bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel Medical Decision-Making System Based on Multi-Scale Feature Enhancement for Small Samples
Authors: He Keke , Qin Yue , Gou Fangfang , Wu Jia
Published: May 2023

The medical decision-making system is an advanced system for patients that can assist doctors in their medical work. Osteosarcoma is a primary malignant tumor of the bone, due to its specificity, such as its blurred borders, diverse tumor morphology, and inconsistent scales. Diagnosis is quite difficult, especially for developing countries, where medical resources are inadequate per capita and there is a lack of professionals, and the time spent in the diagnosis process may lead to a gradual deterioration of the disease. To address these, we discuss an osteosarcoma-assisted diagnosis system (OSADS) based on small samples with multi-scale feature enhancement that can assist doctors in performing preliminary automatic segmentation of osteosarcoma and reduce the workload. We proposed a multi-scale feature enhancement network (MFENet) based on few-shot learning in OSADS. Global and local feature information is extracted to effectively segment the boundaries of osteosarcoma by feeding the images into MFENet. Simultaneously, a prior mask is introduced into the network to help it maintain a certain accuracy range when segmenting different shapes and sizes, saving computational costs. In the experiments, we used 5000 osteosarcoma MRI images provided by Monash University for testing. The experiments show that our proposed method achieves 93.1% accuracy and has the highest comprehensive evaluation index compared with other methods.
Revisiting Long-Time Dynamics of Earth’s Angular Rotation Depending on Quasiperiodic Solar Activity
Authors: Ershkov Sergey , Leshchenko Dmytro , Prosviryakov Evgeniy
Published: May 2023

Having taken into account the nonsymmetric form of Earth’s surface (which is an oblate spheroid as the first approximation, with oblateness of approx. 1/300), we outline in the current research that additional large-scale torques stem from unbalanced (reactive) reradiating heat flows back into outer space. They arise during long-time dynamics of Earth’s angular rotation depending on quasiperiodic solar activity. The key idea of our research supports the mainstream idea of most of the researchers in the scientific community regarding this matter. It stipulates that the activity of earthquakes strongly correlates with changes in the regime of Earth’s spin dynamics during all periods of observation. We have demonstrated here that the long-time dynamics of Earth’s angular rotation depends on the quasiperiodic solar activity by arising additional large-scale torques stemming from unbalanced (reactive) reradiating heat fluxes. The latter carry the momentum outside and at an unpredictable angle to the overall Earth’s surface back into outer space (due to the nonsymmetric form of Earth’s surface).
Solving Stochastic Nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann Equations Using a Collocation Method Based on RBFs
Authors: Mokhtari Samaneh , Mesforush Ali , Mokhtari Reza , Akbari Rahman , Heitzinger Clemens
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we present a numerical scheme based on a collocation method to solve stochastic non-linear Poisson–Boltzmann equations (PBE). This equation is a generalized version of the non-linear Poisson–Boltzmann equations arising from a form of biomolecular modeling to the stochastic case. Applying the collocation method based on radial basis functions (RBFs) allows us to deal with the difficulties arising from the complexity of the domain. To indicate the accuracy of the RBF method, we present numerical results for two-dimensional models, we also study the stability of this method numerically. We examine our results with the RBF-reference value and the Chebyshev Spectral Collocation (CSC) method. Furthermore, we discuss finding the appropriate shape parameter to obtain an accurate numerical solution besides greatest stability. We have exerted the Newton–Raphson approach for solving the system of non-linear equations resulting from discretization by the RBF technique.
On the Class of Risk Neutral Densities under Heston’s Stochastic Volatility Model for Option Valuation
Authors: Boukai Benzion
Published: May 2023

The celebrated Heston’s stochastic volatility (SV) model for the valuation of European options provides closed form solutions that are given in terms of characteristic functions. However, the numerical calibration of this five-parameter model, which is based on market option data, often remains a daunting task. In this paper, we provide a theoretical solution to the long-standing ‘open problem’ of characterizing the class of risk neutral distributions (RNDs), if any, that satisfy Heston’s SV for option valuation. We prove that the class of scale parameter distributions with mean being the forward spot price satisfies Heston’s solution. Thus, we show that any member of this class could be used for the direct risk neutral valuation of option prices under Heston’s stochastic volatility model. In fact, we also show that any RND with mean being the forward spot price that satisfies Heston’s option valuation solution must also be a member of the scale family of distributions in that mean. As particular examples, we show that under a certain re-parametrization, the one-parameter versions of the log-normal (i.e., Black–Scholes), gamma, and Weibull distributions, along with their respective inverses, are all members of this class and thus, provide explicit RNDs for direct option pricing under Heston’s SV model. We demonstrate the applicability and suitability of these explicit RNDs via exact calculations and Monte Carlo simulations, using already published index data and a calibrated Heston’s model (S&P500, ODAX), as well as an illustration based on recent option market data (AMD).
A Novel Reconstruction of the Sparse-View CBCT Algorithm for Correcting Artifacts and Reducing Noise
Authors: Zhang Jie , He Bing , Yang Zhengwei , Kang Weijie
Published: May 2023

