bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discrepancies of bovine haptoglobin concentrations between serum and plasma using two different anticoagulants and a colorimetric assay based on peroxidase activity
Authors: Schmitt R. , Staufenbiel R.
Published: October 2024

Background

Haptoglobin (Hp) is an emerging diagnostic marker in cattle, and knowledge of suitable sample types and measurement methods is important.

Objectives

The aims of this study were to compare the results of a colorimetric assay (CA) and an ELISA for bovine Hp using serum, EDTA plasma, and lithium‐heparinized (LH) plasma, respectively, and to assess the diagnostic potential for puerperal metritis.

Methods

In experiment 1, Hp was measured in pooled aliquots of serum (n = 10), EDTA plasma (n = 10), and LH plasma (n = 10) of 100 healthy fresh lactating dairy cows from 10 farms using both the CA and the ELISA. In experiment 2, five healthy and five cows with acute puerperal metritis were sampled, and Hp was determined using both assays for all three sample types. In experiment 3, aliquots of serum and LH plasma from cows in different lactation stages were transferred into plain, EDTA‐coated, and LH‐coated tubes and mixed before colorimetric analyses. Distilled water was also placed into each tube type and treated similarly.

Results

Plasma samples measured with the CA showed on average 2.3 (EDTA) and 2.5 (LH) times higher Hp concentrations compared with serum, whereas no differences were seen with the ELISA results between sample types. Based on a clinical cut‐off value, both methods differentiated sick from healthy cows. Haptoglobin measurements with the ELISA were less precise compared with CA measurements due to high dilutions. No influence of the anticoagulants on the CA was observed.

Conclusions

Due to measurement discrepancies between serum and plasma, CAs for bovine Hp based on peroxidase activity should be performed with serum, or specific reference ranges for plasma samples should be established. In this study, CA results obtained with LH plasma were more precise than results obtained with EDTA plasma. Both the CA and the ELISA are suitable diagnostic tools for the diagnosis of puerperal metritis, but CA measurements were more precise in this study.
Right cranial lung lobe torsion in a domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo)
Authors: Vuong Kristina S. , Fazio Constance , Greenacre Cheryl B. , Hoggard Nathan
Published: October 2024

A 3‐year‐old male castrated domestic ferret presented with a 24 h history of lethargy, weakness, and anorexia. The ferret was tachypneic, painful, dehydrated, pale, and obtunded on physical examination. Radiographs and thoracic CT were utilized to diagnose a 360° right cranial lung lobe torsion (LLT) with secondary pneumothorax and pleural effusion. This was confirmed on gross necropsy and histopathology. The LLT was suspected to be secondary to previous trauma based on chronic bilateral rib fractures. Lung lobe torsions are life‐threatening conditions infrequently described in veterinary medicine. Based on our review of the literature, this is the first description of an LLT in a ferret.
The Impact of Marketing Mix and Digital Integrated Marketing Communication on Improving Private Vocational Colleges Image in Chonburi Province
Authors: Kumsumran Somkiat , Tandamrong Duangrat
Published: October 2024

This research aims to explore the role of digital marketing communication and the marketing mix in creating and enhancing the image of private vocational colleges in Chonburi Province. The study focuses on four main objectives: (1) analyzing the demographics of students at these institutions, (2) examining the digital marketing strategies employed by the colleges, (3) investigating the application of the marketing mix, and (4) assessing the relationship between digital marketing communication and the marketing mix in enhancing the colleges' image. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research collected quantitative data from 388 students and qualitative insights from interviews with five college administrators. The findings reveal that the majority of students are male, enrolled in industrial programs, and generally have positive opinions about the digital marketing efforts and marketing mix employed by their institutions. College administrators recognize the significant impact of these strategies, particularly in areas such as curriculum development, service delivery, and public relations, which play a crucial role in strengthening the institution's image. This research highlights the importance of integrating digital marketing communication and the marketing mix to create a strong and memorable image for vocational colleges. By effectively meeting the needs and expectations of students, parents, and other stakeholders, these institutions can enhance their reputation and appeal.
Knot Floer homology and surgery on equivariant knots
Authors: Mallick Abhishek
Published: October 2024

Given an equivariant knot of order 2, we study the induced action of the symmetry on the knot Floer homology. We relate this action with the induced action of the symmetry on the Heegaard Floer homology of large surgeries on . This surgery formula can be thought of as an equivariant analog of the involutive large surgery formula proved by Hendricks and Manolescu. As a consequence, we obtain that for certain double branched covers of and corks, the induced action of the involution on Heegaard Floer homology can be identified with an action on the knot Floer homology. As an application, we calculate equivariant correction terms which are invariants of a generalized version of the spin rational homology cobordism group, and define two knot concordance invariants. We also compute the action of the symmetry on the knot Floer complex of for several equivariant knots.
Nrf2 deficiency in muscle attenuates experimental autoimmune myositis‐induced muscle weakness
Authors: Himori Koichi , Yamada Mami , Onoki Takahiro , Matsumaru Daisuke , Motohashi Hozumi , Okutsu Mitsuharu
Published: October 2024

