Degree Of Damage Research Articles

β-Mangostin Alleviates Renal Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis via the TGF-β1/JNK Signaling Pathway.

The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of kidney fibrosis, and kidney fibrosis is associated with an adverse renal prognosis. Beta-mangostin (β-Mag) is a xanthone derivative obtained from mangosteens that is involved in the generation of antifibrotic and anti-oxidation effects. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of β-Mag on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis both in vivo and in vitro and the corresponding mechanisms involved. As shown through an in vivo study conducted on a unilateral ureteral obstruction mouse model, oral β-Mag administration, in a dose-dependent manner, caused a lesser degree of tubulointerstitial damage, diminished collagen I fiber deposition, and the depressed expression of fibrotic markers (collagen I, α-SMA) and EMT markers (N-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail, and Slug) in the UUO kidney tissues. The in vitro part of this research revealed that β-Mag, when co-treated with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), decreased cell motility and downregulated the EMT (in relation to Vimentin, Snail, and N-cadherin) and phosphoryl-JNK1/2/Smad2/Smad3 expression. Furthermore, β-Mag co-treated with SB (Smad2/3 kinase inhibitor) or SP600125 (JNK kinase inhibitor) significantly inhibited the TGF-β1-associated downstream phosphorylation and activation of JNK1/2-mediated Smad2 targeting the Snail/Vimentin axis. To conclude, β-Mag protects against EMT and kidney fibrotic processes by mediating the TGF-β1/JNK/Smad2 targeting Snail-mediated Vimentin expression and may have therapeutic implications for renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

Towards Sustainable Rural Development: Assessment Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Rural Ecosystem Health through Integrating Ecosystem Integrity and SDGs

Rural ecosystem health (REH) serves as an effective metric for assessing the damage degree and stability state within rural systems and their components. It reflects the interaction and the balance among rural subsystems, emphasizing the harmonious development of resources, agriculture, environment, economy, and society that are fundamental to sustainable rural development. Most regional-scale ecosystem health assessments primarily focus on either the natural state of the ecosystem or external disturbances affecting it, often neglecting human ecological systems characterized by economic and social dimensions. Taking Chongqing as an example, we established an improved REH assessment framework by integrating ecological integrity from the perspective of a social-economy-natural compound ecosystem. Furthermore, we innovatively incorporated the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the formulation of the REH indicator system to quantitatively elucidate the spatiotemporal characteristics. The results indicated that: (1) The REH in Chongqing exhibited an evolutionary pattern characterized by a subsequent rise, maintaining values between 0.363–0.872 from 2000 to 2018. This trend reflected a distinct two-stage development characteristic, with the rural socio-economic subsystem contributing the most at 33.36%, followed closely by the rural environmental subsystem at 27.84%; (2) In 2018, the REH across the 36 districts and counties in Chongqing displayed spatial differentiation patterns described as “collapse in the west, high levels in the northeast, and localized surges”. The areas ranked from smallest to largest REH were metropolitan, western, southeastern, and northeastern areas; (3) Four levels (e.g., disease, single health, compound health, and comprehensive health) and twelve sub-levels of REH were defined using a dominant factors method. Finally, we analyzed the driving factors from four aspects of urbanization development: policy regulation, urban-rural factors flow, and regional differences. We also proposed differentiated planning and policies for sustainable rural development in Chongqing.

Guar gum and carboxymethyl cellulose nanocomposite loaded with piperine: A multipurpose nanoparticle with potential antibacterial and anticancer properties