X-ray tomography is often affected by noise and artifacts during the reconstruction process, such as detector offset, calibration errors, metal artifacts, etc. Conventional algorithms, including FDK and SART, are unable to satisfy the sampling theorem requirements for 3D reconstruction under sparse-view constraints, exacerbating the impact of noise and artifacts. This paper proposes a novel 3D reconstruction algorithm tailored to sparse-view cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Drawing upon compressed sensing theory, we incorporate the weighted Schatten p-norm minimization (WSNM) algorithm for 2D image denoising and the adaptive steepest descent projection onto convex sets (ASD-POCS) algorithm, which employs a total variation (TV) regularization term. These inclusions serve to reduce noise and ameliorate artifacts. Our proposed algorithm extends the WSNM approach into three-dimensional space and integrates the ASD-POCS algorithm, enabling 3D reconstruction with digital brain phantoms, clinical medical data, and real projections from our portable CBCT system. The performance of our algorithm surpasses traditional methods when evaluated using root mean square error (RMSE), peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), and structural similarity index measure (SSIM) metrics. Furthermore, our approach demonstrates marked enhancements in artifact reduction and noise suppression.
Modelling Sign Language with Encoder-Only Transformers and Human Pose Estimation Keypoint Data
Authors: Woods Luke T. , Rana Zeeshan A.
Published: May 2023

We present a study on modelling American Sign Language (ASL) with encoder-only transformers and human pose estimation keypoint data. Using an enhanced version of the publicly available Word-level ASL (WLASL) dataset, and a novel normalisation technique based on signer body size, we show the impact model architecture has on accurately classifying sets of 10, 50, 100, and 300 isolated, dynamic signs using two-dimensional keypoint coordinates only. We demonstrate the importance of running and reporting results from repeated experiments to describe and evaluate model performance. We include descriptions of the algorithms used to normalise the data and generate the train, validation, and test data splits. We report top-1, top-5, and top-10 accuracy results, evaluated with two separate model checkpoint metrics based on validation accuracy and loss. We find models with fewer than 100k learnable parameters can achieve high accuracy on reduced vocabulary datasets, paving the way for lightweight consumer hardware to perform tasks that are traditionally resource-intensive, requiring expensive, high-end equipment. We achieve top-1, top-5, and top-10 accuracies of 97%, 100%, and 100%, respectively, on a vocabulary size of 10 signs; 87%, 97%, and 98% on 50 signs; 83%, 96%, and 97% on 100 signs; and 71%, 90%, and 94% on 300 signs, thereby setting a new benchmark for this task.
Marine Algal Polyphenols as Skin Protective Agents: Current Status and Future Prospectives
Authors: Jayawardhana H.H.A.C.K. , Jayawardena Thilina U. , Sanjeewa K.K.A. , Liyanage N.M. , Nagahawatta D.P. , Lee Hyo-Geun , Kim Jae-Il , Jeon You-Jin
Published: May 2023

The skin is the outermost anatomical barrier, which plays a vital role in the maintenance of internal homeostasis and protection against physical, chemical, and biological detractors. Direct contact with various stimuli leads to several physiological changes that are ultimately important for the growth of the cosmetic industry. Due to the consequences of using synthetic compounds in skincare and cosmeceutical-related industries, the pharmaceutical and scientific communities have recently shifted their focus to natural ingredients. The nutrient-rich value of algae, which are some of the most interesting organisms in marine ecosystems, has attracted attention. Secondary metabolites isolated from seaweeds are potential candidates for a wide range of economic applications, including food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. An increasing number of studies have focused on polyphenol compounds owing to their promising biological activities against oxidation, inflammation, allergies, cancers, melanogenesis, aging, and wrinkles. This review summarizes the potential evidence of the beneficial properties and future perspectives of using marine macroalgae-derived polyphenolic compounds for advancing the cosmetic industry.
Annual Plasma Neurofilament Dynamics Is a Sensitive Biomarker of Disease Activity in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Fedičová Miriam , Mikula Pavol , Gdovinová Zuzana , Vitková Marianna , Žilka Norbert , Hanes Jozef , Frigová Lýdia , Szilasiová Jarmila
Published: May 2023

Background and Objectives: Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a sensitive biomarker of neuroaxonal damage. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the annual change in plasma NfL (pNfL) and disease activity in the past year, as defined by the concept no evidence of disease activity (NEDA) in a cohort of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Materials and Methods: Levels of pNfL (SIMOA) were examined in 141 MS patients and analyzed in relationship to the NEDA-3 status (absence of relapse, disability worsening, and MRI activity) and NEDA-4 (NEDA-3 extended by brain volume loss ≤ 0.4%) during the last 12 months. Patients were divided into two groups: annual pNfL change with an increase of less than 10% (group 1), and pNfL increases of more than 10% (group 2). Results: The mean age of the study participants (n = 141, 61% females) was 42.33 years (SD, 10.17), and the median disability score was 4.0 (3.5–5.0). The ROC analysis showed that a pNfL annual change ≥ 10% correlates with the absence of the NEDA-3 status (p < 0.001; AUC: 0.92), and the absence of the NEDA-4 status (p < 0.001; AUC: 0.839). Conclusions: Annual plasma NfL increases of more than 10% appear to be a useful tool for assessing disease activity in treated MS patients.
Validation of the CLIF-C OF Score and CLIF-C ACLF Score to Predict Transplant-Free Survival in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis and Concomitant Need for Intensive Care Unit Treatment
Authors: Nagel Michael , Westphal Ruben , Hilscher Max , Galle Peter R. , Schattenberg Jörn M. , Schreiner Oliver , Labenz Christian , Wörns Marcus Alexander
Published: May 2023

