High Change Research Articles

Phenotypic Timeline Kinetics, Integrative Networks, and Performance of T- and B-Cell Subsets Associated with Distinct Clinical Outcome of Severe COVID-19 Patients

The present study aimed to evaluate the kinetics of the phenotypic profile and integrative networks of T/B-cells in severe COVID-19 patients, categorized according to disease outcome, during the circulation of the B.1.1.28 and B.1.1.33 SARS-CoV-2 strains in Brazil. Peripheral blood obtained at distinct time points (baseline/D0; D7; D14-28) was used for ex vivo flow cytometry immunophenotyping. The data demonstrated a decrease at D0 in the frequency of CD3+ T-cells and CD4+ T-cells and an increase in B-cells with mixed activation/exhaustion profiles. Higher changes in B-cell and CD4+ T-cells at D7 were associated with discharge/death outcomes, respectively. Regardless of the lower T/B-cell connectivity at D0, distinct profiles from D7/D14-28 revealed that, while discharge was associated with increasing connectivity for B-cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells death was related to increased connectivity involving B-cells, but with lower connections mediated by CD4+ T-cells. The CD4+CD38+ and CD8+CD69+ subsets accurately classified COVID-19 vs. healthy controls throughout the kinetic analysis. Binary logistic regression identified CD4+CD107a+, CD4+T-bet+, CD8+CD69+, and CD8+T-bet+ at D0 and CD4+CD45RO+CD27+ at D7 as subsets associated with disease outcomes. Results showed that distinct phenotypic timeline kinetics and integrative networks of T/B-cells are associated with COVID-19 outcomes that may subsidize the establishment of applicable biomarkers for clinical/therapeutic monitoring.

Bleaching Gels and Light-Emitting Diodes: Comparison of Tooth Color Change.

To measure difference in tooth shade and color achieved via two different over-the-counter bleaching agents with and without their associated light-emitting diodes (LEDs). A total of 84 extracted human anterior teeth were randomly divided into seven groups. Gypsum models were made with 6 extracted teeth in an arch form (n = 12; 2 arches/group). Samples were kept hydrated throughout treatment (25°C). Bleaching treatment followed manufacturers' instructions with at least 1-h of rehydration between treatments. Control tooth arches were left untreated. L*a*b* values were measured with a Vita Easyshade (VITA North America, Yorba Linda, CA) three times per tooth using white and black backgrounds. ∆E (CIE 2000) was compared between and within treatment groups over time with ANOVA and post hoc Tukey (a = 0.05). Subgroup testing confirmed the data were normally distributed. Two-way ANOVA showed significant interaction between product (Control, Crest, Snow) and treatment (light only, product only, light and product) on ∆E values for black (p-value < 0.001, F = 15.28) and white (p-value < 0.001, F = 13.62) backgrounds. Post hoc pairwise Tukey tests showed a significant effect of light-and-product treatments in contrast to light- or product-only treatments. Repeated measures ANOVA of between-treatment change (∆E) by product showed significant interaction between time and treatment for Snow products (p < 0.001, F = 10.9) and independent effects of time and treatment for Crest products (Time: p-value < 0.001, Treatment: p-value < 0.01, F = 7.21) on a black background. On white backgrounds, only a significant effect of treatment was reported for both Snow (p-value < 0.01, F = 5.427) and Crest (p-value < 0.001, F = 5.61). Overall, a combination of light and gel produces significantly higher tooth color and shade change over time, with the highest change seen for Snow products. Many patients use over-the-counter tooth bleaching products because they are more cost effective and easier to access than in-office bleaching. However, these products may have adverse effects, such as increased sensitivity with repeated use, in addition to increased consumption of time and money. This project measured tooth shade between treatments which can help determine which product is most effective for at home use.

Disruptions in Sleep Health and Independent Associations with Psychological Distress in Close Family Members of Cardiac Arrest Survivors: A Prospective Study.

