Modulation format recognition in a UVLC system based on an ultra-lightweight model with communication-informed knowledge distillation.

Modulation format recognition (MFR) is a key technology for adaptive optical systems, but it faces significant challenges in underwater visible light communication (UVLC) due to the complex channel environment. Recent advances in deep learning have enabled remarkable achievements in image recognition, owing to the powerful feature extraction of neural networks (NN). However, the high computational complexity of NN limits their practicality in UVLC systems. This paper proposes a communication-informed knowledge distillation (CIKD) method that achieves high-precision and low-latency MFR with an ultra-lightweight student model. The student model consists of only one linear dense layer under a communication-informed auxiliary system and is trained under the guidance of a high-complexity and high-precision teacher model. The MFR task involves eight modulation formats: PAM4, QPSK, 8QAM-CIR, 8QAM-DIA, 16QAM, 16APSK, 32QAM, and 32APSK. Experimental results show that the student model based on CIKD can achieve comparable accuracy to the teacher model. After knowledge transfer, the prediction accuracy of the student model can be increased by up to 87%. Besides, it is worth noting that CIKD's inference accuracy can reach up to 100%. Moreover, the parameters constituting the student model in CIKD correspond to merely 18% of the parameters found in the teacher model, which facilitates the hardware deployment and online data processing of MFR algorithms in UVLC systems.

Ultrathin Titanium Dioxide Coating Enables High-Rate and Long-Life Lithium Cobalt Oxide.

Lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) has been widely used as a leading cathode material for lithium-ion batteries in consumer electronics. However, unstable cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) and undesired phase transitions during fast Li+ diffusivity always incur an inferior stability of the high-voltage LCO (HV-LCO). Here, an ultra-thin amorphous titanium dioxide (TiO2) coating layer engineered on LCO by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) strategy is demonstrated to improve the high-rate and long-cycling properties of the HV-LCO cathode. Benefitting from the uniform TiO2 protective layer, the Li+ storage properties of the modified LCO obtained after 50 ALD cycles (LCO-ALD50) are significantly improved. The results show that the average Li+ diffusion coefficient is nearly tripled with a high-rate capability of 125 mAh g-1 at 5C. An improved cycling stability with a high-capacity retention (86.7%) after 300 cycles at 1C is also achieved, far outperforming the bare LCO (37.9%). The in situ XRD and ex situ XPS results demonstrate that the dense and stable CEI induced by the surface TiO2 coating layer buffers heterogenous lithium flux insertion during cycling and prevents electrolyte, which contributes to the excellent cycling stability of LCO-ALD50. This work reveals the mechanism of surface protection by transition metal oxides coating and facilitates the development of long-life HV-LCO electrodes.

Feature decoupled knowledge distillation enabled lightweight image transmission through multimode fibers.

Multimode fibers (MMF) show tremendous potential in transmitting high-capacity spatial information. However, the quality of multimode transmission is quite sensitive to inherent scattering characteristics of MMF and almost inevitable external perturbations. Previous research has shown that deep learning may break through this limitation, while deep neural networks are intricately designed with huge computational complexity. In this study, we propose a novel feature decoupled knowledge distillation (KD) framework for lightweight image transmission through MMF. In this framework, the frequency-principle-inspired feature decoupled module significantly improves image transmission quality and the lightweight student model can reach the performance of the sophisticated teacher model through KD. This work represents the first effort, to the best of our knowledge, that successfully applies a KD-based framework for image transmission through scattering media. Experimental results demonstrate that even with up to 93.4% reduction in model computational complexity, we can still achieve averaged Structure Similarity Index Measure (SSIM) of 0.76, 0.85, and 0.90 in Fashion-MNIST, EMNIST, and MNIST images respectively, which are very close to the performance of cumbersome teacher models. This work dramatically reduces the complexity of high-fidelity image transmission through MMF and holds broad prospects for applications in resource-constrained environments and hardware implementations.

Modulation format recognition in a UVLC system based on reservoir computing with coordinate transformation and folding algorithm.