Both the Chronic Liver Failure Consortium (CLIF-C) organ failure score (OFs) and the CLIF-C acute-on-chronic-liver failure (ACLF) score (ACLFs) were developed for risk stratification and to predict mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis and ACLF. However, studies validating the predictive ability of both scores in patients with liver cirrhosis and concomitant need for intensive care unit (ICU) treatment are scarce. The aim of the present study is to validate the predictive ability of the CLIF-C OFs and CLIF-C ACLFs regarding the rationale of ongoing ICU treatment and to investigate their predictive ability regarding 28-days (short-), 90-days (medium-), and 365-days (long-term) mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis treated in an ICU. Patients with liver cirrhosis and acute decompensation (AD) or ACLF and concomitant need for ICU treatment were retrospectively analyzed. Predictive factors for mortality, defined as transplant-free survival, were identified using multivariable regression analyses and the predictive ability of CLIF-C OFs, CLIF-C ACLFs, MELD score, and AD score (ADs) was assessed by determining the AUROC. Of 136 included patients, 19 patients presented with AD and 117 patients with ACLF at ICU admission. In multivariable regression analyses, CLIF-C OFs as well as CLIF-C ACLFs were independently associated with higher short-, medium-, and long-term mortality after adjusting for confounding variables. The predictive ability of the CLIF-C OFs in the total cohort in short-term was 0.687 (95% CI 0.599–0.774). In the subgroup of patients with ACLF, the respective AUROCs were 0.652 (95% CI 0.554–0.750) and 0.717 (95% CI 0.626–0.809) for the CLIF-C OFs and for the CLIF-C ACLFs, respectively. ADs performed well in the subgroup of patients without ACLF at ICU admission with an AUROC of 0.792 (95% CI 0.560–1.000). In the long-term, the AUROCs were 0.689 (95% Cl 0.581–0.796) and 0.675 (95% Cl 0.550–0.800) for CLIF-C OFs and CLIF-C ACLFs, respectively. The predictive ability of CLIF-C OFs and CLIF-C ACLFs was relatively low to predict short- and long-term mortality in patients with ACLF with concomitant need for ICU treatment. However, the CLIF-C ACLFs may have special merit in judging futility of further ICU treatment.
Work–Life Balance among Physicians in Jordan
Authors: Azzam Muayad , Al-Kubaisy Manolia , Alshrouf Mohammad A. , Al Karmi Joud , Alnawaiseh Hasan , Mehyar Leith M. , Ibrahim Sarah O. , Abufaraj Mohammad
Published: May 2023

Background and Objectives: We aimed to assess the work–life balance, job satisfaction, and life satisfaction and their correlates among physicians in Jordan. Materials and Methods: This study utilized an online questionnaire to collect information about work–life balance and related factors from practicing physicians in Jordan from August 2021 until April 2022. The survey consisted of 37 detailed self-report questions covering seven main categories: demographics, professional and academic information, impact of work on personal life, impact of personal life on work, work/personal life enhancement, the Andrew and Withney Job Satisfaction scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale developed by Diener et al. Results: The study included 625 participants. Overall, 62.9% were found to have a work–life conflict. The work–life balance score was negatively correlated with age, number of children, and years practicing medicine, while it was positively correlated with number of hours per week and number of calls. Regarding job and life satisfaction, 22.1% had a score indicating job dissatisfaction, while 20.5% disagreed with the statements indicating life satisfaction. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that work–life conflict is highly prevalent among Jordanian physicians and highlights the significance of work–life balance in supporting physicians’ well-being and performance.
Management of Postpartum Extensive Venous Thrombosis after Second Pregnancy
Authors: Tiron Andreea Taisia , Briceag Anca Filofteia , Moraru Liviu , Bălăceanu Lavinia Alice , Dina Ion , Caravia Laura
Published: May 2023

Background: Pregnancy induces a physiological prothrombotic state. The highest risk period for venous thromboembolism and pulmonary embolism in pregnant women is during the postpartum period. Materials and Methods: We present the case of a young woman who gave birth 2 weeks before admission and was transferred to our clinic for edema. She had an increased temperature in her right limb, and a venous Doppler of the limb confirmed thrombosis of the right femoral vein. From the paraclinical examination, we obtained a CBC with leukocytosis, neutrophilia, and thrombocytosis, and a positive D-dimer test. Thrombophilic tests were negative for AT III, lupus anticoagulant negative, and protein S and C, but were positive for heterozygous PAI-1, heterozygous MTHFR A1298C, and EPCR with A1/A2 alleles. After 2 days of UFH with therapeutic APTT, the patient had pain in her left thigh. We performed a venous Doppler, which revealed bilateral femoral and iliac venous thrombosis. During the computed tomography examination, we assessed the venous thrombosis extension on the inferior cava, common iliac, and bilateral common femoral veins. Thrombolysis was initiated with 100 mg of Alteplase given at a rate of 2 mg/h; however, this did not lead to a considerable reduction in the thrombus. Additionally, the treatment with UFH was continued under therapeutic APTT. After 7 days of UFH and triple antibiotic therapy for genital sepsis, the patient had a favorable evolution with remission of venous thrombosis. Results: Alteplase is a thrombolytic agent that is created with recombinant DNA technology, and it was successfully used to treat thrombosis that occurred in the postpartum period. Conclusions: Thrombophilias are associated with a high VTE risk but also with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including recurrent miscarriages and gestational vascular complications. In addition, the postpartum period is associated with a higher VTE risk. A thrombophilic status with heterozygous PAI-1, heterozygous MTHFR A1298C, and EPCR with A1/A2 positive alleles is associated with a high risk of thrombosis and cardiovascular events. Thrombolysis can be successfully used postpartum to treat VTEs. Thrombolysis can be used successfully in VTE developed in the postpartum period.
Proton-Conducting Polymer-Coated Carbon Nanofiber Mats for Pt-Anodes of High-Temperature Polymer-Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell
Authors: Skupov Kirill M. , Ponomarev Igor I. , Vtyurina Elizaveta S. , Volkova Yulia A. , Ponomarev Ivan I. , Zhigalina Olga M. , Khmelenin Dmitry N. , Cherkovskiy Evgeny N. , Modestov Alexander D.
Published: May 2023

