Browse Articles

Expression of concern: Analysis of cataract-regulated genes using chemical DNA damage induction in a rat ex vivo model

Clinical analysis and comparative study of facial symmetry of three-dimensional skull models

Facial symmetry is a critical determinant in maxillofacial reconstruction. To establish an ideal midsagittal plane (MSP) for three-dimensional (3D) skull model in the diagnosis and treatment of maxillofacial reconstructing and unilateral maxillofacial lesions, the maxillofacial spiral computed tomography data from 51 patients with normal craniofacial anatomy in the Department of Stomatology, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, were collected to performed 3D reconstruction. Every 3D skull model established three common MSPs: N-ANS-PNS, N-ANS-S, and N-Ba-S by corresponding anatomical landmarks. The original 3D skull models were mirrored using different MSPs to construct mirror models. The MSPs accuracy was assessed through repeated measures analysis combined with the 3D chromatic deviation mapping. Quantitative comparisons revealed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) in overlap precision across MSP definitions. Mean deviation values (± SD) between the mirror and original models of N-ANS-PNS, N-ANS-S, and N-Ba-S were −1.1415 ± 0.6651, −0.9075 ± 0.6279, and −0.3961 ± 0.7970 mm respectively. Gender-based analysis demonstrated significantly better facial symmetry in female models compared to males across all MSP definitions (P < 0.05), while demographic factors (age, height, and weight) showed no statistically significant correlation with symmetry outcomes (P > 0.05). These findings validate the efficacy of mirroring technology combined with 3D chromatic deviation mapping for MSP accuracy assessment. The N-ANS-PNS plane emerged as the most reliable reference for facial symmetry evaluation in 3D skull models, with female morphology exhibiting inherently superior bilateral symmetry compared to male counterparts.

Decoding past microbial life and antibiotic resistance in İnonü Cave’s archaeological soil

This study, which bridges the disciplines of archaeology and microbiology, examines the ancient bacterial communities and antibiotic-resistance genes in soil samples collected from İnönü Cave in Zonguldak, Turkiye. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of historical human activities and their influence on microbial communities. Soil samples were gathered from four distinct cultural levels from the Chalcolithic Age to the Early Iron Age. The microbial communities were characterized, and antibiotic-resistance genes were identified using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and metagenomic studies. This interdisciplinary approach not only enriches our understanding of ancient microbial communities but also opens up new avenues for research and collaboration. The results of our study showed a wide range of microorganisms, including prominent bacterial groups such as Acidobacteriota, Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidota, Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Myxococcota, and Proteobacteria. The study identified the presence of the tetracycline resistance gene tetA in Chalcolithic samples, the class 1 integron intl1 in Early Bronze Age samples, and the oxacillinase gene OXA58 in Late Bronze Age samples. These findings underscore the long-term impact of human activities on microbial communities, as antibiotic-resistance genes have been present and have remained over various historical periods, perhaps influenced by both human activities and environmental variables. This knowledge is crucial for understanding the resilience and adaptability of microbial communities in the face of human-induced changes. The coexistence of these resistance genes and alterations in the microbial population suggest substantial connections between human activities and soil microbiota. This study, which draws on the fields of archaeology, microbiology, and environmental science, offers valuable insights into the ancient microbial ecology and underscores the enduring presence of antibiotic resistance. It emphasizes the necessity of a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach, spanning multiple fields, to comprehend microbial communities’ evolution and resistance mechanisms in archaeological settings.