Guar gum-carboxymethyl cellulose derived piperine nanocomposite (GG-CMC@PIP) was synthesized to develop a phytochemical-based nanomaterial by following a simple synthetic procedure. In this study, piperine, an alkaloid prodrug was nanonized by entrapping within guar gum-carboxymethyl cellulose derived nanocomposite (GG-CMC). GG-CMC@PIPs were of (i) size (25 ± 3) nm by TEM, (ii) zeta potential (−) 33.1 ± 0.73 mV and (iii) entrapment efficiency 86 ± 0.46 %. High loading percentage of piperine in polymeric nanocomposites revealed excellent incorporation efficiency. In addition, pH responsive release behaviour of piperine from nanocomposites exhibited sustained but faster release pattern in pH 5.5. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of piperine loaded nanocomposite on Gram positive Enterococcus faecalis and Gram-negative Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa were in the range of 200–400 μg/ml. IC50 value of GG-CMC@PIP was found to be around 500 μg/ml against C6 glioma cell line. Experimental outcome confirmed excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated cytotoxicity, mitochondrial depolarization and higher degree of nuclear damage followed by increased mortality of C6 glioma cell after treatment with piperine-loaded nanocomposite.

Quantitative analysis of factors influencing damage to old-growth hemiboreal stands as a result of a catastrophic windthrow, based on remote sensing and merged data

The consequences of a catastrophic windthrow in a old-growth hemiboreal stands of the Kologrivsky Forest Reserve were investigated. The degree of damage to tree stands was assessed by interpretation of the Sentinel-2 satellite images. Data from the GBIF portal, SRTM global terrain height models, and tree stand heights were used for the quantitative analysis of factors affecting the presence of wind damage. It was found that tree stands on an area of 277.9 hectares (40.5% of the entire massif) were damaged by windthrow. The results of the analysis of height models and regression models showed that spruce stands are more vulnerable to wind damage, as well as stands of greater height or those growing at higher elevation on the ground.

Research on the discrimination and classification of multi-modal fault bearing based on multi-attribute decision-making mechanism

In order to solve the problem of low fault diagnosis rate of friction torque in upright placement, this paper proposes a fault diagnosis method based on multi-attribute decision-making mechanism to accurately evaluate the fault damage degree of bearing friction torque test bench. We detect defects by utilizing non-destructive, non-contact infrared thermal imaging technology to perform data acquisition and testing in six situations, including non-destructive, damaged inner ring, damaged outer ring, marble-defect, lack of lubrication, and damaged inner and outer ring bearings. Then, the infrared data of different bearings are transformed in a standardized form, and the decision data is mapped to the Pythagorean fuzzy information space. The correlation between the decision data are considering, the PA operator and the BM operator are used for data processing to achieve the accurate distinction of different faulty bearings. Finally, qualitative and quantitative methods are used to analyze the decision results, and the effectiveness of the method is explained. The variation of the overall singular value of each object in the decision result of the proposed method is less than 0.002, while the data fluctuation of WA, WG, HM and DHM related decision methods is 0.005, and there is a singular value greater than 0.02. In addition, sensitivity analysis provides a feasible scheme for parameter optimization and optimal parameter determination.

Biological Characterization and Fungicide Sensitivity of Dactylobotrys graminicola Causing Oat Spikelet Rot in China

Oat (Avena sativa) is a significant cereal crop that is extensively cultivated in temperate regions and is suitable for growth at higher elevations. The damage degree and epidemic area of oat spikelet rot caused by Dactylobotrys graminicola are generally increasing and spreading. Mycelium growth rate method was used to identify biological characteristics and in vitro fungicide screenings of D. graminicola. The results show that sorbitol and casein tryptone were the best carbon and nitrogen source for the D. graminicola, respectively. The optimal temperature for mycelium growth and conidia production of the D. graminicola was 20 °C; meanwhile, an acidic environment was shown to be conducive to mycelia growth, and alkaline facilitated conidia production. Among the ten tested fungicides, 20% Pydiflumetofen showed the best inhibition rate, with an EC50 (concentration for 50% of maximal effect) value of 0.005 mg/L; 30% Difenoconazole Propiconazole and 35% Metalaxyl-M Fludioxonil also showed sufficient inhibitory effects against D. graminicola, with EC50 value of 0.05 mg/L and 0.04 mg/L. Furthermore, we used artificial inoculation to determine the effectiveness of fungicide control in field, Trifloxystrobin 10%-Tebuconazole 20% with more than 90% control effectiveness, followed by 20% Pydiflumetofen. The results of this study not only revealed the biological characteristics of D. graminicola, but also provided effective candidate fungicides for the prevention and control of oat spikelet rot disease.