High-temperature polymer-electrolyte membrane fuel cells (HT-PEM FC) are a very important type of fuel cell since they operate at 150–200 °C, allowing the use of hydrogen contaminated with CO. However, the need to improve stability and other properties of gas diffusion electrodes still hinders their distribution. Anodes based on a mat (self-supporting entire non-woven nanofiber material) of carbon nanofibers (CNF) were prepared by the electrospinning method from a polyacrylonitrile solution followed by thermal stabilization and pyrolysis of the mat. To improve their proton conductivity, Zr salt was introduced into the electrospinning solution. As a result, after subsequent deposition of Pt-nanoparticles, Zr-containing composite anodes were obtained. To improve the proton conductivity of the nanofiber surface of the composite anode and reach HT-PEMFC better performance, dilute solutions of Nafion®, a polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1) and N-ethyl phosphonated polybenzimidazole (PBI-OPhT-P) were used to coat the CNF surface for the first time. These anodes were studied by electron microscopy and tested in membrane-electrode assembly for H2/air HT-PEMFC. The use of CNF anodes coated with PBI-OPhT-P has been shown to improve the HT-PEMFC performance.
Bioinspired Nanoplatforms Based on Graphene Oxide and Neurotrophin-Mimicking Peptides
Authors: Redigolo Luigi , Sanfilippo Vanessa , La Mendola Diego , Forte Giuseppe , Satriano Cristina
Published: May 2023

Neurotrophins (NTs), which are crucial for the functioning of the nervous system, are also known to regulate vascularization. Graphene-based materials may drive neural growth and differentiation, and, thus, have great potential in regenerative medicine. In this work, we scrutinized the nano–biointerface between the cell membrane and hybrids made of neurotrophin-mimicking peptides and graphene oxide (GO) assemblies (pep−GO), to exploit their potential in theranostics (i.e., therapy and imaging/diagnostics) for targeting neurodegenerative diseases (ND) as well as angiogenesis. The pep−GO systems were assembled via spontaneous physisorption onto GO nanosheets of the peptide sequences BDNF(1-12), NT3(1-13), and NGF(1-14), mimicking the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the neurotrophin 3 (NT3), and the nerve growth factor (NGF), respectively. The interaction of pep−GO nanoplatforms at the biointerface with artificial cell membranes was scrutinized both in 3D and 2D by utilizing model phospholipids self-assembled as small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) or planar-supported lipid bilayers (SLBs), respectively. The experimental studies were paralleled via molecular dynamics (MD) computational analyses. Proof-of-work in vitro cellular experiments with undifferentiated neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y), neuron-like, differentiated neuroblastoma (dSH-SY5Y), and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were carried out to shed light on the capability of the pep−GO nanoplatforms to stimulate the neurite outgrowth as well as tubulogenesis and cell migration.
Microbial Fuel Cell Construction Features and Application for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Roy Hridoy , Rahman Tanzim Ur , Tasnim Nishat , Arju Jannatul , Rafid Md. Mustafa , Islam Md. Reazul , Pervez Md. Nahid , Cai Yingjie , Naddeo Vincenzo , Islam Md. Shahinoor
Published: May 2023

A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a system that can generate electricity by harnessing microorganisms’ metabolic activity. MFCs can be used in wastewater treatment plants since they can convert the organic matter in wastewater into electricity while also removing pollutants. The microorganisms in the anode electrode oxidize the organic matter, breaking down pollutants and generating electrons that flow through an electrical circuit to the cathode compartment. This process also generates clean water as a byproduct, which can be reused or released back into the environment. MFCs offer a more energy-efficient alternative to traditional wastewater treatment plants, as they can generate electricity from the organic matter in wastewater, offsetting the energy needs of the treatment plants. The energy requirements of conventional wastewater treatment plants can add to the overall cost of the treatment process and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. MFCs in wastewater treatment plants can increase sustainability in wastewater treatment processes by increasing energy efficiency and reducing operational cost and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the build-up to the commercial-scale still needs a lot of study, as MFC research is still in its early stages. This study thoroughly describes the principles underlying MFCs, including their fundamental structure and types, construction materials and membrane, working mechanism, and significant process elements influencing their effectiveness in the workplace. The application of this technology in sustainable wastewater treatment, as well as the challenges involved in its widespread adoption, are discussed in this study.
Influence of Slag and Refractory Materials on Inclusions during the Ladle Refining of Low Carbon Aluminum Killed Steel
Authors: Gao Fubin , Wang Fuming , Jiang Min , Li Jianli , Zhang Xiang
Published: May 2023