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are systemic autoimmune diseases characterised by muscle weakness. Although multiple physiological and pathological processes are associated with IIMs, T‐lymphocyte infiltration into muscle plays a key role in the development and exacerbation of IIMs. Nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key transcription factor that regulates inflammatory responses; therefore, muscle Nrf2 may serve an important role in the development of IIMs. In this study, we demonstrated that experimental autoimmune myositis (EAM) causes loss of muscle mass and function in oxidative and glycolytic muscles in C57BL/6 mice. EAM increased CD4+ and CD8+ T‐lymphocyte infiltration, as well as interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) and tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) mRNA expression in oxidative soleus and glycolytic extensor digitorum longus muscles, along with elevated chemokine mRNA levels (i.e. CCL3, CCL5, CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL16). IFN‐γ and TNF‐α treatments increased the mRNA expression levels of these chemokines in C2C12 myotubes. EAM also increased phosphorylated Nrf2 at Ser40 in soleus and glycolytic white vastus lateralis muscle. Although the expression of several chemokines was affected by Nrf2 activation following tert‐butylhydroquinone treatment or Keap1 knockdown, CCL5 mRNA expression significantly increased in C2C12 myotubes and mouse skeletal muscle. Moreover, muscle‐specific Nrf2 knockout in mice attenuates EAM‐induced loss of muscle mass and function, which was associated with the inhibition of CCL5 mRNA expression, CD8+ T‐lymphocyte infiltration and IFN‐γ mRNA expression. Collectively, these findings reveal that regulating Nrf2 activity is a promising therapeutic approach for treating IIM‐mediated muscle weakness.

image

Key points

Experimental autoimmune myositis (EAM) causes loss of muscle mass and function.

Loss of muscle mass and function in EAM were associated with increased chemokine mRNA expression (i.e. CCL3, CCL5, CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL16), T‐lymphocyte infiltration and inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression (i.e. IFN‐γ and TNF‐α) in the skeletal muscle.

EAM activated Nrf2 in muscle and increased Nrf2 activity in vivo and in vitro increased CCL5 mRNA expression.

Muscle‐specific Nrf2 knockout in mice attenuated EAM‐induced muscle weakness by inhibiting CCL5 mRNA expression, CD8+ T‐lymphocyte migration and IFN‐γ mRNA expression in muscles.

These results provide further evidence for the potential therapeutic targeting of Nrf2 to mitigate EAM‐induced muscle weakness.
Numerical Study of Bifurcation Structures in Reflected Shock-Wave/Laminar-Boundary-Layer Interaction Within an End-Wall Tube
Authors: Ma Zhuang , Lee Shibo , Zhao Yunlong , Zhang Yang
Published: October 2024

The primary aim of this study is to analyze the unsteady characteristics of the interaction between a reflected shock wave and a laminar boundary layer in an end-wall shock tube. Our direct numerical simulations at shock Mach numbers of Ms = 1.9, 2.5, and 3.5 using a fifth-order WENO scheme and three-step Runge–Kutta time integration method revealed inhomogeneity and anisotropy in the shock bifurcation. Surprisingly, the upper and lower bifurcated structures maintain a notably asymmetric flow during the forward propagation of the reflected shock bifurcation. The inverse flow in the bifurcation resembles a crooked earthworm structure, exhibiting high-frequency oscillations indicative of instability. However, at higher shock intensities, the earthworm transforms into a stable strip-like configuration, facilitating the entrapment of inverse flow and leading to rapid bifurcation height growth and early convergence. Additionally, isolated islands with high density, temperature, and pressure emerge in the transitional region behind the bifurcated shocks, due to variations in wave propagation speed.
Particulate Flow of a Viscous Fluid Driven by a Torsionally Oscillating Disk
Authors: Ru C. Q.
Published: October 2024

A novel hydrodynamic model is used to study oscillatory flow of a particle-laden fluid driven by a torsionally oscillating disk. The present model is featured by a modified form of Navier–Stokes equations which is conceptually different than existing related models and enjoys relatively concise mathematical formulation. Explicit expressions are derived for the radial, azimuthal and axial velocities using the method of power series expansions of small amplitude parameter, and the derived solutions reduce to Rosenblat's earlier results for a clear fluid driven by a torsionally oscillating disk in the absence of suspended particles. The implications of the present results to dusty gases are discussed in detail with particular interest in the effects of suspended particles on the decay indexes and wavelengths of the induced oscillatory velocity fields. The results obtained in this work can be used to quantify the effects of suspended particles on particulate flow driven by a torsionally oscillating disk.
Effect of Laser Power and Diamond Tool Parameters for Micro Laser-Assisted Ductile Mode Material Removal on Fused Silica
Authors: Jahromi Hassan Shirzadi , Mohammadi Hossein , Kode Sai K. , Ellis Jonathan D. , Menon Deepak Ravindra
Published: October 2024