A perspective view of salt crystallization from solution in porous media: morphology, mechanism, and salt efflorescence.

Salt efflorescence is one of the major hazards to cultural heritages, masonries, and highways etc. It is now generally accepted that damages caused by salt efflorescence are mainly due to continuous cycles of salt crystallization/dissolution or hydration/dehydration in confined spaces. The position where salt efflorescence occurs and its type are closely related to the degree of damages caused by salt efflorescence. It is known that water is the key environmental factor determining the salt crystallization position. But influence of the correlation between water supply and evaporation on the position of salt crystallization is still not clearly understood. In this work, a set of experiments are designed to investigate salt efflorescence in porous matrix. It is found that the types and positions of salt efflorescence have little to do with nucleation, but are mainly governed by crystal growth, which is controlled by the rates of water evaporation, water and salt supply, capillary forces and surface properties of the porous matrices.

Crack characteristic and fractal analysis of SFRC shear wall with CFST columns under repeated low cycle load

In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the crack characteristics and fractal behavior in steel fiber reinforced concrete shear walls (SFRCSW) reinforced with concrete-filled steel tube columns (CFSTCs) under repeated low-cycle loading conditions after failure. Notably, the incorporation of steel fibers and CFSTCs did not alter the fundamental shear failure mode but effectively constrained crack widths to 2.0 mm and 1.6 mm, respectively, from an initial width of 2.4 mm. The use of steel fibers or CFSTCs led to significant improvements in the surface crack fractal dimension (SCFD) of shear walls, with increase ratios of 9.7 % and 7.88 %, respectively. Conversely, an increase in SCFD was associated with improvements in yield load, peak load, failure load, and cumulative hysteretic energy consumption in SFRCSWs. SCFD is suitable for comparative evaluation of the bearing capacity and energy dissipation capacity of different shear walls, but it is not suitable for comparative evaluation of displacement and ductility. For shear walls, it seems more reasonable to evaluate the damage degree in loading process by displacement - fractal dimension relation, rather than load - fractal dimension relation, with the critical values of fractal dimension are about 1.12 and 1.17.

Research Progress on Electrical Properties of Self-sensing Concrete

In order to effectively avoid the different degrees of impact and damage to the existing buildings and structures, it is particularly important to strengthen the health detection of such structures and facilities, which is also an important research field in the development of green building discipline. Smart concrete is both structural and functional, and has the potential of self-monitoring of concrete structures. This paper reviews the basic concepts of self-sensing concrete, including the research progress of self-sensing concrete materials, and summarizes the classification of different conductive phase materials and their conductive properties. Secondly, the basic mechanical properties and electrical properties of self-sensing concrete are discussed. The factors affecting the perceptual performance of self-sensing concrete considered by different scholars are summarized. It is concluded that few scholars have studied the mechano-electric interaction evaluation mechanism that takes the electrical parameters into account the stress, strain, crack or damage of concrete, and evaluates mechanical properties and crack propagation length through the change of electrical signals. Finally, the importance of self-sensing performance of intelligent concrete is emphasized, and the prospect of future research is put forward.

A new algorithm for coeliac disease based on the 'long forgotten' TCRγδ+ intra-epithelial lymphocytes detected with an antibody working on FFPE sections.

