Browse Articles

DNA glycosylase (NEIL3) overexpression associated with low tumor immune infiltration and poor overall patient survival in endometrial cancer

Effect of deposition rate on micromorphology analyses and optical parameters in amorphous carbon nickel thin films

Optimizing saffron bioactive extraction with deep eutectic solvents

Optimizing energy and load management in island microgrids for enhancing resilience against resource interruptions

Randomized multicenter trial comparing minocycline and ornidazole with classical quadruple therapy in Helicobacter pylori treatment

Reference values of arterial blood gas index in adult respiratory failure in high altitude area

The identity of implant materials governs the antimicrobial efficacy of SET-M33

Abstract The physical and chemical properties of implanted materials play a key role in their interaction with synthetic peptides that exert antimicrobial activity. In this study, we explored the diffusion properties and efficacy of the SET-M33 antimicrobial peptide in combination with artificial substrates, comprising cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) or porous protective envelopes. We found that porous materials, such as biosynthesized cellulose, polymeric meshes, and electrospun membranes, were conducive to SET-M33 diffusion. The diffusion dynamics was controlled by the intrinsic fibrous architecture of the materials. Biosynthesized cellulose supported the peptide’s antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. The efficacy of SET-M33 was instead reduced when combined with the other tested porous membranes and non-porous CIED interfaces, such as titanium and silicone. On the other hand, the low porosity of biosynthesized cellulose membranes, while effective in retaining the drug, diminished diffusion and thus peptide availability. In light of these findings, the implications for the use of antimicrobial peptides in the prevention of CIED surgical pocket infections are discussed.

RWD-DOF: a dual-degree-of-freedom reconfigurable wheel design for improved robotic mobility

Modeling the decarburization of expansion droplets based on the solid phase ratio of slag and data fitting during BOF steelmaking process

Abstract In the process of basic oxygen furnace steelmaking, the high-velocity jet impacts the molten metal pool, resulting in the generation of splashing metal droplets with varying particle sizes. The expansion decarburization of metal droplets in the emulsion phase is one of the main steel-slag reaction behaviors. In this paper, firstly, a theoretical decarburization model of expansion droplet was established, finding biases in their calculation results. Then, the solid phase ratio in different FeO content of slag was analyzed, demonstrating its significant impact on the reactivity performance of slag. Finally, an improved decarburization comprehensive model for expanded droplets, based on the solid phase ratio of slag and data fitting, was developed and validated using experimental data. The results indicate that the improved droplet decarburisation comprehensive model shows a good agreement with the experimental data in predicting changes in carbon content, with Pearson correlation coefficient exceeding 0.94 for different FeO contents. ‌For FeO contents of 3%, 10%, 20%, and 30%, the model achieves MAE (0.035%, 0.024%, 0.056%, 0.059%) and RMSE (0.0034%, 0.0019%, 0.011%, 0.018%), respectively. This model can accurately calculate the change of carbon content of metal droplets under various complex multiphase slag conditions.

Presence of microplastic particles increased abundance of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes in microbial communities from the Oder river water and sediment

Multimodal anomaly detection in complex environments using video and audio fusion

The synergistic anti-leishmanial effect of photodynamic therapy employing chemotherapy-mediated nanocomposites

Developing an intuitive decision support system for equitable vaccine distribution during pandemics

Abstract Effective organization of the vaccine supply chain is vital to achieve high vaccination rates in pandemics. This paper presents a novel approach for developing a decision support system (DSS) to support health officials and policymakers who must make timely and impactful decisions with limited information for distributing vaccines. We combine a stakeholder-informed systems approach for problem definition with a user-centered design approach for DSS development. The methodology has been tested during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used system modeling to capture stakeholders’ knowledge, experience, and learnings from the H1N1 pandemic, leading us to focus on the central vaccine allocation problem (CVAP), which involves determining the number of vaccines allocated to each municipality in an equitable way. We designed a dashboard that embedded a mathematical model as a DSS for in-country CVAP during a pandemic. A Lightning Decision Jam workshop was conducted to define the DSS’s characteristics, with the visualization of scenarios and decision-making transparency being key features during the development process. We validated the DSS with policymakers and built it for the Norwegian context, with flexibility for adaptation to other regions, particularly those still grappling with high vaccine supply deficits. Our approach offers a novel and practical way to develop DSSs to support policymakers making critical decisions during pandemics.