Fused silica is an essential material used in various applications due to its excellent optical and mechanical properties. However, processing it can be challenging due to its high hardness and brittleness, leading to subsurface damage during grinding and polishing operations. Microlaser-assisted ductile mode material removal is a promising technique for achieving high levels of precision and accuracy in material removal. This technique leads to controlled and precise removal of material without inducing cracks or fractures. Despite its advantages, there are several challenges associated with the process, such as selecting the appropriate laser power and diamond tool geometry. In this study, we employed a Universal Mechanical Tester equipped with modified OPTIMUS, a laser-assisted machining technology to investigate the impact of laser and diamond tool geometry on scratch cut quality. Introducing and increasing the laser power demonstrated an improvement of around 251.7% in cut ductility, leading to a decrease in the severity of sub-surface damage. Altering the rake angle from −25 deg to −45 deg resulted in a 45.3% reduction in the critical depth of cuts (DOCs). However, when laser was employed, the critical DOCs increased around 34.4% in ductile mode material removal on fused silica samples, which underscores the criticality of the laser in this process.
Research on Working Mechanism and Structural Optimization of High-Speed Bearing of Tricone Bits Based on Finite Difference Method
Authors: Liu Yang , She Yangzhou , Li Wenqi
Published: October 2024

To analyze the working mechanism of the floating sleeve bearing of the cone bit, the life of the floating sleeve bearing was tested. The experimental results show that adhesive wear will form on the bearing surface with the increase in temperature, which is the main cause of bearing failure. This article establishes the Reynolds equation and energy equation of the oil film based on the theory of dynamic pressure lubrication of sliding bearings. The equation was numerically solved based on the finite difference method. It determines the rotational speed ratio at the equilibrium based on the trend of the frictional torque and then corrects the eccentricity in the iterative calculation process so as to analyze the tribological performance of the bearings in equilibrium under different clearance ratios. Among them, the improper configuration of the internal and external clearance ratio leads to the increase of the friction torque and the reduction of the bearing capacity. For floating sleeve bearings, the configuration with a large internal clearance and small external clearance should be adopted. Finally, the bearing structure is optimized and numerical calculations show that the tribological performance of the new type of bearings is significantly improved compared with that of ordinary cone bit bearings.
Integrating Friction Noise for In Situ Monitoring of Polymer Wear Performance: A Machine Learning Approach in Tribology
Authors: Chen Shengshan , Cheng Ganlin , Guo Fei , Jia Xiaohong , Wen Xiaohao
Published: October 2024

Friction and wear between mating surfaces significantly affect the efficiency and performance of mechanical systems. Traditional tribological research relies on post-observation methods, limiting the understanding of dynamic friction behavior. In contrast, in situ monitoring provides real-time insights into evolving friction dynamics. This study employs machine learning to monitor polymer wear performance through friction noise. The predictive accuracy of various machine learning methods, including Extremely Randomized Trees, Gradient-Boosting Decision Trees, AdaBoost, LightGBM, Deep Forest, and Deep Neural Networks, is compared for wear-type classification. Additionally, the LSBoost regression is selected as the optimal method for predicting polymer wear-rates across various temperatures. The results underscore the potential of using friction noise and machine learning for real-time wear monitoring, offering valuable insights for tribological system maintenance and failure prediction.
Thermal-Gas-Elastic Coupling Modeling and Performance Analysis of Foil Cylindrical gas Film Seal Considering Speed Slip, Temperature Jump and Shaft Misalignment
Authors: Chen Long , Chen Yuan , Li Yuntang , Peng Xudong , Li Xiaolu , Wang Dan , Wang Bingqing
Published: October 2024

The Compliant foil cylindrical gas film seal is an advanced sealing technology designed for high-speed and high-temperature conditions in a jet engine. Its design involves using a compliant foil to create a cylindrical sealing surface, achieving adaptive sealing in environments with high pressure differences and rotational speeds. For high-speed and high-temperature operation, a speed slip flow model was established by considering film slip flow, wall temperature jump, foil deformation, and gas viscosity-temperature thermal effects. The variations in the lubrication performance of the foil cylindrical gas film seal with changes in shaft misalignment directions, misalignment angles, and operating parameters were investigated. The speed slip leads to a decrease in gas film lift and an increase in leakage. The wall temperature jump phenomenon caused by speed slip leads to a 2.56% decrease in film temperature. The shaft misalignment angles on the high-pressure and low-pressure sides have different impacts on the flow field, with film pressure and temperature differing by 66.78% and 11.19%, respectively.
Optimal Transport-Based Full Waveform Inversion for Nondestructive Evaluation using Ultrasonic Arrays
Authors: Rossato Daniel , Passarin Thiago A. R. , Guarneri Giovanni A. , Pires Gustavo P. , Pipa Daniel R.
Published: October 2024

Full Waveform Inversion (FWI) is a state-of-the-art family of methods for seismic imaging. These methods are based on optimization algorithms and allow for the reconstruction of maps of certain material properties (e.g. sound speed) with high resolution, providing a powerful tool for the assessment of reservoirs of oil and gas. The Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) literature contains some attempts to apply FWI methods using ultrasonic data. One problem that limits this application is the oscillatory nature of ultrasonic signals, which tends to generate local minima in optimization problems formulated with the L2 norm as a measure of data fidelity. This problem is already well documented in seismic imaging and is referred to as cycle skipping. On the other hand, Optimal Transport (OT) optimization methods have been demonstrated to be robust to cycle skipping when used in lieu of the traditional L2 residual minimization for FWI of seismic data, motivating an assessment of their applicability to ultrasound FWI. This work presents an OT-FWI method for the reconstruction of speed maps of metallic structures from signals acquired with ultrasonic arrays. Synthetic data were generated on a finite difference-based acoustic simulator and represent two arrays with 64 elements each and 1MHz center frequency. Results obtained from the simulated data show the robustness of the method with relation to cycle skipping as well as its capacity to reconstruct complex geometries hidden inside structures. All source codes for the implementation of the method using Python 3.12 and CUDA are provided, as well as the simulated data.
Bonded Repairs: Enhancing Structural Integrity and Sustainability of Composite Materials
Authors: Sikdar Shirsendu , Ostachowicz Wiesław
Published: October 2024