Diagnosis of coeliac disease (CD) with mild mucosal changes is difficult for all parties involved. We aimed to determine the power of Tcell receptor (TCR)γδ+ intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IELs) in discriminating CD from other causes of intra-epithelial lymphocytosis using a new monoclonal antibody. A total of 167 cases categorised as coeliac (117 untreated CD, classified according to Marsh, updated by Ensari, including 29 type 1, 29 type 2, 39 type 3 and 20 treated CD), and non-coeliac groups (24 controls and 26 non-coeliac IELosis) based on clinical, serological and histological data were studied for IEL counts enumerated per 100 enterocytes using haematoxylin and eosin, CD3, TCR δ-stains. TCRγδ+ IELs were significantly higher in CD (24.83 ± 16.13) compared to non-CD (6.72 ± 6.32) and were correlated with the degree of mucosal damage. Both γδ+ IEL count and ratio showed higher performance in differentiating untreated coeliacs from controls, with a sensitivity of 83.76; 85.57 and specificity of 95.83; 79.17, respectively. TCRγδ+ IEL counts distinguished type 1 CD (20.41 ± 13.57) from non-coeliac IELosis (9.42 ± 7.28) (p = 0.025). Discriminant analysis revealed that villus/crypt ratio, γδ+ and CD3+ IEL counts, γδ+/CD3+IEL ratio, IEL distribution pattern were potent discriminants and correctly classified 82.3% of cases while the algorithm accurately diagnosed 93.4% of cases. The new antibody detecting γδ+ IELs in FFPE sections revealed thresholds of 10.5 for γδ+ IELs and 14% for γδ+/CD3+IEL ratio which distinguished coeliacs from non-coeliacs with high sensitivity and specificity, particularly in cases with normal villus/crypt axis including type 1 CD, non-CD IELosis and controls. A 'coeliac algorithm' based on γδ+ IELs is proposed with the hope that it will be used in the histopathological diagnostic approach by the pathology community.

7725 Could COVID-19 Be the Trigger for Type 1 Diabetes?

Abstract Disclosure: E. Ahsan: None. F.F. Foo: None. A. Ravin: None. M. Akula: None. K. Hu: None. R. Ong: None. S. Holland: None. M. Hossain: None. J. Cheng: None. Introduction: COVID-19 disrupts glucose homeostasis, which may result in hyperglycemia and new-onset diabetes mellitus. It has been hypothesized to be caused by an increased inflammatory response, increased insulin resistance, and a degree of acute viral pancreatic damage. A meta-analysis showed that the incidence of new-onset diabetes was found to be as high as 14.4% (95% CI: [5.9%-25.8%]). Here, we report a case of COVID-19-induced diabetes to spread awareness among healthcare providers and encourage early detection to prevent long-term complications. Clinical Case: A 54-year-old African American female with a past medical history of hyperlipidemia, obesity, and hypothyroidism presented to our endocrinology office for evaluation and management of diabetes mellitus (DM). She presented with symptoms of 66-pound weight loss, polydipsia, polyphagia, and polyuria. Her labs on diagnosis were significant for blood glucose of 550 mg/dl (70-100 mg/dl), hemoglobin A1c >15.5% (<5.7%), and bicarbonate 23 mmol/L (20-31 mmol/L). She started on insulin and then switched to semaglutide after six months. Her fasting glucose on the follow-up visit was 103 mg/dl, the anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD-65) antibody was 8,558.9 units/ml (<5 units/ml), C peptide was 1.9 ng/ml (0.5-2ng/ml), and Islet Antigen-2 (IA-2) autoantibody was <7.5 U/ml (0-7.49 U/ml). Despite positive antibodies, her C-peptide suggested enough beta-cell function, and she was switched from insulin to semaglutide. The patient was diagnosed with autoimmune diabetes, which may be from the COVID-19 infection, and was educated about regular follow-up and new medications like teplizumab that may help prevent the progression to needing insulin. Clinical Lesson: The exact mechanism of new-onset COVID-19-induced diabetes is still unknown. However, multiple risk factors are theorized to play a role in COVID-induced DM. These include defects in insulin production and glucose clearance, obesity, stress hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and steroid therapy. Our patient had a history of obesity but no history of diabetes, steroid use, or any personal or family history of autoimmune processes. Compared to COVID-19 patients with normoglycemia or hyperglycemia, patients with preexisting diabetes and newly diagnosed diabetes experienced more severe complications, such as shock, ARDS, acute kidney injury, hypoalbuminemia, and severe COVID-19 complications. Additional research is required to investigate the various pathophysiologies and treatment options, including new medications that may prevent the disease's further progression. Diabetes caused by COVID-19 should be treated cautiously, and prompt diagnosis and care are essential to preventing further complications. Presentation: 6/3/2024

