Month: April 2024

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the relationship between symptoms of patients with severe mitral stenosis (MS), evaluated by the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class and Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) score, and echocardiographic parameters. We evaluated patients with severe rheumatic MS diagnosed as mitral valve area (MVA) less than 1.5 cm². All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography and the left atrium (LA) reservoir auto-strain (LASr) analysis. In addition, DASI and NYHA scores were determined to evaluate the functional capacity and symptoms of MS patients. We evaluated 60 patients with MS with a mean age of 50.13 ± 10.28 and a median DASI score of 26.95 (26.38). There were 6 (10%) and 28 (46.7%) patients with NYHA class I and II, and 25 (40.0%) and 2 (3.3%) patients with NYHA class III and IV, respectively. NYHA class was positively correlated with LA area (LAA, r = 0.638), LA volume (LAV, r = 0.652), LAV index (LAVI, r = 0.62), E (r = 0.45), A (r = 0.25), and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP, r = 0.34), while negatively correlated with LASr (r = − 0.73) and MVA (r = − 0.417). Furthermore, the DASI score was positively associated with LASr (r = 0.81) and MVA (r = 0.52) while negatively correlated with LAA (r = − 0.62), LAV (r = − 0.65), LAVI (r = − 0.56), E (r = − 0.46), A (r = − 0.3), and PAP (r = − 0.32). Our findings indicate that LAA, LAV, LAVI, E, A, PAP, MVA, and LASr are associated with NYHA and DASI scores in MS patients. Additionally, the LASr had the strongest correlation between all measured parameters in severe MS patients.

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the relationship between symptoms of patients with severe mitral stenosis (MS), evaluated by the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class and Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) score, and echocardiographic parameters. We evaluated patients with severe rheumatic MS diagnosed as mitral valve area (MVA) less than 1.5 cm². All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography and the left atrium (LA) reservoir auto-strain (LASr) analysis. In addition, DASI and NYHA scores were determined to evaluate the functional capacity and symptoms of MS patients. We evaluated 60 patients with MS with a mean age of 50.13 ± 10.28 and a median DASI score of 26.95 (26.38). There were 6 (10%) and 28 (46.7%) patients with NYHA class I and II, and 25 (40.0%) and 2 (3.3%) patients with NYHA class III and IV, respectively. NYHA class was positively correlated with LA area (LAA, r = 0.638), LA volume (LAV, r = 0.652), LAV index (LAVI, r = 0.62), E (r = 0.45), A (r = 0.25), and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP, r = 0.34), while negatively correlated with LASr (r = − 0.73) and MVA (r = − 0.417). Furthermore, the DASI score was positively associated with LASr (r = 0.81) and MVA (r = 0.52) while negatively correlated with LAA (r = − 0.62), LAV (r = − 0.65), LAVI (r = − 0.56), E (r = − 0.46), A (r = − 0.3), and PAP (r = − 0.32). Our findings indicate that LAA, LAV, LAVI, E, A, PAP, MVA, and LASr are associated with NYHA and DASI scores in MS patients. Additionally, the LASr had the strongest correlation between all measured parameters in severe MS patients.

Abstract

An innovative permanent magnet stirring (PMS) distinguished by high magnetic flux density presents a viable approach to produce AH32 shipbuilding steel with fine and uniform distributed inclusions during solidification. In this work, a PMS model was built to simulate the magnetic and flow characteristics of the steel under various central magnetic flux densities (0, 1000, 1400, 1800 Gs). The simulated results showed that the maximum electromagnetic force escalated from 1.80 to 5.56 kN/m³, and thus, an enhanced flow was introduced with a maximum tangential velocity of 0.12 to 0.31 m/s when the magnetic flux densities increased from 1000 to 1800 Gs. Moreover, the experimental results indicated three typical inclusions of Al₂O₃, MnS, and Al₂O₃–MnS observed in the steel, and distributed more uniformly after PMS with enhanced magnetic flux density. The mean size of inclusions in the center of ingot reduced significantly from 7.2 to 2.5 μm and its number increased from 64 to 85 per mm² when the magnetic density increased to 1800 Gs based on the Aztec Feature results. In addition, the percentages of Al₂O₃–MnS complex inclusions increased from 32.8 to 75.3 pct due to the increasing number of small-sized Al₂O₃ nucleation core for MnS precipitation after enhanced PMS.