Composite materials offer high strength, low weight, and excellent corrosion resistance, revolutionizing industries. However, they're prone to damage from impact, fatigue, and environmental exposure, necessitating effective repair techniques for structural integrity. Bonded repairs emerge as reliable solutions, enhancing sustainability and extending structures' lifespan. This article explores their significance, addressing challenges like surface preparation, material compatibility, and environmental factors. It discusses critical aspects such as adhesive selection, quality control, and inspection procedures. Non-destructive evaluation methods, like guided ultrasonics, scrutinize the structural health of repaired components. This investigation aims to provide engineers with a profound understanding of bonded repairs, contributing to ongoing development for ensuring composite materials' safety and reliability. By tackling challenges and employing advanced monitoring techniques, this study contributes to the implementation of bonded repair methodologies, ensuring the safety, reliability, and sustainability of composite materials across diverse applications.
Passive Ultrasonic Guided Waves Acquisition Using Electro Magnetic Acoustic Transducers (EMATS): Design and Experimental Validation
Authors: Carpine Raphaël , Recoquillay Arnaud , Albertini Julien
Published: October 2024

Passive ultrasonic guided waves offer a promising solution for the inspection of thin structures such as aircraft fuselage, pipes, or ship hulls, as they are not affected by ambient noise but on the contrary make use of it as a source of mechanical excitation. To that extent, Electro Magnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) sensors appear to constitute an interesting instrumentation solution, because of the large choice of designs and associated modal selectivity and directivity properties they offer, and because passive applications eliminate the need for actuation, which is the main difficulty with EMAT instrumentation. In this study, we design and test EMATs with various coil geometries and analyze their influence on modal selectivity and directivity. Experimental tests are carried out, using a thin piezoelectric disc for wave generation at first, validating the properties of the receiving EMATs, and then with an air stream as the only excitation source for the full passive configuration. The influence of the coil design on the proper recovery of the ultrasonic signals from the ambient noise but also directivity, modal selectivity and overall sensitivity is discussed. Such sensors coupled with passive techniques could be embedded in structures, enabling their Structural Health Monitoring (SHM).
Frequency Wavenumber Design of Piezoelectric Sensors for Impact Monitoring
Authors: Zhou Shulong , Shen Yanfeng
Published: October 2024

This paper proposes a novel piezoelectric composite sensor for impact localization detection via the frequency wavenumber design. The piezocomposite transducer comprises of an active layer sandwiched composed of piezoelectric fibers intricately integrated into an epoxy matrix between double Flexible Print Circuit (FPC), providing flexibility to the device and making it suitable for application on non-planar surfaces. The spatial distribution of the electrodes on FPC allows distinguishing the in-coming wave direction by coupling with corresponding wavelength. The incident wave orientation from the impact could be evaluated by comparing the frequency components picked up by the aforementioned transducer. Concurrently, the enhanced directional sensitivity is achieved through the judicious implementation of radially arranged piezoelectric fibers. This research initiates with the theoretical formulation of continuously distributed active material to obtain the shape of the spiral FSAT as a part of the piezoelectric composite device. Subsequently, a three-dimensional impact numerical model is meticulously constructed to demonstrate the good agreement of analytical and numerical results. The corresponding frequencyband of different angular directions are unique in the transducer, coupled with the guided wavelengths generated by the impact pulse. The results show that the proposed method can accurately locate the impact with only two sensors, simultaneously providing a high degree of reliability. The paper finishes with summary, concluding remarks, and suggestions for future work.
A Neural Style Transfer Data Augmentation Strategy as Applied to Total Focusing Method Images: A Classification Task Perspective
Authors: Miorelli Roberto , Jeune Leonard Le , Mahaut Steve , Bannouf Souad
Published: October 2024

This paper focuses on the use of total focusing method (TFM)-based ultrasonic (UT) imaging inspection for coarse-grained materials such as cast austenitic stainless steel (CASS) in the nuclear industry and addresses the challenges of performing inversion tasks such as defect detection, classification, and localization. The problem of detecting small (e.g., millimeter) defects in thick tubes is not straightforward due to the size of the specimens and the high scattering noise induced by the inspection of CASS, which can potentially hide the presence of defects.