8144 Hypertension in Sheehan Syndrome: A Diagnostic Challenge

Abstract Disclosure: E. Ahsan: None. F.F. Foo: None. C. Lesniak: None. M. Akula: None. K. Hu: None. R. Ong: None. K. Chalasani: None. J. Cheng: None. S. Holland: None. Introduction: Postpartum pituitary necrosis, commonly known as Sheehan syndrome (SS), is the term used to describe the necrosis of anterior pituitary gland cells that occurs after significant postpartum bleeding, hypovolemia, and shock. This typically occurs after delivery, during which the mother suffers significant blood loss. The pituitary gland fails to produce hormones due to this blood loss. Depending on the degree of tissue damage, SS can have an acute or chronic course, and patients may present with a wide range of clinical symptoms at diagnosis. Acute SS is associated with postpartum pituitary infarction, which can result in hypotension, shock, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, headache, vision disturbances, unconsciousness, and an inability to lactate. We present a rare case of SS where the patient experienced hypertension instead of classic hypotension due to postpartum preeclampsia. Clinical Case: A 40-year-old female with no significant medical history presented to the hospital for scheduled induction of labor for polyhydramnios and underwent vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery and postpartum hysterectomy due to severe postpartum hemorrhage secondary to DIC. The postpartum course was also complicated by preeclampsia with severe features. Patients developed features like excessive fatigue, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, hypothyroidism, polyuria, and failure of lactation, which were consistent with panhypopituitarism secondary to Sheehan syndrome. However, the patient was hypertensive to 145/91 before steroids were given. Labs were significant for serum sodium 116 mmol/L (135-145 mmol/L), FSH <0.7 mIU/mL (Follicular Phase: 2.5-10.2, Mid-cycle Peak: 3.1-17.7, Luteal Phase: 1.5-9.1, Postmenopausal: 23.0-116.3), LH <0.2 mIU/m (Follicular Phase: 1.9-12.5, Mid-Cycle Peak: 8.7-76.3, Luteal Phase: 0.5-16.9, Postmenopausal: 10.0-54.7), Prolactin: 2.4 ng/mL (Non-pregnant: 3.0-30.0, Pregnant: 10.0-209.0, Postmenopausal: 2.0-20.0), PM Cortisol on admission: 1.10 ug/dL (3.44-16.76 ug/dL), plasma ACTH 7 pg/mL( 6 - 50 pg/mL), TSH 0.430 uIU/mL (0.550 - 4.780 uIU/mL), FT4 0.59 ng/dL - 1.76 ng/dL). MRI of the brain pituitary showed- A 1.5 cm region of hypoenhancement and an additional 2 mm focus of hypoenhancement in the sella, findings represent evolving pituitary necrosis. The patient received 24 units of blood transfusion and hormone replacement therapy, followed by outpatient endocrinology follow-up. Clinical lessons: Although considerable blood loss causes hypotension in patients with SS, additional postpartum medical issues can sometimes result in atypical presentations. In our patient, postpartum preeclampsia caused hypertension. Identifying the atypical symptoms of SS is just as vital as identifying its typical features to prevent potentially fatal consequences. Presentation: 6/2/2024

Lasioptera rubi, a Pest of Rubus idaeus: Galls Morphology, Anatomy and Histochemistry

Rubus species are affected by the gall inducer Lasioptera rubi (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), which produces galls predominantly on the stem but sometimes also on the petiole. The presence of these neo-structures at the stem level can affect their survival and implicit production in raspberry crops. The purpose of the present study is to achieve the first detailed description of the histological and morphological peculiarities of these galls, which present great variability from these points of view. Three morphotypes were described in the galls produced in the stem, depending on the position of the larval chambers and the degree of damage to the vascular system. The histochemical investigations highlighted the presence of reducing sugars and proteins as the main nutrients in the gall tissues, as well as the presence of polyphenols and terpenoids as secondary products of metabolism. Indoleacetic acid was identified near the larval chambers and in the neighboring tissues, its presence having an important role in the changes in the morphogenesis of the secondary xylem in the stem and in inducing the appearance of meristematic nodules in the gall structure.