The evolution of inclusions in low carbon Al killed steel during ladle refining of was studied based on industrial experiments, in which high basicity slag was used. The results showed that inclusions experienced the changes from Al2O3 → MgO-Al2O3 → CaO-MgO-Al2O3 → CaO-Al2O3. Without calcium treatment, MgO-Al2O3 inclusion in steel were largely transformed into CaO-MgO-Al2O3 or CaO-Al2O3. With the aim to decrease MgO-Al2O3 inclusions and to clarify the effects of refining slag and refractory materials on inclusions, laboratory experiments were performed with lower basicity refining slag (lower basicity slag theoretically helps reduce spinel-type inclusions) in MgO and Al2O3 crucibles. The results indicated that, the dissolved Al in liquid steel would react with MgO and CaO in slag or in refractory at 1600 °C. Hence, [Mg] and [Ca] would be supplied into bulk steel. Due to the large contact area between MgO-based refractory and steel, as well as the higher activity of MgO in the refractory, Mg can be more easily reduced, which accounts for the easy modification of Al2O3 into MgO-Al2O3. By contrast, because of the limited supply of [Ca] to steel, modification of MgO-Al2O3 into CaO-MgO-Al2O3 or CaO-Al2O3 was incomplete. With the use of Al2O3-based refractory and reefing slag basicity of about 2.45, MgO-Al2O3 inclusions were obviously decreased.
Ductile Fracture Behavior of ASTM A516 Gr.70 Pressure Vessel Steel by ASTM and ISO Fracture Toughness Standards
Authors: Coêlho Gabriel de Castro , Silva Antonio Almeida , dos Santos Marco Antonio , Machado José J. M. , Tavares João Manuel R. S.
Published: May 2023

Fracture toughness determination is crucial for the design phase of pressure vessels, and, although ASTM E1820 and ISO 12135 fracture toughness standards have existed for some time, some differences have been reported in the determination of this property. This study investigates the ductile fracture behavior of ASTM A516 Gr.70 pressure vessel steel and assesses the differences in estimating both standards. The steel’s tensile properties and initiation fracture toughness (JIC) were evaluated, taking into account the parallel and perpendicular orientations to the rolling direction. The results reveal the properties’ dependence on the rolling direction, mainly attributed to perlite banding. Additionally, as for the JIC determination, the differences were associated with the different blunting line slope estimations on each standard, reinforcing the necessity of a work-hardening-based blunting line for each material assessed.
Recognition of DC01 Mild Steel Laser Welding Penetration Status Based on Photoelectric Signal and Neural Network
Authors: Niu Yue , Gao Perry P. , Gao Xiangdong
Published: May 2023

Achieving online inspection and recognition of laser welding quality is essential for intelligent industrial manufacturing. The weld penetration status is an important indicator for assessing the welding quality, and the optical signal is the most common changing feature in the laser welding process. This paper proposes a new method based on a photoelectric signal and neural network for laser welding penetration status identification. A laser welding experimental system platform based on a photoelectric sensor is built, the laser welding experimental material is DC01 mild steel, and the photoelectric signal in the laser welding process is collected. The collected signal is then processed, and features are extracted using wavelet packet transform and probability density analyses. The mapping relationship between the signal features and weld penetration status is investigated. A deep learning convolutional neural network (CNN)-based weld penetration status recognition model is constructed, with multiple eigenvalue vectors as input, and the model training and recognition results are analyzed and compared. The experimental results show that the photoelectric signal features are highly correlated with the weld penetration status, and the constructed CNN weld penetration status recognition model has an accuracy of up to 98.5% on the test set, demonstrating excellent performance in identifying the quality of the laser welding. This study provides the basis for the online inspection and intelligent identification of laser welding quality.
Integrated Control of Fatty Acid Metabolism in Heart Failure
Authors: Li Xiaoting , Bi Xukun
Published: May 2023

Disrupted fatty acid metabolism is one of the most important metabolic features in heart failure. The heart obtains energy from fatty acids via oxidation. However, heart failure results in markedly decreased fatty acid oxidation and is accompanied by the accumulation of excess lipid moieties that lead to cardiac lipotoxicity. Herein, we summarized and discussed the current understanding of the integrated regulation of fatty acid metabolism (including fatty acid uptake, lipogenesis, lipolysis, and fatty acid oxidation) in the pathogenesis of heart failure. The functions of many enzymes and regulatory factors in fatty acid homeostasis were characterized. We reviewed their contributions to the development of heart failure and highlighted potential targets that may serve as promising new therapeutic strategies.
Severe Hypertriglyceridaemia and Chylomicronaemia Syndrome—Causes, Clinical Presentation, and Therapeutic Options
Authors: Bashir Bilal , Ho Jan H. , Downie Paul , Hamilton Paul , Ferns Gordon , Datta Dev , Cegla Jaimini , Wierzbicki Anthony S. , Dawson Charlotte , Jenkinson Fiona , Delaney Hannah , Mansfield Michael , Teoh Yee , Miedzybrodzka Zosia , Haso Haya , Durrington Paul N. , Soran Handrean
Published: May 2023