While recent guidelines have noted the deleterious effects of poor sleep on cardiovascular health, the upstream impact of cardiac arrest-induced psychological distress on sleep health metrics among families of cardiac arrest survivors remains unknown. Sleep health of close family members of consecutive cardiac arrest patients admitted to an academic center (8/16/2021 - 6/28/2023) was self-reported using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The baseline PSQI, focused on sleep in the month before cardiac arrest, was administered during hospitalization and repeated one month after cardiac arrest, alongside the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) to assess depression severity. Multivariable linear regressions analyzed associations between total PHQ-8 scores and changes in global PSQI scores between baseline and one month with higher scores indicating deterioration. A prioritization exercise explored potential interventions categorized into the family's information and well-being needs to reduce psychological distress. In our sample of 102 close family members (mean age 52±15 years, 70% female, 21% Black, 33% Hispanic), mean global PSQI scores showed a significant decline between baseline and one month after cardiac arrest (6.2±3.8 vs. 7.4±4.1; p<0.01). This deterioration was notable for sleep quality, duration, and daytime dysfunction. Higher PHQ-8 scores were significantly associated with higher change in PSQI scores, after adjusting for family members' age, sex, race/ethnicity, prior psychiatric history, and patient's discharge disposition [B=0.4 (95% C.I 0.24, 0.48); p<0.01, β=0.5]. Most families expressed a higher priority for information-based interventions over well-being needs to help alleviate psychological distress during the first month following cardiac arrest (76% vs. 34%, p<0.01). A significant sleep health decline was observed among close family members of cardiac arrest survivors during the acute period, with psychological distress associated with this disruption. Understanding these temporal associations will help guide the development of targeted interventions to support families during this uncertain time.

Cardiac risk confrontation in primary care as a teachable moment towards improved health outcomes

Abstract Background Urgent life events, such as acute coronary events, can evoke a teachable moment (TM) for lifestyle change. This study aims to investigate whether less urgent events, such as being confronted with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, can evoke a TM, what psychosocial factors are associated with it, and whether experiencing such a TM predicts improved health outcomes. Methods The study included 114 patients who were informed about their elevated cardiovascular risk during a primary care visit. Participants completed a survey assessing whether they experienced a TM and several psychosocial factors linked to experiencing it: perceived risk, affective impact, changed self-concept. Participants monitored their weight and blood pressure for six months using an at-home self-monitoring device. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between the psychosocial factors and the lifestyle change intentions with changes in blood pressure and weight. Results Of the participants, 55.3% experienced increased lifestyle change intentions. Lower risk perception ((B = -0.27; CI = -0.39-(-0.15)) and higher change in self-concept (B = 0.34; CI = 0.23-0.44) were associated with higher intention to change lifestyle. Higher risk perception (B = 0.23; CI = 0.06-0.42) and higher change in self-concept (B = 0.54; CI = 0.37-0.72) predicted a lower weight reduction at six months. A higher change in self-concept predicted a higher blood pressure reduction (B = -3.32; CI = -6.55-(0.09)). Lastly, a higher lifestyle change intention predicted bigger reductions blood pressure (B = -5.04; CI = -9.08-(-0.29)). Conclusions Results suggest that less urgent cardiac events, such as a confrontation with an increased cardiac risk, can be experienced as a TM that urges lifestyle change intentions and affects health outcomes. Risk confrontations in primary care therefore offer a unique opportunity to provide lifestyle counseling at the right moment. Key messages • A confrontation with an increased cardiac risk in primary care can be experienced as a teachable moment. • Experiencing a teachable moment after a cardiac risk confrontation in primary care affects health outcomes.

Pediatric cognitive reserve moderates the effect of brain structure in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Evidence for an optimized residual approach.

To validate a residual-based cognitive reserve (CR) index optimized for a pediatric sample with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Participants were N = 115 children aged 9.5-13 years at baseline (Mage = 10.48 years, SDage = 0.61), and n = 43 (37.4%) met criteria for ADHD. Elastic-net regularized linear regression was used to generate baseline and longitudinal CR indices by maximally residualizing variance in fluid intelligence for demographics and brain structure. Academic and diagnostic outcomes were regressed onto CR indices, and interactions with brain integrity were assessed. Baseline CR predicted baseline math computation (estimate = 0.10, SE = 0.02, p < .001), while change in CR predicted change in word reading ability (estimate = 0.08, SE = 0.02, p < .001). Further, when grey matter volume tended to be lower, higher CR was associated with higher word reading score (estimate = -0.05, SE = 0.02, p = .019) and lower ADHD symptom severity (estimate = 0.04, SE = 0.02, p = .047) compared to lower CR, at baseline. Similarly, when longitudinal change in white matter hypointensity volume tended to be greater, higher change in CR resulted in more favorable word reading trajectory (estimate = 0.03, SE = 0.02, p = .048). A data-driven residual approach to operationalizing pediatric CR shows better evidence of construct validity over previous methods, with our index showing a novel ability to moderate the deleterious effects of lower grey matter on outcomes in ADHD. This approach may benefit future research aiming to study the early development of CR. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Effect of Multivitamins on the Color Stability of Dental Materials Used in Pediatric Dentistry: An In Vitro Study