Modulation format recognition (MFR) is one of the key technologies in adaptive optical systems and widely used in both commercial and civil applications. With the rapid development of deep learning, MFR algorithm based on neural networks (NN) has achieved impressive success. Due to the high complexity of underwater channels, to gain better performance of MFR tasks in underwater visible light communication (UVLC), the NN tend to be designed with a complex structure, which is costly in computation and hinders fast allocation and real-time processing. In this paper, we propose a lightweight and efficient method based on reservoir computing (RC), whose trainable parameters are only 0.3% of common NN-based methods. To improve the performance of RC in MFR tasks, we propose powerful feature extraction algorithms including coordinate transformation and folding algorithm. The proposed RC-based methods are implemented for six modulation formats, including OOK, 4QAM, 8QAM-DIA, 8QAM-CIR, 16APSK, and 16QAM. The experimental results show that our RC-based methods take only a few seconds for training process and under different pin voltages of LED, the accuracy for almost all exceeds 90%, and the highest is close to 100%. Analysis on how to design a well-performed RC to strike a balance between accuracy and time cost is also investigated, providing a useful guide for RC implementations in MFR.

High initial FSH dosage reduces the number of available cleavage-stage embryos in a GnRH-antagonist protocol: Real-world data of 8,772 IVF cycles from China.

To evaluate the relationship between the initial follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) dose and the number of available cleavage-stage embryos in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles.We included 8772 fresh IVF cycles using a GnRH antagonist protocol at the Genetic and Reproductive Institution of Chongqing, P. R. China, from January 2016 to June 2021.Univariate linear regression was used to evaluate the associations between the initial FSH dosage (≤ 150, 187.5-200, 225, 250, or 300 IU) with the number of available cleavage-stage embryos on day 3. A two-factor linear regression model was applied to calculate the threshold effect of the initial FSH dosage on the number of available cleavage-stage embryos based on a smoothing plot. The initial FSH dose was negatively correlated with the number of available cleavage-stage embryos, independent of female age, body mass index, infertility factors, duration of infertility, anti-Müllerian hormone and basal FSH levels, antral follicle count and the proportions of patients with poor ovarian response or polycystic ovarian syndrome. Using a two-factor linear regression model, we calculated the inflection point to be 200 IU of FSH. The relationship between the initial FSH dose and the number of available cleavage-stage embryos was nonlinear. The initial FSH dose was negatively associated with the number of available cleavage-stage embryos when the initial FSH dose was > 200 IU. Therefore, clinicians should try to avoid unnecessarily increasing the initial FSH dose.

TLR2 agonist promotes myeloid-derived suppressor cell polarization via Runx1 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play a critical role in maintaining the tumor immune microenvironment; thus, the promotion of MDSC polarization will improve immunotherapies for cancers. However, the mechanisms involved in controlling MDSC polarization in hepatocellular carcinoma remain largely unclear. In this study, we found that injection of Pam3CSK4 attenuated the process of tumor growth, along with reduction of MDSC and recovery of T cell function. Moreover, Pam3CSK4 promoted MDSC polarization by targeting Runx1. Runx1 inhibitor reversed the therapeutic effect of Pam3CSK4 by increasing tumor size and weight and decreasing the survival rate of tumor mice. In addition, targeting Runx1 reduced the expression of CD11c, F4/80, CD80/CD86 and MHC-II in MDSC after Pam3CSK4 stimulation in vivo and in vitro. MDSC also exhibited consistent changes with increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production after Pam3CSK4 and Ro5-3335 treatment. RNA sequence data revealed that tfrc, steap3, and gclm were up-regulated in the Pam3CSK4/Ro5-3335 group compared with Pam3CSK4 treatment alone, suggesting that the regulatory effect of TLR2 and Runx1 on MDSC might act through the ferroptosis pathway. Overall, our study has identified a critical role for TLR2 and Runx1 in regulating the differentiation and function of MDSCs and has provided a new mechanism of controlling MDSC polarization during HCC immunotherapy.

Comprehensive assessment of MODIS-derived near-surface air temperature using wide elevation-spanned measurements in China.

This is the first comprehensive evaluation of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-derived near-surface air temperature, which has been used widely in a series of large-scale models varying in various disciplines ranging from climatology, hydrology to ecology. Four retrieval methods: the highest available pressure in the atmospheric profile product, interpolation by the adiabatic lapse rate, interpolation by the hypsometric equation and the combination with land surface temperature, were developed in the past, but only with validation in regional scale. All of these are evaluated in this paper against 2168 hourly meteorological recordings with an elevation span of over 5000 m in China. Results show that the method of the highest available pressure exhibits a serious underestimation, especially in areas of high elevation, such as the Tibetan Plateau. Interpolation by the hypsometric equation can only fix the underestimation to a very small extent, while interpolation by the adiabatic lapse rate can achieve a relatively good performance. In addition to the elevation influence, substantially variable estimates occur with the parabola-like distribution in low elevation areas, which implies the influence of cloud in Southern China. The combination of the underestimation from interpolation by the adiabatic lapse rate and overestimation in land surface temperature can eliminate the disturbance of both elevation and cloud, resulting in the best performance with r = 0.94, bias = -0.83°C and root-mean-square-error = 4.18°C.