We have reviewed the genetic basis of chylomicronaemia, the difference between monogenic and polygenic hypertriglyceridaemia, its effects on pancreatic, cardiovascular, and microvascular complications, and current and potential future pharmacotherapies. Severe hypertriglyceridaemia (TG > 10 mmol/L or 1000 mg/dL) is rare with a prevalence of <1%. It has a complex genetic basis. In some individuals, the inheritance of a single rare variant with a large effect size leads to severe hypertriglyceridaemia and fasting chylomicronaemia of monogenic origin, termed as familial chylomicronaemia syndrome (FCS). Alternatively, the accumulation of multiple low-effect variants causes polygenic hypertriglyceridaemia, which increases the tendency to develop fasting chylomicronaemia in presence of acquired factors, termed as multifactorial chylomicronaemia syndrome (MCS). FCS is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by a pathogenic variant of the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene or one of its regulators. The risk of pancreatic complications and associated morbidity and mortality are higher in FCS than in MCS. FCS has a more favourable cardiometabolic profile and a low prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) compared to MCS. The cornerstone of the management of severe hypertriglyceridaemia is a very-low-fat diet. FCS does not respond to traditional lipid-lowering therapies. Several novel pharmacotherapeutic agents are in various phases of development. Data on the correlation between genotype and phenotype in FCS are scarce. Further research to investigate the impact of individual gene variants on the natural history of the disease, and its link with ASCVD, microvascular disease, and acute or recurrent pancreatitis, is warranted. Volanesorsen reduces triglyceride concentration and frequency of pancreatitis effectively in patients with FCS and MCS. Several other therapeutic agents are in development. Understanding the natural history of FCS and MCS is necessary to rationalise healthcare resources and decide when to deploy these high-cost low-volume therapeutic agents.
Biocontrol Potential of Some Rhizospheric Soil Bacterial Strains against Fusarium culmorum and Subsequent Effect on Growth of Two Tunisian Wheat Cultivars
Authors: Kouki Habiba , Souihi Mouna , Saadouli Ilhem , Balti Sabrine , Ayed Amira , Majdoub Nihed , Mosbah Amor , Amri Ismail , Mabrouk Yassine
Published: May 2023

PGPR (Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria) are used as biofertilizers and biological control agents against fungi. The objective of this work was to evaluate the antagonistic activities of some bacterial strains isolated from soil against four phytopathogenic fungal strains (Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum, Phytophthora sp. and Verticillium dahlia). Two strains having an antagonist effect on fungi and displaying the maximum of plant growth promoting (PGP) traits were selected for further study and identified as Bacillus subtilis and B. amyloliquefaciens respectively. In planta assays demonstrated that the two Bacillus strains are able to enhance plant growth of two wheat cultivars in absence of nitrogen and protect them against F. culmorum. Pot experiments performed in a greenhouse showed that wheat plants inoculation with two bacterial strains reduce F. culmorum disease severity correlated with the accumulation of phenolic compounds and chlorophyll content. These could partly explain the effectiveness of these bacteria in protecting Tunisian durum wheat cultivars against F. culmorum. Application B. amyloliquefaciens, showed better protection than B. subtilis although the last one enhanced more the plant growth of two wheat cultivars in absence of fungus. Hence, combination of two bacterial strains could be a strategic approach to enhance plant growth and control plant diseases.
MPrESS: An R-Package for Accurately Predicting Power for Comparisons of 16S rRNA Microbiome Taxa Distributions including Simulation by Dirichlet Mixture Modeling
Authors: Clarke Thomas H. , Greco Chris , Brinkac Lauren , Nelson Karen E. , Singh Harinder
Published: May 2023

Deep sequencing has revealed that the 16S rRNA gene composition of the human microbiome can vary between populations. However, when existing data are insufficient to address the desired study questions due to limited sample sizes, Dirichlet mixture modeling (DMM) can simulate 16S rRNA gene predictions from experimental microbiome data. We examined the extent to which simulated 16S rRNA gene microbiome data can accurately reflect the diversity within that identified from experimental data and calculate the power. Even when experimental and simulated datasets differed by less than 10%, simulation by DMM consistently overestimates power, except when using only highly discriminating taxa. Admixtures of DMM with experimental data performed poorly compared to pure simulation and did not show the same correlation with experimental data p-value and power values. While multiple replications of random sampling remain the favored method of determining the power, when the estimated sample size required to achieve a certain power exceeds the sample number, then simulated samples based on DMM can be used. We introduce an R-Package, MPrESS, to assist in power calculation and sample size estimation for a 16S rRNA gene microbiome dataset to detect a difference between populations. MPrESS can be downloaded from GitHub.
Predicting the Growth of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Oysters under Varying Ambient Temperature
Authors: Fernández-Vélez Iker , Bidegain Gorka , Ben-Horin Tal
Published: May 2023