This work proposes a machine learning (ML) based framework that utilizes both simulations and experimental data to address the scarcity of experimental signatures and the weak representativeness of simulations when the specimen's microstructure is unknown. The paper suggests a preliminary analysis based on the use of neural style transfer paradigm to enhance the realism of simulated data using experimental pristine and flawed TFM images. This method aims at increasing the quantity and quality of flawed samples using both numeric simulation data and pristine experimental images taken during the inspection of one CASS pipe. The paper discusses the evaluation of the proposed framework in terms of ML-based defect detection.
Delamination Detection and Investigation at Far-Field in Glare Laminates Using Lamb Waves
Authors: Gupta Saurabh , Haq Mahmoodul , Karpenko Oleksii , Udpa Lalita
Published: October 2024

For aerospace applications, Glass-Reinforced Aluminum Laminate (GLARE) Fiber Metal Laminate (FML) presents a compelling advantage over conventional aluminum alloys due to its superior strength-to-weight ratio, tailorable mechanical properties, and resistance to fatigue and corrosion. GLARE consists of alternating layers of thin aluminum and glass fiber-reinforced prepregs. Unlike conventional materials, GLARE is vulnerable to internal damage during fabrication and operation. Nondestructive testing of large-scale GLARE structures remains challenging. This work investigates the use of guided waves for GLARE inspection, focusing on interlaminar delamination and insights into wave propagation. We assessed the effectiveness of the fundamental antisymmetric A0 mode in detecting delamination in two types of GLARE composites: GLARE 1 (Al/0°/Al/0°/Al/0°/Al/0°/Al) and GLARE 5 (Al/0°/Al/90°/Al/90°/Al/0°/Al). A numerical 2D finite-element (FE) model was created in ABAQUS CAE to analyze wave propagation in GLARE. Results show that the A0 mode was sensitive to delamination in both types of GLARES FML studied. Additionally, geometrical measurements of delamination were obtained from wave energy trapping, and positional information of delamination was obtained from the analysis of reflected waves in the reflection regime. The displacement wave field captures in TSL and BSL reveal the interfaces for low and high transmission that are found to be strongly tied with the delamination position and dispersion. At the entry and exit, the A0 Lamb wave behaves differently and experiences multi-point acoustically mismatched interaction, making the signal processing of its propagation challenging.
Acoustic Emission Entropy: A Realtime Damage-Sensitive Metric for Assessing Bond Deterioration in GFRP-Reinforced Concrete Beams
Authors: Rather Amer Iliyas , Banerjee Sauvik , Laskar Arghadeep
Published: October 2024

An essential goal of acoustic emission (AE) monitoring is to precisely detect impending critical damage and thereby prevent premature failure through the dynamic evolution of AE parameters. However, many of these parameters, including AE count, energy, duration, and rise time, depend significantly on the thresholds and other settings used in the AE data acquisition system. This dependence can distort the original waveform generated by AE sources, posing challenges for precise critical damage initiation, identification, and early failure prevention. In the present study, AE entropy based on Shannon’s and Kullback-Leibler's formulation has been employed to monitor bond degradation between glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebars and concrete interface in GFRP-reinforced concrete (GFRP-RC) elements. The findings of the study reveal a notable trend in AE entropy during bond deterioration. As AE entropy is related to the uncertainty surrounding the amplitude distribution of individual AE waveforms, it remains unaffected by the threshold and various time-related parameters. Consequently, it possesses the ability to depict the inherent microstructural alterations and demonstrates superior efficacy in distinguishing between distinct stages of debond damage and pinpointing crucial damage instances during the bond degradation process of GFRP-RC elements. Specifically, as quantified by AE entropy, the randomness of events increases in the early stages of bond deterioration but decreases as macrocracks form in the later stages. Moreover, the sudden rise in AE entropy indicates critical damage events such as debond or slip initiation, crack initiation, and rapid progression.
Pancreatic cancer liver metastasis mimicking focal nodular hyperplasia. A case report.
Authors: Fischer Oliver Wedel , Justesen Tobias Freyberg , Nolsøe Christian Pallson , Pentchev Christo Pentchev , Atanasova Evelina Georgieva
Published: October 2024

Metastases to the liver from gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are varied in their presentation and echogenicity on ultrasound. We present a case of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas with sporadic neuroendocrine differentiation and metastasis to the liver, referred for inclusion in a clinical study. Standard ultrasound showed two hypoechoic focal liver lesions. On contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) the larger tumour bore an enhancement resemblance to that of a focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH). This result necessitated a histological confirmation, which indicated neuroendocrine, highly differentiated tumour tissue, compatible with metastasis from the patient’s pancreatic cancer. This case showcases the role of histologically confirmed diagnosis in liver lesions with atypical imaging characteristics, especially in patients with a history of malignancy and potential oncological treatment.
Effect of radiation-induced graft polymerization onto pineapple nonwoven fabric reinforced polymer composite
Authors: Pavia Denisse Jonel , Madrid Jordan , Magdaluyo Eduardo
Published: October 2024

Natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites are gaining attention for their environmental benefits, such as biodegradability and reduced carbon footprint, as well as the potential of the natural fibers to replace or partially substitute synthetic fibers in various applications. However, challenges, such as poor interfacial adhesion and moisture absorption, limit the effectiveness of natural fibers, such as pineapple nonwoven fabric (PNWF) as reinforcement materials in polymer composites. To address these challenges, this study aims to enhance the properties of PNWF through glycidyl methacrylate grafting via radiation-induced graft polymerization. A 22 factorial design was employed to assess the effects of absorbed dosage and monomer concentration on the properties of the grafted PNWF. Infrared spectroscopy and electron microscopy analyses confirmed successful grafting. The grafted PNWF exhibited improved thermal stability and mechanical properties. The resulting composites showed significant enhancements in tensile and flexural strength, specifically, with tensile strength increase ranging from 23.32 to 34.49 MPa and flexural strength from 39.14 to 54.59 MPa. Additionally, the tensile modulus ranged from 0.77 to 1.29 GPa, while the flexural modulus varied from 1.17 to 2.06 GPa. These findings highlight the potential of PNWF grafted with polyglycidyl methacrylate (PNWF-g-PGMA) as an effective reinforcement material for various applications.
Development of chitosan-acrylic acid based hydrogels with incorporated polyaniline and plasma treatment
Authors: Roque L. E. L. , Argayosa V. B. , Seagan C. G. V. , Bonto A. P. , Taaca K. L. M.
Published: October 2024