Abstract

According to the 2022 World Health Organization's Global Tuberculosis (TB) report, an estimated 10.6 million people fell ill with TB, and 1.6 million died from the disease in 2021. In addition, 2021 saw a reversal of a decades-long trend of declining TB infections and deaths, with an estimated increase of 4.5% in the number of people who fell ill with TB compared to 2020, and an estimated yearly increase of 450,000 cases of drug resistant TB. Estimating the severity of pulmonary TB using frontal chest X-rays (CXR) can enable better resource allocation in resource constrained settings and monitoring of treatment response, enabling prompt treatment modifications if disease severity does not decrease over time. The Timika score is a clinically used TB severity score based on a CXR reading. This work proposes and evaluates three deep learning-based approaches for predicting the Timika score with varying levels of explainability. The first approach uses two deep learning-based models, one to explicitly detect lesion regions using YOLOV5n and another to predict the presence of cavitation using DenseNet121, which are then utilized in score calculation. The second approach uses a DenseNet121-based regression model to directly predict the affected lung percentage and another to predict cavitation presence using a DenseNet121-based classification model. Finally, the third approach directly predicts the Timika score using a DenseNet121-based regression model. The best performance is achieved by the second approach with a mean absolute error of 13-14% and a Pearson correlation of 0.7-0.84 using three held-out datasets for evaluating generalization.

Abstract

The lunar crust and mantle formed through the crystallization of a magma ocean, culminating in a solid cumulate mantle with a layer of dense ilmenite-bearing cumulates rich in incompatible elements forming above less dense cumulates. This gravitationally unstable configuration probably resulted in a global mantle overturn, with ilmenite-bearing cumulates sinking into the interior. However, despite abundant geochemical evidence, there has been a lack of physical evidence on the nature of the overturn. Here we combine gravity inversions together with geodynamic models to shed light on this critical stage of lunar evolution. We show that the observed polygonal pattern of linear gravity anomalies that surround the nearside mare region is consistent with the signature of the ilmenite-bearing cumulates that remained after the global mantle overturn at the locations of past sheet-like downwellings. This interpretation is supported by the compelling similarity between the observed pattern, magnitude and dimensions of the gravity anomalies and those predicted by geodynamic models of the ilmenite-bearing cumulate remnants. These features provide physical evidence for the nature of the global mantle overturn, constrain the overturn to have occurred before the Serenitatis and Humorum basin-forming impacts and support a deep Ti-rich mantle source for the high-Ti basalts.

Abstract

Accurate trajectory prediction of autonomous vehicles is crucial for ensuring road safety. Predicting precise and accurate trajectories is still considered a challenging problem because of the intricate spatio-temporal dependencies among the vehicles. Our study primarily focuses on resolving this issue by introducing a comprehensive system called “TrajectoFormer”, which can effectively represent the spatio-temporal dependency between vehicles. In this system, we have conducted preprocessing on the NGSIM dataset by constructing an 8-neighborhood for each vehicle that represents the spatio-temporal dependency between vehicles effectively. Second, we have deployed a transformer network that captures dependencies between the target vehicle and its neighbor from the constructed neighborhood and predicts future trajectories for the target vehicle with notably reduced training times and significant accuracy compared to existing methods. Experiments on both NGSIM US-101 and US-I80 show that our proposed approach outperforms the other benchmarks in terms of showing low RMSE value for the 5-s prediction horizon of trajectory prediction. Our conducted ablation study also underscores the effectiveness of each component of our proposed TrajectoFormer model relative to traditional time-series prediction models.

Abstract

Background

The Environmental Protection Agency has listed eggshell waste as the 15th most significant food industry pollution hazard. Using eggshell waste as a renewable energy source has been a hot topic recently. Therefore, finding a sustainable solution for the recycling and valorization of eggshell waste by investigating its potential to produce acid phosphatase (ACP) and organic acids by the newly-discovered B. sonorensis was the target of the current investigation.

Results

Drawing on both molecular and morphological characterizations, the most potent ACP-producing B. sonorensis strain ACP2, was identified as a local bacterial strain obtained from the effluent of the paper and pulp industries. The use of consecutive statistical experimental approaches of Plackett–Burman Design (PBD) and Orthogonal Central Composite Design (OCCD), followed by pH-uncontrolled cultivation conditions in a 7 L bench-top bioreactor, revealed an innovative medium formulation that substantially improved ACP production, reaching 216 U L⁻¹ with an ACP yield coefficient Y_p/x of 18.2 and a specific growth rate (µ) of 0.1 h⁻¹. The metals Ag⁺, Sn⁺, and Cr⁺ were the most efficiently released from eggshells during the solubilization process by B. sonorensis. The uncontrolled pH culture condition is the most suitable and favoured setting for improving ACP and organic acids production. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the produced organic acids were carried out using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Lactic acid, citric acid, and hydroxybenzoic acid isomer were the most common organic acids produced throughout the cultivation process. The findings of TGA, DSC, SEM, EDS, FTIR, and XRD analysis emphasize the significant influence of organic acids and ACP activity on the solubilization of eggshell particles.