Temperature is a critical factor that influences the proliferation of pathogens in hosts. One example of this is the human pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) in oysters. Here, a continuous time model was developed for predicting the growth of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oysters under varying ambient temperature. The model was fit and evaluated against data from previous experiments. Once evaluated, the V. parahaemolyticus dynamics in oysters were estimated at different post-harvest varying temperature scenarios affected by water and air temperature and different ice treatment timing. The model performed adequately under varying temperature, reflecting that (i) increasing temperature, particularly in hot summers, favors a rapid V. parahaemolyticus growth in oysters, resulting in a very high risk of gastroenteritis in humans after consumption of a serving of raw oysters, (ii) pathogen inactivation due to day/night oscillations and, more evidently, due to ice treatments, and (iii) ice treatment is much more effective, limiting the risk of illness when applied immediately onboard compared to dockside. The model resulted in being a promising tool for improving the understanding of the V. parahaemolyticus–oyster system and supporting studies on the public health impact of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus associated with raw oyster consumption. Although robust validation of the model predictions is needed, the initial results and evaluation showed the potential of the model to be easily modified to match similar systems where the temperature is a critical factor shaping the proliferation of pathogens in hosts.
Evaluation of the Limit of Detection of Bacteria by Tandem Mass Spectrometry Proteotyping and Phylopeptidomics
Authors: Mappa Charlotte , Alpha-Bazin Béatrice , Pible Olivier , Armengaud Jean
Published: May 2023

Shotgun proteomics has proven to be an attractive alternative for identifying a pathogen and characterizing the antimicrobial resistance genes it produces. Because of its performance, proteotyping of microorganisms by tandem mass spectrometry is expected to become an essential tool in modern healthcare. Proteotyping microorganisms that have been isolated from the environment by culturomics is also a cornerstone for the development of new biotechnological applications. Phylopeptidomics is a new strategy that estimates the phylogenetic distances between the organisms present in the sample and calculates the ratio of their shared peptides, thus improving the quantification of their contributions to the biomass. Here, we established the limit of detection of tandem mass spectrometry proteotyping based on MS/MS data recorded for several bacteria. The limit of detection for Salmonella bongori with our experimental set-up is 4 × 104 colony-forming units from a sample volume of 1 mL. This limit of detection is directly related to the amount of protein per cell and therefore depends on the shape and size of the microorganism. We have demonstrated that identification of bacteria by phylopeptidomics is independent of their growth stage and that the limit of detection of the method is not degraded in presence of additional bacteria in the same proportion.
Interactions of Different Species of Phytophthora with Cacao Induce Genetic, Biochemical, and Morphological Plant Alterations
Authors: Rêgo Angra Paula Bomfim , Mora-Ocampo Irma Yuliana , Corrêa Ronan Xavier
Published: May 2023

Diseases associated with Phytophthora cause considerable losses in cocoa production worldwide. Analyzing genes, proteins, and metabolites involved in Theobroma cacao’s interaction with Phytophthora species is essential to explaining the molecular aspects of plant defense. Through a systematic literature review, this study aims to identify reports of genes, proteins, metabolites, morphological characteristics, and molecular and physiological processes of T. cacao involved in its interaction with species of Phytophthora. After the searches, 35 papers were selected for the data extraction stage, according to pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria. In these studies, 657 genes and 32 metabolites, among other elements (molecules and molecular processes), were found to be involved in the interaction. The integration of this information resulted in the following conclusions: the expression patterns of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and a possible gene-to-gene interaction participate in cocoa resistance to Phytophthora spp.; the expression pattern of genes that encode pathogenesis-related (PRs) proteins is different between resistant and susceptible genotypes; phenolic compounds play an important role in preformed defenses; and proline accumulation may be involved in cell wall integrity. Only one proteomics study of T. cacao-Phytophthora spp. was found, and some genes proposed via QTL analysis were confirmed in transcriptomic studies.
Glutamate Transporters GltS, GltP and GltI Are Involved in Escherichia coli Tolerance In Vitro and Pathogenicity in Mouse Urinary Tract Infections
Authors: Niu Hongxia , Li Tuodi , Du Yunjie , Lv Zhuoxuan , Cao Qianqian , Zhang Ying
Published: May 2023

To verify the roles of GltS, GltP, and GltI in E. coli tolerance and pathogenicity, we quantified and compared the relative abundance of gltS, gltP, and gltI in log-phase and stationary-phase E. coli and constructed their knockout mutant strains in E. coli BW25113 and uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) separately, followed by analysis of their abilities to tolerate antibiotics and stressors, their capacity for adhesion to and invasion of human bladder epithelial cells, and their survival ability in mouse urinary tracts. Our results showed that gltS, gltP, and gltI transcripts were higher in stationary phase E. coli than in log-phase incubation. Furthermore, deletion of gltS, gltP, and gltI genes in E. coli BW25113 results in decreased tolerance to antibiotics (levofloxacin and ofloxacin) and stressors (acid pH, hyperosmosis, and heat), and loss of gltS, gltP, and gltI in uropathogenic E. coli UTI89 caused attenuated adhesion and invasion in human bladder epithelial cells and markedly reduced survival in mice. The results showed the important roles of the glutamate transporter genes gltI, gltP, and gltS in E. coli tolerance to antibiotics (levofloxacin and ofloxacin) and stressors (acid pH, hyperosmosis, and heat) in vitro and in pathogenicity in mouse urinary tracts and human bladder epithelial cells, as shown by reduced survival and colonization, which improves our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of bacterial tolerance and pathogenicity.
Successive Acanthamoeba Corneal Isolates Identified in Poland Monitored in Terms of In Vitro Dynamics
Authors: Chomicz Lidia , Szaflik Jacek P. , Szostakowska Beata , Izdebska Justyna , Baltaza Wanda , Łazicka-Gałecka Monika , Kuligowska Agnieszka , Machalińska Anna , Zawadzki Paweł J. , Szaflik Jerzy
Published: May 2023