The longevity and acceptance of aesthetic dental materials are directly proportional to color stability. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between the use of multivitamins and the color stability of dental restorative materials. A total of 45 discs of nanohybrid composite, 45 of Reinforced Glass Ionomer (RGI), and 45 of Giomer were prepared. Subsequently, the samples were randomly divided into three solution groups (n = 15): Group 1—Sambucol Pediatric Syrup, Group 2—Hidropolivital Baby Drops, and Group 3—artificial saliva, which is preparation for patients with xerostomia. For 28 days, the specimens were immersed in 10 mL of each multivitamin for two minutes every 24 h. Color measurements were repeated on days 7, 14, 21, and 28. Statistical analysis was performed using the Jamovi software version 2.2.5, employing the Shapiro–Wilk test for normality and the Kruskal–Wallis test for non-parametric data. When comparing materials, statistically significant differences (p &lt; 0.001) were observed between RGI and Giomer, and RGI and composite, but not between Giomer and composite (p = 0.716). The highest change was observed in RGI–Hidropolivital ΔE00 = 3.27 (2.38–4.59) and the least in composite–Sambucol ΔE00 = 0.72 (0.30–1.18). In conclusion, the exposure time and the multivitamin influence the color change of restorative materials.

Thermal Performance Investigation of Vapor Chamber Under Partial Heating and Different Heat Flux Conditions: Effects of Inclination Angle

Abstract The need for cooling technologies increases tremendously with raising demand on the powerful and compact electronics. There, it pushes the research and technology to the new investigations on varying heat transfer mechanisms and devices. While one of these devices is vapor chamber (VC), an experimental study has been carried out to investigate the heat transfer performance of a VC under partial heating, varying heat fluxes, and different inclination angles for different temperatures, in the current study. For this purpose, a VC with a dimension of 90 mm × 90 mm × 3 mm is evaluated via its resulting thermal resistance, performance, and the temperature distribution over the VC surface. There, the limited effect of inclination angle is observed on the performance, while the highest change is obtained with decreasing local heating surface area, thus increasing heat fluxes. Moreover, this trend is seen almost similar with a reasonable shift up or down according to the different temperature differences.

Differentiating sensor changes in a composite heart failure ICD monitoring index: clinical correlates and implications

BackgroundThe HeartLogic algorithm (Boston Scientific, St Paul, MN) integrates data from implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) sensors to predict heart failure (HF) decompensation: first (S1) and third (S3) heart sounds, intrathoracic impedance, respiration rate, ratio of respiration rate to tidal volume (RSBI), and night heart rate. ObjectiveThis study assessed the relative changes in ICD sensors at the onset of HeartLogic alerts, their association with patient characteristics, and outcomes. MethodsThe study included 568 patients with HF carrying ICDs (CRT-D, n = 410) across 26 centers, with a median follow-up of 26 months. HeartLogic alerts triggered patient contact and potential treatment. ResultsA total of 1200 HeartLogic alerts were recorded in 370 patients. The sensor with the highest change at the alert’s onset was S3 in 27% of alerts, followed by S3/S1 (25%). Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) at implantation had higher prevalence of alerts (AF, 84% vs no AF, 58%; CKD, 72% vs no CKD, 59%; P < .05) and rate (AF, 1.51 per patient-year vs no AF, 0.88 per patient-year; CKD, 1.30 per patient-year vs no CKD, 0.89 per patient-year; P < .05). During follow-up, 247 patients experienced more than 1 alert; in 85%, the sensor with the highest change varied between successive alerts. Of the 88 (7%) alerts associated with HF hospitalization or death, respiration rate or RSBI (11%, P = .007 vs S3/S1) and night heart rate (11%, P = .031 vs S3/S1) were more commonly the sensors showing the highest change. Clinical events were more common with the first alert (12.6%) than subsequent alerts (5.2%, P < .001). ConclusionHeartLogic alerts are mostly triggered by changes in heart sounds, but clinical events are more linked to respiration rate, RSBI, and night heart rate. Recurrent alerts often involve different sensors, indicating diverse mechanisms of HF progression.