Conclusions

This study emphasized robust microbial engineering approaches for the large-scale production of a newly discovered acid phosphatase, accompanied by organic acids production from B. sonorensis. The biovalorization of the eggshell waste and the production of cost-effective ACP and organic acids were integrated into the current study, and this was done through the implementation of a unique and innovative medium formulation design for eggshell waste management, as well as scaling up ACP production on a bench-top scale.

Abstract

This work explores the potential of three hypersaline native microalgae strains from Oklahoma, Geitlerinema carotinosum, Pseudanabaena sp., and Picochlorum oklahomensis, for simultaneous treatment of flowback (FW) and produced wastewater (PW) and the production of algal biomass. The quality of wastewater before and after treatment with these microalgae strains was evaluated and a characterization of algal biomass in terms of moisture, volatile matter, fixed carbon, and ash contents was assessed. The experimental results indicated how all the microalgae strains were able to grow in both FW and PW, revealing their potential for wastewater treatment. Although algal biomass production was limited by nutrient availability both in PW and FW, a maximum biomass concentration higher than 1.35 g L⁻¹ were achieved by the three strains in two of the PWs and one of the FWs tested, with Pseudanabaena sp. reaching nearly 2 g L⁻¹. Interestingly, higher specific growth rates were obtained by the two cyanobacteria strains G. carotinosum and Pseudanabaena sp. when cultivated in both PW and FW, compared to P. oklahomensis. The harvested algal biomass contained a significant amount of energy, even though it was significantly reduced by the very high salt content. The energy content fell within the recommended range of 16–17 MJ kg⁻¹ for biomass as feedstock for biofuels. The algal treatment resulted in the complete removal of ammonia from the wastewater and a significant reduction in contaminants, such as nitrate, phosphate, boron, and micronutrients like zinc, manganese, and iron.

Graphical Abstract

Abstract

Background

Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB), a traditional medicinal herb, has been reported to have pharmacological effect including protection against liver, neuron and kidney toxicity. However, explanation of its underlying mechanisms remains a great challenge. This study investigated the protective effects of GEB extract on vancomycin (VAN)-induced nephrotoxicity in rats and underlying mechanisms with emphasis on the anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis. The male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided three groups: control (CON) group, VAN group and GEB group with duration of 14 days.

Results

The kidney weight and the serum levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine in the GEB group were lower than the VAN group. Histological analysis using hematoxylin & eosin and periodic acid Schiff staining revealed pathological changes of the VAN group. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the expression levels of N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase, myeloperoxidase and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the GEB group were decreased when compared with the VAN group. The number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling-positive cells, phosphohistone and malondialdehyde levels were lower in the GEB group than VAN group. The levels of total glutathione in the GEB group were higher than the VAN group.

Conclusions

The findings of this study suggested that GEB extract prevents VAN-induced renal tissue damage through anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis.

Abstract

Background

Conflict situations, armed or not, have been associated with emergence and transmission of infectious diseases. This review aims to identify the pathways through which infectious diseases emerge within conflict situations and to outline appropriate infectious disease preparedness and response strategies.

Methods

A systematic review was performed representing published evidence from January 2000 to October 2023. Ovid Medline and Embase were utilised to obtain literature on infectious diseases in any conflict settings. The systematic review adhered to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis). No geographical restrictions were imposed.

Findings

Our review identified 51 studies covering AIDS, Hepatitis B, Tuberculosis, Cholera, Coronavirus 2, Ebola, Poliomyelitis, Malaria, Leishmaniasis, Measles, Diphtheria, Dengue and Acute Bacterial Meningitis within conflict settings in Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Africa since October 2023. Key factors contributing to disease emergence and transmission in conflict situations included population displacement, destruction of vital infrastructure, reduction in functioning healthcare systems and healthcare personnel, disruption of disease control programmes (including reduced surveillance, diagnostic delays, and interrupted vaccinations), reduced access by healthcare providers to populations within areas of active conflict, increased population vulnerability due to limited access to healthcare services, and disruptions in the supply chain of safe water, food, and medication. To mitigate these infectious disease risks reported preparedness and response strategies included both disease-specific intervention strategies as well as broader concepts such as the education of conflict-affected populations through infectious disease awareness programmes, investing in and enabling health care in locations with displaced populations, intensifying immunisation campaigns, and ensuring political commitment and intersectoral collaborations between governments and international organisations.

Conclusion

Conflict plays a direct and indirect role in the transmission and propagation of infectious diseases. The findings from this review can assist decision-makers in the development of evidence-based preparedness and response strategies for the timely and effective containment of infectious disease outbreaks in conflict zones and amongst conflict-driven displaced populations.

Funding

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control under specific contract No. 22 ECD.13,154 within Framework contract ECDC/2019/001 Lot 1B.