Hybrid hydrogels are materials that incorporate features from multicomponent systems of polymers, significantly improving their functionality and making them ideal for biomedical applications. Both natural and synthetic polymers are utilized, further enhancing their functionality. The combination of polyaniline (PANI), chitosan (CS), and acrylic acid (AA) can result in a multifunctional hybrid hydrogel that is antibacterial, hydrophilic, and salt-sensitive. A multifunctional PANI-CS-AA with varying PANI weight ratio was synthesized in this study. In addition, improving the surface of the multifunctional hydrogels by atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) treatment was also investigated. During APP treatment, the production of reactive species (e.g., OH and N2 radicals) responsible for the functionalization of the hydrogel surface was confirmed through optical emission spectroscopy. The integration of three polymer components in the synthesized hydrogels was confirmed through the presence of their mid-FTIR spectral characteristics, particularly in the AA and CS C=O, PANI quinonoid and benzenoid units, AA COO−, and the PANI aromatic and C—H vibration regions. Moreover, the hybrid hydrogels with incorporated PANI and APP treatment improved their wettability and surface free energy (SFE) characteristics. The hybrid hydrogels with 0.25 wt. % PANI and exposed to 2 min air plasma yielded the highest hydrophilicity and total SFE with values 41.27° ± 2.15° and 135.68 ± 4.72 mJ/m2, respectively. The plasma-treated 0.25PANI-2.5CS-4AA samples exhibit improved swelling response in water (Smax = 1310 ± 100; ks = 0.005) and saline media (Smax = 1280 ± 80; ks = 0.001) due to enhanced polymeric chains and affinity toward polar liquids. Synthesized hydrogels exhibited antibacterial activity, as evidenced by the zone of inhibition test. Clearing zones measured were in the range of 16–27 mm. The study developed an APP-treated tricomponent hydrogel consisting of PANI, CS, and AA that has improved hydrophilicity, salt sensitivity, and antibacterial features.
Reflection function, reflectance, and area function measurements in ears of children and adults
Authors: Keefe Douglas H. , Fitzpatrick Denis F. , Porter Heather L. , Chen Su
Published: October 2024

The main experiment concerned time-domain measurements of the acoustical reflection function (RF) of the human ear in adults and children (aged 5 to 8 years) using a probe inserted into the ear canal. This RF was used to calculate the area function of the ear canal versus distance along its centerline. Acoustical reflectance was calculated in the frequency domain from the RF, as was the difference in sound pressure level near the tympanic membrane relative to the probe tip. Group responses in area function, total ear-canal length, absorbance and group delay, and admittance magnitude and phase were analyzed based on sex, ear, and age. Responses were compared between children/adults and younger/older adults relative to age 50 years. Ear and sex were never significant. Significant differences were observed in children compared to adults in the area function, absorbance and group delay, and admittance magnitude and phase (0.25–4 kHz). Group delay differed between younger and older adults. A second experiment assessed level dependence of responses to better understand limitations in probe performance observed in the main experiment. These results show the utility of time-domain measurements of the area function and derived reflectance to understand sound-transmission differences across age at frequencies important to middle-ear function.
Therapeutic drug monitoring and safety of voriconazole in patients with liver dysfunction
Authors: Hu Lin , Su Yuan , Tang Xi , Li Yanfei , Feng Jinhui , He Gefei
Published: October 2024

This study aims to describe the distribution characteristics of voriconazole (VRC) plasma trough concentrations (
C
trough
) in patients with liver dysfunction, identify factors influencing VRC
C
trough
, and provide recommendations for the use of VRC in this population. We retrospectively collected medical records of hospitalized patients with liver dysfunction who used VRC and underwent therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) at the First Hospital of Changsha. The severity of liver dysfunction was assessed by the Child–Pugh (CP) score. Multiple linear regression was employed to explore factors affecting VRC
C
trough
in these patients. A total of 147
C
trough
from 102 patients with liver dysfunction were analyzed. Patients were categorized into a control group (
n
= 40), CP-A (
n
= 39), CP-B (
n
= 11), and CP-C group (
n
= 12). The initial probability of target attainment of
C
trough
was 70.6%, with 6.9% of patients obtaining subtherapeutic
C
trough
and 22.5% obtaining supertherapeutic
C
trough
. The initial
C
trough
in CP-A and B were 5.05 (0.64–9.57) mg/L and 5.37 (0.26–10.01) mg/L, respectively, significantly higher than the control group (
P
= 0.021 and
P
= 0.010). The proportion of VRC
C
trough
of >5.5 mg/L in CP-A and B was 33.3% and 45.5%, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that factors such as age ≥70 years, CP class, C-reactive protein (CRP), and direct bilirubin were significantly related to the initial VRC
C
trough
. Among all measurements, patients with severe inflammation (CRP >100 mg/L), aged ≥70 years, and albumin levels of <30 or <25 g/L had significantly higher VRC
C
trough
. The treatment success rate of VRC was 69.6% (71 of 102), and the rate of VRC-related adverse drug reactions was 29.4% (30 of 102). The recommended half-maintenance dose may lead to elevated VRC
C
trough
in patients with CP-A and CP-B. TDM is essential for patients with advanced age, severe infections, or hypoalbuminemia to prevent excessive VRC trough levels.
Mechanisms leading to
in vivo
ceftazidime/avibactam resistance development during treatment of GES-5-producing
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
infections
Authors: Herrera Cristhian , Gomis-Font Maria A. , López-Causapé Carla , Díez-Aguilar María , Fraile-Ribot Pablo A. , Cardeñoso Laura M. , Oliver Antonio
Published: October 2024