Background: Amoebae of the genus Acanthamoeba cause a sight-threatening infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis. It is considered a rare disease in humans but poses an increasing threat to public health worldwide, including in Poland. We present successive isolates from serious keratitis preliminary examined in terms of the identification and monitoring of, among others, the in vitro dynamics of the detected strains. Methods: Clinical and combined laboratory methods were applied; causative agents of the keratitis were identified at the cellular and molecular levels; isolates were cultivated in an axenic liquid medium and regularly monitored. Results: In a phase-contrast microscope, Acanthamoeba sp. cysts and live trophozoites from corneal samples and in vitro cultures were assessed on the cellular level. Some isolates that were tested at the molecular level were found to correspond to A. mauritanensis, A. culbertsoni, A. castellanii, genotype T4. There was variability in the amoebic strain dynamics; high viability was expressed as trofozoites’ long duration ability to intense multiply. Conclusions: Some strains from keratitis under diagnosis verification and dynamics assessment showed enough adaptive capability to grow in an axenic medium, allowing them to exhibit significant thermal tolerance. In vitro monitoring that was suitable for verifying in vivo examinations, in particular, was useful to detect the strong viability and pathogenic potential of successive Acanthamoeba strains with a long duration of high dynamics.
Plastoquinone Lipids: Their Synthesis via a Bifunctional Gene and Physiological Function in a Euryhaline Cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002
Authors: Kondo Mimari , Aoki Motohide , Hirai Kazuho , Ito Ryo , Tsuzuki Mikio , Sato Norihiro
Published: May 2023

Eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms synthesize triacylglycerols, which are crucial physiologically as major carbon and energy storage compounds and commercially as food oils and raw materials for carbon-neutral biofuel production. TLC analysis has revealed triacylglycerols are present in several cyanobacteria. However, mass spectrometric analysis has shown that freshwater cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, contains plastoquinone-B and acyl plastoquinol with triacylglycerol-like TLC mobility, concomitantly with the absence of triacylglycerol. Synechocystis contains slr2103, which is responsible for the bifunctional synthesis of plastoquinone-B and acyl plastoquinol and also for NaCl-stress acclimatizing cell growth. However, information is limited on the taxonomical distribution of these plastoquinone lipids, and their synthesis genes and physiological roles in cyanobacteria. In this study, a euryhaline cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002, shows the same plastoquinone lipids as those in Synechocystis, although the levels are much lower than in Synechocystis, triacylglycerol being absent. Furthermore, through an analysis of a disruptant to the homolog of slr2103 in Synechococcus, it is found that the slr2103 homolog in Synechococcus, similar to slr2103 in Synechocystis, contributes bifunctionally to the synthesis of plastoquinone-B and acyl plastoquinol; however, the extent of the contribution of the homolog gene to NaCl acclimatization is smaller than that of slr2103 in Synechocystis. These observations suggest strain- or ecoregion-dependent development of the physiological roles of plastoquinone lipids in cyanobacteria and show the necessity to re-evaluate previously identified cyanobacterial triacylglycerol through TLC analysis with mass spectrometric techniques.
Improving Rhamnolipids Biosynthesis in Pseudomonas sp. L01 through Atmospheric and Room-Temperature Plasma (ARTP) Mutagenesis
Authors: Xu Ying , Jing Yali , Zhang Qun , Xiu Jianlong , Tian Maozhang , Cui Qingfeng , Ma Yuandong , Yi Lina , Han Lu , Qian Yuchen , Zhang Yaqian , Nie Yong , Wu Xiao-Lei
Published: May 2023

Biosurfactants have significant applications in various industries, including microbial-enhanced oil recovery (MEOR). While the state-of-the-art genetic approaches can generate high-yield strains for biosurfactant production in fermenters, there remains a critical challenge in enhancing biosurfactant-producing strains for use in natural environments with minimal ecological risks. The objectives of this work are enhancing the strain’s capacity for rhamnolipids production and exploring the genetic mechanisms for its improvement. In this study, we employed atmospheric and room-temperature plasma (ARTP) mutagenesis to enhance the biosynthesis of rhamnolipids in Pseudomonas sp. L01, a biosurfactant-producing strain isolated from petroleum-contaminated soil. Following ARTP treatment, we identified 13 high-yield mutants, with the highest yield of 3.45 ± 0.09 g/L, representing a 2.7-fold increase compared to the parent strain. To determine the genetic mechanisms behind the enhanced rhamnolipids biosynthesis, we sequenced the genomes of the strain L01 and five high-yield mutants. A comparative genomic analysis suggested that mutations in genes related to the synthesis of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and the transport of rhamnolipids may contribute to the improved biosynthesis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first instance of utilizing the ARTP approach to improve rhamnolipid production in Pseudomonas strains. Our study provides valuable insights into the enhancement of biosurfactant-producing strains and the regulatory mechanisms of rhamnolipids biosynthesis.
Aeromonas salmonicida: Genomics, Taxonomy, Diversity, Pathogenesis, Treatments and Beyond
Authors: Charette Steve J.
Published: May 2023

For a long time, the bacterial species Aeromonas salmonicida seemed to be limited to a regrouping of psychrophilic subspecies that infect fish, particularly salmonids [...]
Recent Advances in the Yeast Killer Systems Research
Authors: Servienė Elena , Serva Saulius
Published: May 2023

Biocidic phenotype is common in yeast strains isolated from a variety of natural and industrial habitats [...]