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Electrospun preparation of nickel and Cobalt-doped ZnO fibers: study on the physical properties
Longitudinal changes in the intraocular pressure and their related factors among adults aged 40 to 64 years
Exploring non-invasive biomarkers for pulmonary nodule detection based on salivary microbiomics and machine learning algorithms
An ESG-ConvNeXt network for steel surface defect classification based on hybrid attention mechanism
Diagnostic features of Acanthamoeba keratitis via in vivo confocal microscopy
Abstract In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) offers a non-invasive, rapid method for diagnosing Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) by detecting cysts or trophozoites in the initial clinic visit images. In this retrospective observational study, we reviewed HRT3 IVCM images from patients presenting to Manchester Royal Eye Hospital with clinically- suspected AK for IVCM morphological features (IVCM-MF) of both Acanthamoeba and corneal cells. Twenty-seven patients were included in the study: median age 29 years (range 16–71 years), female gender (59%; n = 16/27) and contact lens wear as the main risk factor. Median symptom duration before the initial ophthalmologist visit was 9 days (range 2 to 42 days). IVCM had a higher detection rate for AK in 85% of patients (n = 23/27), with culture positivity in only 74% (n = 20/27; 17 of whom were also IVCM-positive). Acanthamoeba IVCM-MF included: bright spots (87%, n = 20/23), double-walled cysts (56%, n = 13/23), signet-ring (22%, n = 5/23) and trophozoites (30%, n = 7/23). Bright spots and double-walled cysts coalesced in lines/clusters in 1 patient. Corneal epithelial cells had a “koilocyte” appearance in 64% (n = 14/22). Microtubules connecting adjacent keratocytes were visible in 52% (n = 12/23), particularly associated with A. polyphaga ulcers (p = 0.02). These IVCM features observed in corneal epithelial cells and keratocytes may represent potential imaging biomarkers for AK diagnosis and warrant further investigation to validate their diagnostic utility. By demonstrating IVCM’s superior diagnostic performance, providing rapid and accurate diagnostics, this study advocates for its inclusion in standard diagnostic workflows for AK, paving the way for future advancements in clinical practice.
Gait kinematic and kinetic characteristics among older adults with varying degrees of frailty: a cross-sectional study
Characterization of a new mutation of mitochondrial ND6 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma and its effects on respiratory complex I
Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer, which often arises from previous liver pathologies such as HBV, HCV, and alcohol abuse. It is typically associated with an enlarged cirrhotic organ. In this study, we analyzed tumor and distal tissues from a patient who underwent liver resection for HCC with no previous pathologies and whose liver showed normal function without signs of cirrhosis. Genetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) revealed a novel variant of the gene encoding the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6 (ND6) protein in the tumor tissue. The deletion of a thymidine generated an early stop codon, resulting in a truncated form of the protein (ΔND6) with 50% of the C-terminal primary sequence missing. ND6 is a subunit of the NADH dehydrogenase complex, also known as Complex I, the largest complex in the electron transport chain. Previous studies have linked mtDNA Complex I mutations to mitochondrial disorders and cancer. Through biochemical analyses, we characterized this new mutation and showed that the expression of ΔND6 negatively affects the stability and functionality of Complex I. Data were confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations suggesting conformational rearrangements, overall revealing a leading role of ND6 in the assembly of Complex I.
Visual Mamba UNet fusion multi-scale attention and detail infusion for unsound corn kernels segmentation
Experimental study on the mechanical properties of short-cut basalt fiber reinforced concrete under large eccentric compression
Extreme events induced by climate change alter nectar offer to pollinators in cross pollination-dependent crops
The impact of initiation timing of continuous renal replacement therapy on outcomes in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury a retrospective study from the MIMIC-IV database
Lateral frontopolar theta-band activity supports flexible switching between emotion regulation strategies
Diffusion principles of SF6 tracer gas: constraints on SF6 mixing distance in mine tunnels
A group based network analysis for Alzheimer’s disease fMRI data
Online database of clinical algorithms with race and ethnicity
A novel avenue in the successful synthesis of Schiff base macromolecules via innovative plasma and classical approaches
Multi-omics study reveals differential expression and phosphorylation of autophagy-related proteins in autism spectrum disorder
Potassium application enhances vegetative and reproductive yield of Zygopetalum maculatum and reduces post-flowering K depletion from storage organs of the orchid
Abstract The orchid cultivation is a significant sector in floriculture industry, and Zygopetalum maculatum is one of the most important orchid species of this industry due to its captivating fragrance and aesthetic appeal. Orchids, being epiphytic, are typically grown in soilless media, which lack essential macronutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), crucial for overall plant growth. Literature cited suggest several studies on combined effect of NPK on orchids, however, the studies on the impact of sole K application on morphological traits, and flower yield of Zygopetalum maculatum orchid have not been cited. Hence, this study was designed to explore the impact of K supplementation on morphological traits, floral yields, K uptake by the flowers, K dynamics in plant parts, and vase life of Zygopetalum maculatum flowers. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with six treatments of K application (i.e. T1 = No K in fertigation solution (K0), T2 = 10 mg K per L fertigation solution (K10), T3 = 25 mg K per L fertigation solution (K25), T4 = 50 mg K per L fertigation solution (K50), T5 = 75 mg K per L fertigation solution (K75) and T6 = 100 mg K per L fertigation solution (K100)), each treatment was replicated four times. The plants under the experimentation were treated with the nutrient solution weekly once. Results showed that K application enhanced water-extractable K content and dehydrogenase activity in the potting media. Morphological parameters such as bulb size, leaf number were significantly increased under the K100 treatment. Floral yields, including spike length, floret number per spike, floret dimension, and flower biomass, were also substantially higher with K supplementation. The K100 treatment produced 167% higher number of flower spike per plant with 44.4% higher number of significantly bigger sized florets per spike over K0 treatment. K content in leaves, bulbs, and roots significantly increased with K application. Flowering induced K reduction from back bulbs, leaves and roots. The post-flowering K reduction from different plant parts was minimized by K100 treatment. Partial regression analysis showed one unit K uptake by flowers caused, ~ 0.227, 0.564 and 0.317 unit K reduction from leaf, back bulb, and roots, respectively. Moreover, flowers from the K100 treatment exhibited an extended vase life compared to other treatments. Thus, it can be recommended that, 100 mg K L−1 fertigation solution should be applied weekly to sustainably improve Zygopetalum maculatum yields.