The mechanisms underlying ceftazidime/avibactam resistance development in four ceftazidime/avibactam susceptible/resistant pairs of GES-5-producing ST235
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
clinical isolates were investigated. In three of the cases, ceftazidime/avibactam resistance was driven by a single mutation leading to GES-27 (P162Q), GES-29 (P162A), or the novel GES-60 (N136S), as confirmed through cloning experiments. Moreover, these mutations were associated with increased cefiderocol MICs but reduced carbapenem, particularly imipenem/relebactam, resistance. Understanding the complexity of resistance mechanisms to the growing repertoire of antipseudomonal β-lactams is crucial to guide optimized treatments and antimicrobial stewardship measures.
Addressing the need to facilitate undergraduate research experiences for community college transfer students in science
Authors: Goodwin Emma C. , Cooper Katelyn M. , Gin Logan E. , Brownell Sara E.
Published: October 2024

Community college transfer students face numerous challenges, including gaining access to undergraduate research experiences. In this Perspectives piece, we articulate the benefits of undergraduate research experiences for community college transfer students, some of the common barriers for engaging transfer students in undergraduate research, and how 4-year institutions can address these problems through the development of transfer-specific programs. We specifically discuss the LEAP Scholars program, which we designed for low-income community college transfer students. The LEAP Scholars program helped students learn about undergraduate research through their participation in a science education course-based undergraduate research experience and facilitated student access to undergraduate research experiences in science faculty member research labs.
Lytic promoter activity during herpes simplex virus latency is dependent on genome location
Authors: Singh Navneet , Zachariah Sherin , Phillips Aaron T. , Tscharke David
Published: October 2024

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a significant pathogen that establishes lifelong latent infections with intermittent episodes of resumed disease. In mouse models of HSV infection, sporadic low-level lytic gene expression has been detected during latency in the absence of reactivation events that lead to production of new viruses. This viral activity during latency has been reported using a sensitive Cre-marking model for several lytic gene promoters placed in one location in the HSV-1 genome. Here, we extend these findings in the same model by examining first, the activity of an ectopic lytic gene promoter in several places in the genome and second, whether any promoters might be active in their natural context. We found that
Cre
expression was detected during latency from ectopic and native promoters, but only in locations near the ends of the unique long genome segment. This location is significant because it is in close proximity to the region from which latency-associated transcripts (LATs) are derived. These results show that native HSV-1 lytic gene promoters can produce protein products during latency, but that this activity is only detectable when they are located close to the LAT locus.

IMPORTANCE

HSV is a significant human pathogen and the best studied model of mammalian virus latency. Traditionally, the active (lytic) and inactive (latent) phases of infection were considered to be distinct, but the notion of latency being entirely quiescent is evolving due to the detection of some lytic gene expression during latency. Here, we add to this literature by finding that the activity can be found for native lytic gene promoters as well as for constructs placed ectopically in the HSV genome. However, this activity was only detectable when these promoters were located close by a region known to be transcriptionally active during latency. These data have implications for our understanding of HSV gene regulation during latency and the extent to which transcriptionally active regions are insulated from adjacent parts of the viral genome.
Rab6a enables BICD2/dynein-mediated trafficking of human papillomavirus from the
trans-
Golgi network during virus entry
Authors: Choi Jeongjoon , Speckhart Kaitlyn , Tsai Billy , DiMaio Daniel
Published: October 2024

Rab GTPases control intracellular vesicular transport, including retrograde trafficking of human papillomavirus (HPV) during cell entry, guiding the virus from the endosome to the
trans-
Golgi network (TGN), the Golgi apparatus, and eventually the nucleus. Rab proteins have been identified that act prior to the arrival of HPV at the TGN, but Rab proteins operating in later stages of entry remain elusive. Here, we report that knockdown of Rab6a impairs HPV entry by preventing HPV exit from the TGN and impeding intra-Golgi transport of the incoming virus. Rab6a supports HPV trafficking by facilitating the association of HPV with dynein, a motor protein complex, and BICD2, a dynein adaptor, in the TGN. L2 can bind directly to GTP-Rab6a
in vitro
, and excess of either GTP-Rab6a or GDP-Rab6 inhibits HPV entry, suggesting that cycling between GDP-Rab6 and GTP-Rab6 is critical. Notably, Rab6a is crucial for HPV-BICD2 and HPV-dynein association in the TGN of infected cells but not in the endosome. Our findings reveal important features of the molecular basis of HPV infection, including the discovery that HPV uses different mechanisms to engage dynein at different times during entry, and identify potential targets for therapeutic approaches to inhibit HPV infection.