Comparative study between UVB 313 nm, UVC 254 nm, and far UVC 222 nm light on the aging of polyamide 66

Polyamide-66 underwent substantial growth worldwide in the late 1930´s. It can be found in several public spaces. After 2019, due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the sanitization of the interior of aircraft and public spaces by using UV light became important. Most of all, the effect of the far UVC 222 nm became a research hot spot and is still a research blank. In the present work, a comparative study on the post-exposure damage of polyamide- 66 occurred when controlled ultraviolet irradiation (UVC 254 nm, far UVC 222 nm, UVB 310 nm) and moisture-condensation were carried out. Chemical (FTIR), thermal (DMA), and nano-mechanical properties were evaluated. FTIR analysis showed the formation of O-H and/or N-H bonds since there appeared absorptions at 3400 cm-1 along with the vanishing of other signals related to C-N bonding. These changes are more evident in samples exposed to UVC 254 nm followed by samples that were irradiated with UVC 222 nm. Samples that were aged with UVA 313 nm didn´t show a change in FTIR spectra. FTIR on spectra and nanoindentation showed that UVB 313 nm produced a lower aging effect on this material. In contrast, UVC 254 nm light caused the highest degree of surface chemical-mechanical change attributed to cleavage/crosslinking reactions initiated by free radicals produced by UV light and moisture. On the contrary, far UVC 222 nm light presented moderate effects on Polyamide-66. Glass-transition temperature (Tg) diminished as the time to exposure increased attributed to water absorption and surface damage, being the highest change at -16.05 °C for samples irradiated with 245 UVC nm. However, the potential of far UVC 222 nm light for COVID-19 sanitization, with no significant degradation effects on polymeric materials, is a promising finding that should be further explored and could provide a hopeful solution in the fight against the pandemic.

In vivo assessment of oxidative stress, neurotoxicity and histological alterations induction in the marine gastropod Stramonita haemastoma exposed to Cr2O3 and Al2O3 nanoparticles

The increased use of nanoparticles (NPs) is expected to raise their presence in the marine ecosystem, which is considered as the final destination of released NPs. This study investigated the toxicity of Cr2O3 (42 nm) and Al2O3 (38 nm) NPs (1, 2.5, and 5 mg/L) on the digestive glands of Stramonita haemastoma for 7, 14, and 28 days by oxidative stress biomarkers, neurotoxicity indicator assessment, and histological study. Results revealed an imbalance in antioxidants at all periods. Following 7 days, both NPs caused GSH depletion with marked impacts from Al2O3. GPx, CAT, and AChE were also decreased with the highest changes induced by Cr2O3. Both NPs inducted GSH and GST levels on days 14 and 28, with more effects from Cr2O3 exposure. GPx, AChE, and MDA induction were observed on day 28, while MT varied through NPs and time, with imbalanced levels at all periods noticed, SOD was mostly not affected. Histology revealed alterations including necrosis and interstitial deteriorations; quantitative analysis through the histological condition index revealed dose-dependent impacts, with the highest values attributed to Cr2O3 exposure. While PCA revealed the co-response of GSH, GST, GPx, CAT, and AchE with separated MT responses. This study reported oxidative stress induction through a multi-biomarkers investigation, neurotoxicity, and histological damages in the digestive gland of S. haemastoma following Cr2O3 and Al2O3 NPs exposure.

Partitions influence on rectangular latent heat thermal energy storage unit performance during melting and solidification

The growing use of renewable energy sources demands efficient storage solutions due to their variability. Thermal energy storage systems utilising phase change materials are emerging as viable options to address this challenge. This study evaluates the impact of various partition types on phase change duration in thermal energy storage systems. The well-known and validated enthalpy-porosity algorithm implemented in the Fluent 2021R2 software was used. The shortest melting time was observed in the case with four vertical tubes and three horizontal partitions, which was 82 % shorter than in the reference case. The highest change in specific enthalpy of phase change material (252.5 kJ/kg) during melting was also noted for this system. The shortest solidification time was observed for the case with four tubes and two diagonal partitions, which was 72 % shorter than in the reference case. The greatest increase in the specific enthalpy of phase change material (240.4 kJ/kg) during the solidification process was also observed in this system. In conclusion, due to the thermal conductivity of the partitions, the temperature distribution throughout the domain becomes more homogeonous, thus contributing to more uniform heat flux extraction and supply throughout the process.

Origami inspired dual matrix intelligent shape memory polymer composite folds for deployable structures