The optimistic brain: scans reveal thought patterns shared by positive thinkers

Expression of Concern: Histone acetyltransferase inhibition reverses opacity in rat galactose-induced cataract

Effects of stimulus amplitude-scaling approach on emotional responses to non-speech sounds

In the study of auditory emotion perception, it is important to calibrate test sounds so their presentation level during testing is known. It is also often desirable to standardize the amplitude of the sounds so that each sound used in testing is approximately the same level. However, existing literature in the study of auditory emotion perception includes a mixture of techniques for standardizing amplitude across sounds. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two amplitude-scaling approaches on emotional responses to non-speech sounds, specifically standardization based on peak level or root-mean-square (rms) level. Nineteen young adults provided ratings of valence and arousal via an online testing program. Stimuli were non-speech sounds scaled in two ways, based on the stimulus’ peak level or rms level. Ratings were analyzed using linear-mixed effects modeling to compare scaling methods; correlations between ratings and level within each scaling method were explored. Analysis revealed that the ratings of peak-scaled sounds were less pleasant and more exciting than were the ratings of rms-scaled sounds, although the effects were small in magnitude (~0.2 points on a 1–9 scale). Within rms-scaled sounds, peak level was not related to ratings of valence or arousal. However, within peak-scaled sounds, rms level was related to ratings of valence and arousal. Combined, these data suggest that amplitude standardization has a small effect on ratings overall, but investigators might be motivated to choose one approach over the other, depending on the research question. Rms-scaling reduces overall level as a cue for emotional responses, while peak-scaling maintains some natural variability in responses related to level. Finally, results are specific to this stimulus set. The effects of amplitude-scaling would be expected to be negligible for a stimulus set where the sounds have homogenous temporal dynamics.

Adjuvantation of Kyasanur Forest Disease vaccine with TLR9 agonist CpG adjuvant enhances immunological efficacy and potency of the vaccine

The present study was carried out with the objectives of formulation of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) vaccine adjuvanted with TLR9 agonist, CpG; evaluation of cell mediated and humoral immune response of CpG adjuvanted KFD vaccine in mice. The KFD seed virus (P9605) procured from ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune was used for the preparation of KFD vaccine and was confirmed by Real Time Reverse Transcription-PCR. The KFD vaccine prepared in chick embryo fibroblast primary culture was inactivated with 0.1% of formalin. Safety test was performed to assess the safe does of CpG adjuvant in mice. The KFD vaccine adjuvanted with 10 µg of CpG per dose of vaccine was formulated and immunologically evaluated in mice. Evaluation of humoral immune response (HIR) by mouse protection test showed that CpG when used as an adjuvant, significantly (P < 0.0001) enhances HIR in mice with better survival percentages when compared to the non-adjuvanted KFD vaccine. The cell mediated immune response/cytokine response evaluated by quantifying Interferon-ϒ (IFN-ϒ), Tumour Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) and IL-12 production using ELISA showed that CpG significantly (P < 0.001) increases IFN-ϒ, TNF- α and IL-12 when used as an adjuvant in KFD vaccine in mice. The potency test showed that CpG adjuvanted vaccine has higher protective efficacy with better protective index compared with the non-adjuvanted KFD vaccine. Taken together these findings, the study recommends CpG as an adjuvant in the formalin inactivated KFD vaccine since the adjuvantation was safe and enhanced KFD specific immunogenicity and protective efficacy in mice.

People’s brains aged faster during the COVID pandemic — even the uninfected

Evolution of strain diversity and virulence factor repertoire in pediatric Staphylococcus aureus isolates

Background Invasive Staphylococcus aureus infections cause high morbidity and mortality in children and adults. With rising antimicrobial resistance, optimal prevention strategies and novel therapeutics are needed. As an effective vaccine remains elusive, characterization of invasive isolates over time is required to identify determinants of invasive infection. Methods S. aureus isolates recovered from children with invasive infection and those with colonization were obtained. Isolates were examined by whole genome sequencing to evaluate gene repertoire, sequence type, clonal complex, and phylogenetic characterization, and isolate characteristics were correlated to clinical data. Results 118 children with invasive S. aureus infections were enrolled; 56% of infections were caused by methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA). Methicillin-resistance (MRSA) was associated with increased inflammation, though clinical outcomes of MRSA vs MSSA did not differ. Colonization isolates exhibited higher sequence type diversity than invasive isolates. Nine distinct clonal complexes (CC) were identified among all isolates; CC8 and CC5 were associated with higher clinical severity scores. Accessory gene regulator locus type 1, Panton-Valentine Leukocidin, and arginine catabolic mobile element declined over time. Staphylokinase and leukocidin ED were associated with invasive infection, while enterotoxin B was more frequent in colonizing isolates. Conclusions We observed a significant expansion in sequence type diversity among invasive clinical isolates over 12 years with the emergence of newly invasive clones in recent years. The presence of staphylokinase and LukED were associated with invasive infection over time. These findings provide insights into the pathogenesis of invasive S. aureus and may provide putative targets for immunologic approaches to prevention.