Fixed versus flexible antagonist protocol in women with predicted high ovarian response except PCOS: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: No previous study directly compares the fixed day-5 initiation versus the flexible initiation of GnRH antagonist administration in IVF/ICSI for those patients who are predicted as high ovarian responders without PCOS. To evaluate whether the number of oocytes retrieved is different by using the two GnRH antagonist protocols in Chinese women with predicted high ovarian response except PCOS. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial of 201 infertile women with predicted high ovarian response except PCOS undergoing in vitro fertilization. Ovary stimulation was performed using recombinant FSH and GnRH antagonists. GnRH antagonist ganirelix (0.25 mg/d) was started either on day 5 of stimulation (fixed group) or when LH was > 10 IU/L, and/or a follicle with mean diameter > 12 mm was present, and/or serum E2 was > 600 pg/ml. Patient monitoring was initiated on day 3 of stimulation in flexible group. RESULT(S): No significant difference was observed between the fixed and flexible groups regarding the number of oocytes retrieved (16.72 ± 7.25 vs. 17.47 ± 5.88, P = 0.421), the Gonadotropin treatment duration (9.53 ± 1.07 vs. 9.67 ± 1.03, P = 0.346) and total Gonadotropin dose (1427.75 ± 210.6 vs. 1455.94 ± 243.44, P = 0.381). GnRH antagonist treatment duration in fixed protocol was statistically longer than the flexible protocol (6.57 ± 1.17 vs 6.04 ± 1.03, P = 0.001). There was no premature LH surge in either protocol. CONCLUSION(S): Fixed GnRH antagonist administration on day 5 of stimulation appear to achieve a comparable oocyte retrieved compared with flexible antagonist administration. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02635607 posted on December 16, 2015 in clinicaltrials.gov.

Shift work disorder and related influential factors among shift workers in China.

BACKGROUND: Shift work may cause insomnia and sleepiness in individuals. The present study aimed to exam shift work disorder (SWD), and to investigate their associations with individual characteristics. METHODS: A total of 1833 shift workers were assessed using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM), Circadian Type Inventory (CTI), Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and other self-compiled socio-demographic questionnaires. RESULTS: In the current sample, 17.1% shift workers have experienced insomnia symptoms, 20.9% were tested for daytime sleepiness, and 19.9% were categorized as having SWD. Logistics regressions revealed that history of mental disorders (OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.30-3.21), chronic physical illness (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.17-1.99), CES-D scores (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.02-1.05), BAI scores (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.03-1.06), languid/vigorous tendencies (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.03-1.10) were positively associated with the onset of SWD, while morningness (OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.94-0.99) decreased the odds of SWD onset. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that attention should be drawn to individuals with mental and chronic diseases in when scheduling work shifts. While SWD and its associates should be considered when providing psychological services to shift workers.

Impact of a Gold Nanocolloid Electrolyte on Li2O2 Morphology and Performance of a Lithium-Oxygen Battery.

Aprotic lithium-oxygen batteries currently suffer from poor cyclic stability and low achievable energy density. Herein, gold nanoparticles capped with mercaptosuccinic acid are dispersed in 1.0 M LiClO4/dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a novel electrolyte for lithium-oxygen batteries. Morphological and electrochemical analyses indicate that film-like amorphous lithium peroxide is formed using the gold nanocolloid electrolyte instead of bulk crystals in battery discharging, which apparently increases the conductivity and accelerates the decomposition kinetics of discharge products in recharging, accompanied by the release of incorporated gold nanoparticles with the decomposition of lithium peroxide into the electrolyte. Experiments and theoretical calculations further demonstrate that the suspended gold nanoparticles in the electrolyte can adsorb some intermediates generated by an oxygen reduction reaction, which effectively alleviates the cleavage of the electrolyte and impedes the corrosion of the lithium anode. As a result, the life span of lithium-oxygen batteries is dramatically increased from 55 to 438 cycles, and the rate performance and full-discharge capacity are also massively enhanced. The battery failure is attributed to the degradation of gold nanocolloid electrolytes, and further studies on improvement of colloid stability during battery cycling are underway.

