of wound repair, although the specific mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, considering that TGF-ß1 has emerged as a major modulator of wound healing, the objective of this study was to further understand whether the molecular mechanisms responsible for PVA/COS-AgNP nanofiber-mediated wound healing include the TGF-ß1/Smad signal transduction pathway. In this study, we used human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying PVA/COSAgNP nanofiber-mediated wound healing. Cell adhesion and proliferation experiments, immunofluorescence staining, hydroxyproline content measurements, flow cytometry, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and western blotting (WB) were used to analyze the wound healing mechanisms of human skin fibroblasts treated with various concentrations of PVA/COS-AgNP nanofibers and the combined application of silver nanofibers and SB431542 (an inhibitor of the TGF-ß1 receptor kinase). Our study showed that PVA/COS-AgNP nanofibers markedly promoted fibroblast proliferation, collagen synthesis, and cell adherence. We also found that treating fibroblasts with PVA/COS-AgNP nanofibers stimulated cell cycle progression from G1 into the S and G2 phases, reducing the proportion of cells in the G0/G1 phase and inducing S and G2/M arrest. Importantly, the cell factors associated with the TGF-ß1/Smad signal transduction pathway, such as TGF-ß1, TGFßRI, TGFßRII, pSmad2, pSmad3, collagen I, collagen III, and fibronectin were also up-regulated. Moreover, this enhancing effect was markedly inhibited by the TGFßRI receptor inhibitor, SB431542. Therefore, the PVA/COS-AgNP nanofibers used to accelerate wound healing do so by activating the TGF-ß1/Smad signal transduction pathway.

Serum homocysteine and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and elderly men / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship among serum reproductive hormone levels, serum homocysteine (Hcy) levels, metabolic syndrome (MS), and the components of MS in middle-aged and elderly males.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using the cluster and stratified sampling methods and a unified structured questionnaire, we conducted a survey among 948 men aged 40 - 80 years in the rural community, measured their basic physical parameters, and obtained their reproductive hormone levels, serum Hcy concentrations, and metabolism-related indicators. We collected 868 valid questionnaires along with their serum samples, divided the subjects into an MS and a non-MS control group in a 1:1 ratio, and measured their serum Hcy concentrations.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the subjects included, 132 were diagnosed with MS. Nonparametric tests showed statistically significant differences between the MS and non-MS groups in the waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P < 0.05), but not in age (P > 0.05). Significant differences were also observed between the two groups in the levels of serum tT, SHBG, LH, and FTI (P < 0.05) , but not in the concentrations of serum Hcy (P > 0.05). The concentration of serum Hcy exhibited no correlation with BMI, SBP, DBP, FBG, TG, and HDL-C (P > 0.05) and had no influence on MS.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The concentration of serum Hcy is not significantly correlated with MS, nor with its components. The levels of male serum reproductive hormones are associated both with MS and with its components.</p>

The Korean guideline for cervical cancer screening.

The incidence rate of cervical cancer in Korea is still higher than in other developed countries, notwithstanding the national mass-screening program. Furthermore, a new method has been introduced in cervical cancer screening. Therefore, the committee for cervical cancer screening in Korea updated the recommendation statement established in 2002. The new version of the guideline was developed by the committee using evidence-based methods. The committee reviewed the evidence for the benefits and harms of the Papanicolaou test, liquid-based cytology, and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, and reached conclusions after deliberation. The committee recommends screening for cervical cancer with cytology (Papanicolaou test or liquid-based cytology) every three years in women older than 20 years of age (recommendation A). The cervical cytology combined with HPV test is optionally recommended after taking into consideration individual risk or preference (recommendation C). The current evidence for primary HPV screening is insufficient to assess the benefits and harms of cervical cancer screening (recommendation I). Cervical cancer screening can be terminated at the age of 74 years if more than three consecutive negative cytology reports have been confirmed within 10 years (recommendation D).

Changes of serum reproductive hormones with aging among healthy males in a community population of Hebei Province / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes of serum reproductive hormones with male aging and to compare the differences in the hormone levels among different age groups or between township and rural males of the same age group.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using cluster and stratified sampling, we recruited 434 healthy old and middle-aged (40-69 years) males, 198 from the township and 236 from the rural communities. We determined the concentrations of serum total testosterone (tT), luteinizing hormone (LH) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), free testosterone (fT), bio-available testosterone (Bio-T), and obtained the testosterone secretion index (TSI) and free testosterone index (fTI). Meanwhile, we included fifty-nine 20-39 years old males from the same communities in a control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>With the increase of age, the serum tT levels did not change significantly, while the levels of serum LH and SHBG increased, and those of fT, Bio-T, TSI and fTI decreased gradually. Statistically significant differences were found among the four different age groups in all the parameters of reproductive hormones (P < 0.01), except in the serum tT level (P > 0.05). The serum tT level was not significantly correlated with aging and LH (P > 0.05). Serum LH and SHBG had a marked positive correlation with aging, and SHBG with LH (P < 0.01), while fT, Bio-T, TSI and fTI were negatively correlated with aging and the LH level (P < 0.01). Serum LH, TSI and fTI showed statistical differences (P < 0.05), while fT and Bio-T exhibited extremely significant differences (P < 0.01) between the township and rural males in the 40 -49 yr group, and in the same age group, the increase rates of serum LH and SHBG and reduction rates of fT, Bio-T, TSI and fTI were higher in the rural men than in the township residents. However, the results were just the opposite in the 50 - 59 and 60 - 69 yr groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The levels of serum LH, SHBG, fT, Bio-T, TSI and fTI changed with aging in a gradientmanner in the old and middle-aged males, but no significant changes were observed in the level of serum tT. There were statistical differences in many parameters of serum reproductive hormones among different age groups or between township and rural males.</p>