Exceptional lines and higher-order exceptional points enabled by uniform loss

A molecular network analysis and in silico docking of beta-eudesmol, atractylodin and hinesol in patients with advance stage intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Fast implicit and slow explicit learning of temporal context

Abstract One is seldom aware of the anticipatory and preemptive feats that the eyeblink system achieves in daily life but it frequently protects the eye from projectiles gone awry and insects on apparent collision courses. This poor awareness is why predictive eyeblinks are considered a form of implicit learning. In motor neuroscience, implicit learning is considered to be slow and, eyeblink conditioning, in particular, is believed to be a rigid and inflexible cerebellar-dependent behavior. In cognitive neuroscience, however, implicit and automatic processes are thought to be rapidly acquired. Here we show that the eyeblink system is, in fact, capable of remarkable cognitive flexibility and can learn on more rapid timescales than previously expected. In a task where we yoked contextual learning of predictive eyeblinks and manual responses in humans, well-timed eyeblink responses flexibly adjusted to external context on each trial. The temporal precision of the predictive eyeblinks exceeded that of manual response times. Learning of the well-timed eyeblink responses was also more rapid than that for the manual response times. This pattern persevered with the use of a cognitive strategy, which seemed to accelerate both types of learning. These results suggest that behaviors associated with the cerebellar cortex that were previously believed to be inflexible and largely implicit, can demonstrate rapid and precise context-dependent temporal control.

A single center retrospective analysis of feasibility of diagnostic endoscopic resection for grade 1 or 2 gastric neuroendocrine tumors

Evaluating the restoration of Lake Manzala after dredging using water quality parameters and zooplankton changes

Abstract Lake Manzala is the largest northern lake in Egypt and receives significant quantities of wastewater. This study was conducted in 2015 and 2022 (before and after dredging) to assess changes in physicochemical parameters [transparency, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and nutrients] as well as the community composition of zooplankton in relation to the dredging process. Water quality parameters, particularly salinity, classified the different lake sites into three groups (north, middle, and south) in 2015 and two groups (north-middle and south) in 2022. The highest values for transparency, salinity, and DO were recorded in the northern sector, while the highest values for BOD, COD, and nutrients were found in the southern sector. A total of 43 zooplankton species were identified in 2015, compared to 31 species in 2022. Notably, the number of saline species increased in 2022 to 12 species, and their distribution extended into the northern and middle sectors. Additionally, principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that zooplankton species could be divided into saline and freshwater groups. The study concluded that the chemical parameters and zooplankton composition in 2022 differed significantly from those in 2015 due to dredging, which altered the lake’s ecology by increasing salinity and reducing nutrient levels, particularly in the northern and middle regions.

The pharmacokinetic-nephrotoxicity relationships of CMS and CMS-E2 from the perspective of plasma and kidney drug concentrations in rats

Mechanotransductive stabilization of HIF-1α is inhibited by mitochondrial antioxidant therapy in the setting of pulmonary overcirculation

Abstract In patients with congenital heart disease, the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is based on vascular exposure to abnormal hemodynamic forces. In our work using a large animal model of increased pulmonary blood flow and pressure, we have previously described a pattern of alterations to vascular cell metabolism, mitochondrial function, and mitochondrial redox signaling, paralleling changes in advanced pulmonary vasculopathy states. Based on our findings and emerging literature, we believe that endothelial mitochondria play a central role in integrating and relaying pathologic mechanotransductive signals in abnormal pulmonary hemodynamics. In this manuscript, we demonstrate that exposure of the pulmonary vascular endothelium to aberrant mechanical forces increases production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and stabilizes the transcription factor Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α (HIF-1α), and that these changes are associated with impaired endothelial production of Nitric Oxide (NO). We validate that the mitochondrial antioxidant 10-(6′-ubiquinonyl)decyltriphenylphosphonium bromide (MitoQ) can reverse these alterations in vitro, and evaluate the effects of MitoQ treatment in vivo utilizing our large animal shunt model. We find that MitoQ therapy in pulmonary overcirculation decreases the production of mitochondrial ROS, diminishes the mechanically-induced stabilization of HIF-1α, and partially restores vascular reactivity by rescuing endothelial NO production. These findings raise exciting prospects concerning shared pathophysiologic mechanisms and possible common therapeutic targets amongst PAH etiologies.