IMPORTANCE

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are small, non-enveloped DNA viruses that cause approximately 5% of human cancer. Like most other DNA viruses, HPV traffics to the nucleus during virus entry to successfully infect cells. We show here that HPV utilizes a cellular enzyme, Rab6a, during virus entry to engage the dynein molecular motor for transport along microtubules. Rab6a is required for complex formation between the HPV L2 capsid protein, dynein, and the dynein adaptor BICD2 in the
trans
-Golgi network (TGN). This complex is required for transport of the incoming virus out of the TGN as it journeys to the nucleus. Our findings identify potential targets for therapeutic approaches.
Draft genome sequences of
Listeria monocytogenes
strains from human listeriosis in Sweden harboring premature stop codons in the virulence determinant
inlA
Authors: Lee Sangmi , Brown Phillip , Tham Wilhelm , Danielsson-Tham Marie-Louise , Lopez-Valladares Gloria , Ward Todd , Elhanafi Driss , Chen Yi , Kathariou Sophia
Published: October 2024

Premature stop codons in the internalin virulence determinant
inlA
are common in serotype 1/2a
Listeria monocytogenes
from food/food processing environments but rare among human clinical isolates. Here, we report the genome sequences of serotype 1/2a (STs 121 and 3258) human listeriosis isolates from Sweden harboring such mutations in
inlA
.
Human immunodeficiency virus-1 genome from patient with fever, Nepal
Authors: Tuladhar Eans Tara , Chalise Bimal Sharma , Khadka Binod , Tamang Mamta , Neupane Jenish , Poudel Shankar , Droit Lindsay , Mihindukulasuriya Kathie A. , Elong Ngono Annie , Basaula Yuba Nidhi , Shresta Sujan , Wang David , Manandhar Krishna Das
Published: October 2024

A patient with fever presented to the referral infectious disease hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. Metagenomic sequencing of the patient’s serum recovered a near-complete genome of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), distinct from previous HIV-1 genomes from Nepal in GenBank. It shared 92.48% nucleotide identity with an HIV-1 subtype C isolate from India.
Complete genome sequence of
Kozakia baliensis
LTH 7215, a newly isolated strain from grape must
Authors: Zipori Dor , Brychcy Merlin , Schmidt Herbert
Published: October 2024

We report the complete genome sequence of the novel
Kozakia baliensis
strain LTH 7215, isolated from grape must. This strain exhibits a mucoid phenotype on solid medium, associated with exopolysaccharide production. The high-quality and full-length genome sequence was obtained using PacBio Sequencing technology, refined with Illumina sequencing.
Complete genome sequences of two
Paenibacillus
isolated from pegmatite in Fukushima, Japan
Authors: Yamamoto Phillip K. , Fujimoto Yuto , Warashina Tomoro , Arakawa Kazuharu
Published: October 2024

The genus
Paenibacillus
comprises facultatively anaerobic, endospore-forming, Gram-positive eubacteria known for efficiently producing a diverse array of exoenzymes. We isolated and sequenced the complete genomes of two
Paenibacillus
bacteria from the pegmatite surface in the fourth ore body in the mine Wagu Kannon Mine, Fukushima Prefecture.
Strain variation in
Candida albicans
glycolytic gene regulation
Authors: Kim Min-Ju , White Amelia M. , Mitchell Aaron P.
Published: October 2024

Central carbon metabolism is vital for the proliferation of
Candida albicans
, a fungus that is prominent as a commensal and pathogen. Glycolytic genes are activated by overlapping activities of the transcription factors Tye7 and Gal4, as shown by studies in the SC5314 genetic background. However, regulatory relationships can vary among
C. albicans
isolates. Here, we analyzed Tye7- and Gal4-related phenotypes in five diverse clinical isolates of
C. albicans
. We tested growth properties and gene expression impact through Nanostring profiling and, for the two strains SC5314 and P87, RNA sequencing. Our results lead to three main conclusions. First, the functional redundancy of Tye7 and Gal4 for glycolytic gene activation is preserved among all strains tested. Second, at the gene expression level, strain P87 is an outlier with regard to
tye7
Δ/Δ impact, and strain SC5314 is an outlier with regard to
gal4
Δ/Δ impact. Third, while Gal4 is well known to be dispensable for induction of the
GAL1
,
GAL7
, and
GAL10
galactose-specific metabolic genes, we find that
gal4
Δ/Δ mutants of several strains have a mild galactose fermentation defect, as assayed by growth on galactose with the respiration inhibitor antimycin A. Our findings indicate that even a central metabolic regulatory network is subject to strain variation and illustrates an unexpected genotype-phenotype relationship.

The fungal commensal and pathogen
Candida albicans
rely upon metabolic flexibility to colonize and infect host niches. Central carbon metabolism is governed by two regulators, Tye7 and Gal4, as defined in the reference strain SC5314. Here, we have explored the impact of Tye7 and Gal4 on carbon utilization and gene expression across five diverse
C. albicans
clinical isolates. Novel aspects of this study are the finding that even a central metabolic regulatory network is subject to strain variation and the observation of an unexpected mutant phenotype.