Photoswitchable Fluorescence of Peptide-Based Hemipiperazines Inside of Living Cells

Linearization method for MINLP energy optimization problems

Study on stage division and evaluation index of microwave deicing technology for pavement concrete

Abstract Microwave deicing technology has received growing attention as one of the deicing solutions for road surface icing in cold climates due to its benefits, such as energy savings, environmental protection, high efficiency, pavement protection, and others. In this study, practical and theoretical research was conducted on the stage division of the physical process of microwave deicing of road surface concrete and the deicing technology assessment index. Based on the experimental results and the characteristics of ice melting, the microwave deicing process can be divided into four stages, respectively: Heat from Concrete Stage (HCS), Heat from Water Stage (HWS), Ice Thinning Stage (ITS), and Ice Breaking and Melting Stage (IBMS). Five indicators may be used to evaluate the deicing efficiency of road surface deicing technology: the time when the temperature of the concrete surface reaches 0 ℃, the time when the water layer is fully formed, the time spent from the complete formation of the water layer to ice breaking, the deicing area and the ice breaking area. The microwave deicing efficiency of road surface concrete can be improved by combining carbon fibers in the concrete, and the enhancing impact varies with carbon fiber length. When the length of the carbon fiber is 0.6 cm, the deicing speed of the concrete specimen is 2.0 times faster than that of the concrete specimen without the carbon fiber, and the deicing area is 1.2 times larger.

Prevalence and impact of mistreatment on academic motivation among clinical year medical students in Thailand

Efficacy of topical heparin spray on donor site wound healing after split thickness skin grafting

The longitudinal effects of global and regional brain measurements on cognitive abilities

Detection of the distribution frequency of Diego blood type based on multiplex droplet digital PCR

Facial synthesis of reduced grapheneoxide/magnetite nanocomposite for energy generation and toxic metal bioremediation via microbial fuel cells

Water content alters soil organic carbon metabolism via microbial traits in Tibetan alpine peatlands

Warhead Strategy for Targeted Protein S-Nitrosation

Access to translated invitations online increases involvement of linguistically diverse households in a population-based study: a cluster randomized controlled study

Abstract This double-blind cluster-randomized controlled study examined the effectiveness of a multilingual physical-digital recruitment strategy to increase the involvement of linguistically diverse households in the German sub-survey of the World Health Organization European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative. Students in primary schools received German study invitations either alone or with a supplemental flyer containing a QR-code for accessing translations online. A total of 114 classrooms (2306 students) received the flyer, while 115 classrooms (2276 students) served as control group. Main outcomes were active of responses to invitations and study participation. Response proportions were 48% overall, 48.6% in the flyer and 47.4% in the control group. Participation proportions were 26.7% overall, 27.8% in the flyer and 25.4% (571/2251) in the control groups. The flyer increased the odds of participation (14.9, 95% CI 1.003–1.315), but not the odds of active responses. In medium-social-level schools, response and participation proportions in the flyer group rose by 1.5% (ROR 1.015, 95% CI 1.003–1.027) and by 2% (ROR 1.020, 95% CI 1.005–1.034), respectively, for each percentage point increase in the proportion of non-German speaking households per classroom. The flyer’s effect in low- and high-social level schools was inconclusive. Although modest in magnitude, the addition of the flyer increased overall participation and, in particular, the involvement of linguistically diverse households in medium-social-level schools.