Experimental study on damage of steel fiber reinforced concrete- and wood-filled GFRP tubes under axial compression

In order to reduce the self-weight of concrete structures and improve its corrosion resistance, it is an effective way to fill GFRP tubes with wood columns instead of part of concrete. However, concrete structures are prone to cracks, which will reduce the bearing capacity of the structure and affect the safety and applicability of the structure. Incorporating the steel fibers (SF) in concrete seems to be an excellent solution to limit crack propagation and improve the ductility of concrete structures. Based on the premise, in this paper, a new type of structure composite material of steel fiber reinforced concrete- and wood-filled GFRP tubes was developed. The mechanical properties, damage evolution process and crack fractal characteristics of steel fiber reinforced concrete- and wood-filled GFRP tubes under axial compression with different SF volume fractions (0 %, 1 %, 1.5 % and 2 %) were studied by acoustic emission (AE) technology. The finite element method (FEM) was established to simulate the test work and expand the analysis. The results showed that the bearing capacity and ductility of the specimens increased first and then decrease with the increase of SF content, and the specimens with 1.5 % volume fraction of SF showed the best mechanical properties. According to the characteristics of AE ringing counts, the damage process of the specimen was described by three marker events, which were concrete cracking, wood cracking and GFRP tube fracture. The incorporation of SF increased the intensity of AE signal and the proportion of shear cracks, and reduced the damage scale. The fractal dimension of concrete surface cracks had a good correlation with the degree of local damage and the complexity of crack propagation. The damage evolution model based on AE cumulative events and stress obeyed the two-parameter Weibull distribution. The incorporation of SF reduced the degree of damage, and the parameter m had a negative correlation with brittleness. In addition, the damage process of the specimens revealed by the FEM matched well with the experimental results. Additionally, the incorporation of SF made the stress distribution of each part of the specimen more uniform and avoided the phenomenon of stress concentration.

COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS OF THE CONDITION OF SHIP ROLLING BEARINGS DURING THEIR OPERATION

The results of statistical processing of vibration signals obtained during diagnostics of ship power plants during the operation process are offered. A distinctive feature of monitoring the technical condition of elements of ship power plants is the uncertainty in the fixation and duration of extreme loads. The peculiarity of computer vibration diagnostics of rotary mechanisms is determined, which is that, in particular, physical measurements of vibration signals require their use in mathematical models of the physical state of the bearing. Calculations of statistical characteristics of vibration signals in the time domain, such as standard deviation (Std), asymmetry (Skewness), kurtosis (Kurtosis), full range of oscillations (Peak2Peak), root mean square value (RMS), cross factor (CrestFactor), form- factor (ShapeFactor), impulse factor (ImpulseFactor), marginal factor (MarginFactor), energy (Energy). The variety of diagnostic signals leads to the need to merge indicators of different dimensions without losing available information into a single generalizing indicator, for which the method of principal components is used in the work. The methodology of statistical processing and practical implementation of diagnostics of vibration signals during the analysis of damage evolution of rolling bearings of turbochargers of marine power plants are described. A new computer information parameter of vibration diagnostics based on the analysis of the first principal component in the time domain and spectral excess in the frequency domain has been identified and experimentally confirmed. The use of new diagnostic parameters makes it possible not only to judge the degree of damage to the rolling bearing, but also to observe the dynamics of the development of the defect and make a relative forecast of the working life of the rolling bearing. A real practical situation is considered - computer diagnostics of vibration signals of ship rolling bearings of a point defect of an external defect of a rolling bearing ring. Determining the applicability of the principal component method to other types of defects showed their potential for vibrodiagnosis of defects located on the inner ring of the bearing and when the ball falls out of the holder.