A Facile Surface Preservation Strategy for the Lithium Anode for High-Performance Li-O2 Batteries.

Protecting an anode from deterioration during charging/discharging has been seen as one of the key strategies in achieving high-performance lithium (Li)-O2 batteries and other Li-metal batteries with a high energy density. Here, we describe a facile approach to prevent the Li anode from dendritic growth and chemical corrosion by constructing a SiO2/GO hybrid thin layer on the surface. The uniform pore-preserving layer can conduct Li ions in the stripping/plating process, leading to an effective alleviation of the dendritic growth of Li by guiding the ion flux through the microstructure. Such a preservation technique significantly enhances the cell performance by enabling the Li-O2 cell to cycle up to 348 times at 1 A·g-1 with a capacity of 1000 mA·h·g-1, which is several times the cycles of cells with pristine Li (58 cycles), Li-GO (166 cycles), and Li-SiO2 (187 cycles). Moreover, the rate performance is improved, and the ultimate capacity of the cell is dramatically increased from 5400 to 25,200 mA·h·g-1. This facile technology is robust and conforms to the Li surface, which demonstrates its potential applications in developing future high-performance and long lifespan Li batteries in a cost-effective fashion.

Influence of omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin co-supplementation on metabolic status in gestational diabetes: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies.

INTRODUCTION: Omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin E or D co-supplementation may be an important approach to improve metabolic status in gestational diabetes, but the results are conflicting. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin co-supplementation on metabolic status in gestational diabetes. METHODS: PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the influence of omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin co-supplementation compared with placebo on metabolic status in gestational diabetes were included. Two investigators independently searched articles, extracted data, and assessed the quality of included studies. RESULTS: Four RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with control interventions for gestational diabetes, omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin E or D co-supplementation was associated with significantly reduced fasting plasma glucose [mean difference (MD) -10.47, 95 % confidence interval (CI) -15.33 to -5.61, p < 0.0001], homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (MD -1.6, 95 % CI=-2.44 to -0.77, p = 0.0002), malondialdehyde (MD -1.00, 95 % CI -1.05 to -0.95, p < 0.00001) and triglycerides (MD 26.22, 95 % CI -38.94 to -13.51, p < 0.0001), as well as increased antioxidant capacity (MD 173.51, 95 % CI 164.72-182.30, p < 0.00001), but showed no obvious effect on nitric oxide (MD 5.95, 95 % CI -7.48 to 19.37, p = 0.39) or total cholesterol (MD 1.63, 95 % CI -13.46 to 16.72, p = 0.83). CONCLUSIONS: Omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin co-supplementation may have a favourable effect on metabolic status in gestational diabetes.

The addition of single dose GnRH agonist to luteal phase support in artificial cycle frozen embryo transfer: a randomized clinical trial.

This prospective randomized clinical trial (RCT) was to evaluate the effect of single-dose gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) in artificial cycle frozen-embryo transfer (AC-FET). A total of 868 FET cycles were included and randomized into two groups: Group A (n = 434) received GnRHa 0.1 mg subcutaneous injection on day 3 after embryo transfer (ET); Group B (n = 434) did not receive GnRHa. The demographic characteristics, primary endpoint (implantation rate) and secondary endpoints (chemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, ongoing pregnancy rate) were compared between two groups and subgroups (aged <35 years and 35-37 years). There were no significant differences in terms of the rates of implantation, clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, and miscarriage between two groups. While, the subgroups analysis showed the implantation rate was significantly increased in advanced age women (35-37 years) in GnRHa group compared with control group (45.3% vs. 27.8%, p = .03). In conclusion, single dose of GnRHa (0.1 mg triptorelin acetate) supplementation 3 days after ET in AC-FET cycles did not show significant benefit on pregnancy outcomes as a whole. However, in ageing women subgroup, the implantation rate was increasing by adding up GnRHa in peri-implantation periods, and this tendency needs to be further demonstrated by RCT with larger sample size.

Improving the cyclability and capacity of Li-O2 batteries via low rate pre-activation.

Simple low rate pre-activation effectively prolonged the cycle life of Li-O2 batteries with MWNT cathodes in a 1 M LiClO4/DMSO electrolyte from 55 to 290 cycles, and the ultimate capacity and rate performance were also significantly enhanced, attributed to reconstructed homogeneous and compact SEI layers on the Li anodes by pre-activation.