Cisplatin vestibulotoxicity: a current review.

Cisplatin, a commonly used chemotherapy drug, is well-established for its ototoxic effects, primarily attributed to the damage it inflicts on cochlear hair cells. However, its impact on the vestibular system remains inadequately understood. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of existing literature concerning cisplatin-induced vestibulotoxicity. Animal studies have shown that cisplatin induces a vestibular hair cell loss that is dose-dependent, with the severity of damage also varying according to the route of administration. Notably, intratympanic and systemic injections in animal models have manifested significant damage primarily to utricular hair cells, with a lesser degree of damage observed for the other vestibular end organs. The underlying mechanisms of cisplatin induced vestibular hair cell loss include apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory cytokines. Several protective agents, such as Pifithrin-α, DAPT, Ginkgolide B, and heat shock proteins, have demonstrated efficacy in inhibiting cisplatin-induced vestibular damage in preclinical studies. Human clinical findings indicate that cisplatin treatment can cause vestibular dysfunction, characterized by symptoms ranging from transient dizziness to persistent vertigo. Challenges in diagnosis, including the limited utilization of comprehensive vestibular testing for many patients, contribute to the variability in reported outcomes. Cisplatin-induced vestibulotoxicity is a significant complication of chemotherapy, necessitating further research to understand its mechanisms and to improve diagnosis and management, ultimately aiming to enhance the quality of life for cancer patients undergoing cisplatin therapy.

Dexmedetomidine alleviates CoCl2-induced hypoxic cellular damage in INS-1 cells by regulating autophagy.

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is inevitable during the perioperative period. The pancreas is susceptible to I/R injury. Autophagy, a self-digestion process, is upregulated during I/R injury and strongly induced by hypoxia. This study aims to determine whether dexmedetomidine can decrease pancreatic β-cell damage by regulating autophagy under hypoxia. INS-1 rat insulinoma cells were cultured in dexmedetomidine before being exposed to cobalt chloride (CoCl2)-induced hypoxia. Cell viability and the expression of autophagy-related proteins (light chain 3B [LC3B]-II, p62, and ATGs) were assessed. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins (BCL-2 and P-BAD) were also evaluated. CoCl2-treated INS-1 cells were pretreated with the autophagosome formation inhibitor, 3-methyladenine (3-MA), to compare its effects with those of dexmedetomidine. Bafilomycin-A1 (Baf-A1) that inhibits autophagosome degradation was used to confirm the changes in autophagosome formation induced by dexmedetomidine. Dexmedetomidine attenuated the increased expression of autophagic proteins (LC3B-II, p62, and ATGs) and reversed the CoCl2-induced reduction in the proliferation of INS-1 cells after hypoxia. Dexmedetomidine also alleviated the decreased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein (BCL-2) and the increased expression of apoptotic protein (BAX). Dexmedetomidine reduces the activation of autophagy through inhibiting autophagosome formation, as confirmed by a decrease in LC3B-II/I ratio, a marker of autophagosome formation, in LC3B turnover assay combined with Baf-A1. Dexmedetomidine alleviates the degree of cellular damage in INS-1 cells against CoCl2-induced hypoxia by regulating autophagosome formation. These results provide a basis for further studies to confirm these effects in clinical practice.

Quantitative evaluation of DNA damage repair dynamics to elucidate predictors of autism vs. cancer in individuals with germline PTEN variants.

Persons with germline variants in the tumor suppressor gene phosphatase and tensin homolog, PTEN, are molecularly diagnosed with PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS). PHTS confers high risks of specific malignancies, and up to 23% of the patients are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or developmental delay (DD). The accurate prediction of these two seemingly disparate phenotypes (cancer vs. ASD/DD) for PHTS at the individual level remains elusive despite the available statistical prevalence of specific phenotypes of the syndrome at the population level. The pleiotropy of the syndrome may, in part, be due to the alterations of the key multi-functions of PTEN. Maintenance of genome integrity is one of the key biological functions of PTEN, but no integrative studies have been conducted to quantify the DNA damage response (DDR) in individuals with PHTS and to relate to phenotypes and genotypes. In this study, we used 43 PHTS patient-derived lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) to investigate the associations between DDR and PTEN genotypes and/or clinical phenotypes ASD/DD vs. cancer. The dynamics of DDR of γ-irradiated LCLs were analyzed using the exponential decay mathematical model to fit temporal changes in γH2AX levels which report the degree of DNA damage. We found that PTEN nonsense variants are associated with less efficient DNA damage repair ability resulting in higher DNA damage levels at 24 hours after irradiation compared to PTEN missense variants. Regarding PHTS phenotypes, LCLs from PHTS individuals with ASD/DD showed faster DNA damage repairing rate than those from patients without ASD/DD or cancer. We also applied the reaction-diffusion partial differential equation (PDE) mathematical model, a cell growth model with a DNA damage term, to accurately describe the DDR process in the LCLs. For each LCL, we can derive parameters of the PDE. Then we averaged the numerical results by PHTS phenotypes. By performing simple subtraction of two subgroup average results, we found that PHTS-ASD/DD is associated with higher live cell density at lower DNA damage level but lower cell density level at higher DNA damage level compared to LCLs from individuals with PHTS-cancer and PHTS-neither.

Investigation of Impact Contact Force Testing and Damage Analysis on Potatoes

To investigate the influencing factors and intrinsic relationships between potato impact force and impact damage during potato soil separation, a testing system for potato impact force was established. The impact force test system is composed of a base, a height adjustment device, a simple separation screen, a soil storage tank, an impact force sensor, and so on. By allowing potatoes to fall freely to simulate the collision process, impact force data are collected, and a high-speed camera is used to locate the impact position and analyze the degree of damage. Through the response surface analysis method, the influencing factors and laws of the impact force and impact damage during the collision process between potatoes and rods under soil and no-soil conditions were studied. The results of the response surface analysis indicate that when the screen inclination is within the range of 14.12° to 14.77°, falling height ranges from 453.83 mm to 500 mm, screen rod spacing falls within 36.50 mm to 40 mm, and the screen rod material is rubber. Potatoes can still be at a relatively low damage level when enduring a large impact force. This study has significant implications for reducing potato impact damage during harvesting, enhancing economic benefits in the potato industry, and advancing the technical level of potato harvesting equipment. In the future, based on the results of this study, further exploration can be made to optimize the design of potato harvesting equipment so as to better reduce the damage to potatoes during harvesting and subsequent processing processes and promote the sustainable development of the potato industry.

Supporting the infrastructure operators with customer specific AE-monitoring solutions

Cost-effective and efficient monitoring of infrastructure is crucial for planning maintenance and repairs while ensuring the safety of the structure. Acoustic emission is a method particularly suitable for long-term monitoring. However, the necessary extended monitoring period incurs high costs for the operator, primarily due to the exceptionally high costs of measuring equipment. The need for a tailored monitoring system for infrastructure applications is evident. TÜV AUSTRIA is developing a monitoring system called RISE, which represents a customized solution for steel bridge monitoring. The innovative online monitoring solution RISE assists experts with structural monitoring. Due to its compact design, low power consumption, and easy installation, the measuring system is specifically designed for continuous monitoring. Specifically, RISE is introduced for the hotspot monitoring of railway steel bridges. The passage of trains triggers a material response that can be recorded by the measuring system. This is used to perform crack monitoring on bridges and to have a tool for assessing crack activity and the degree of damage. This enables targeted planning of repairs and maintenance activities. Reducing the operating costs of the structure and ensures it save operation. The system is being developed to function robustly and provide a high level of automation. A demonstration of AE-monitoring of active cracks on a main bridge girder was done during a fatigue test in cooperation with the TU Graz. The girder was removed from a deconstructed bridge.