Abstract It remains a challenge to develop an intelligent, programmable multifunctional material system capable of recovering shape, withstanding high loads, and detecting folding extent remotely for self-deployable structures used in aerospace, robotics, and medical devices. In this work, our objective is to develop intelligent shape memory polymer composite (iSMPC) folds embedded with reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-coated self-sensing fabric. This will enable remote sensing of the fold state based on resistance changes and achieve higher strength and modulus. Firstly, we demonstrate the ability to sense the extent of folding and establish the relationship between piezoresistivity and fold state change by conducting cyclic compression analysis on folds with different gap sizes (6mm, 9mm, and 12mm) at temperatures of 25°C, 35°C, and 45°C. The iSMPC fold with a 6mm gap exhibited the highest bending stiffness (650.3Nmm-1) and curvature (0.55mm-1), resulting in a higher change in fractional change in resistance (FCR). Subsequently, the shape memory cycles of the 6mm iSMPC fold were demonstrated through localized controlled heating. Its shape recovery process exhibited repeatable behavior with a high recovery ratio of 95%. Lastly, a two-fold iSMPC structure was developed, and its performance was analyzed during a complete shape memory cycle. The piezoresistive response during higher-temperature cyclic loading resembled that of the single fold, exhibiting an FCR range between -9% and 5%, thereby demonstrating the repeatability of the iSMPC fold response.

Association of a Promoter DNA Methyltransferase 3 Gene Variant with DNA Methylation and Anthropometrics in Children from 4 to 12 Years Old

The global prevalence of obesity among adults, adolescents, and children has increased to alarming levels, making this disease a serious public health problem. The etiology of obesity is complex and multifactorial. Currently, epigenetic alterations are being investigated to understand the mechanisms of interaction between genes and environmental and behavioral risk factors involved in the genesis of obesity. In this study, we examined the association of the DNA methyltransferase 3 (DNMT3B) gene-149 C&gt;T variant (rs2424913) genotypes with global DNA methylation and the changes in anthropometric parameters in a cohort of 171 children followed from birth to 12 years old. Genotypes were obtained using real-time polymerase chain reaction, and global DNA methylation was measured in blood samples collected at 4 years old through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Our results showed that the TT genotype is associated with an increase in global methylation levels at 4 years old and higher changes in body mass index, waist circumference, subscapular subcutaneous fat, body fat mass, body lean mass, and basal metabolic rate from 4 to 12 years. Our results suggest that this promoter DNMT3B gene variant and DNA methylation can be factors relevant to the increased risk of children developing obesity at an early age.

Endometriotic lesions exhibit distinct metabolic signature compared to paired eutopic endometrium at the single-cell level

Current therapeutics of endometriosis focus on hormonal disruption of endometriotic lesions (ectopic endometrium, EcE). Recent findings show higher glycolysis utilization in EcE, suggesting non-hormonal strategy for disease treatment that addresses cellular metabolism. Identifying metabolically altered cell types in EcE is important for targeted metabolic drug therapy without affecting eutopic endometrium (EuE). Here, using single-cell RNA-sequencing, we examine twelve metabolic pathways in paired samples of EuE and EcE from women with confirmed endometriosis. We detect nine major cell types in both EuE and EcE. Metabolic pathways are most differentially regulated in perivascular, stromal, and endothelial cells, with the highest changes in AMPK signaling, HIF-1 signaling, glutathione metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and glycolysis. We identify transcriptomic co-activation of glycolytic and oxidative metabolism in perivascular and stromal cells of EcE, indicating a critical role of metabolic reprogramming in maintaining endometriotic lesion growth. Perivascular cells, involved in endometrial stroma repair and angiogenesis, may be potential targets for non-hormonal treatment of endometriosis.

Development of a Neural Network for Target Gas Detection in Interdigitated Electrode Sensor-Based E-Nose Systems.

In this study, a neural network was developed for the detection of acetone, ethanol, chloroform, and air pollutant NO2 gases using an Interdigitated Electrode (IDE) sensor-based e-nose system. A bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS)-based interface circuit was used to measure sensor responses in the e-nose system. The sensor was fed with a sinusoidal voltage at 10 MHz frequency and 0.707 V amplitude. Sensor responses were sampled at 100 Hz frequency and converted to digital data with 16-bit resolution. The highest change in impedance magnitude obtained in the e-nose system against chloroform gas was recorded as 24.86 Ω over a concentration range of 0-11,720 ppm. The highest gas detection sensitivity of the e-nose system was calculated as 0.7825 Ω/ppm against 6.7 ppm NO2 gas. Before training with the neural network, data were filtered from noise using Kalman filtering. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to the improved signal data for dimensionality reduction, separating them from noise and outliers with low variance and non-informative characteristics. The neural network model created is multi-layered and employs the backpropagation algorithm. The Xavier initialization method was used for determining the initial weights of neurons. The neural network successfully classified NO2 (6.7 ppm), acetone (1820 ppm), ethanol (1820 ppm), and chloroform (1465 ppm) gases with a test accuracy of 87.16%. The neural network achieved this test accuracy in a training time of 239.54 milliseconds. As sensor sensitivity increases, the detection capability of the neural network also improves.

Forest soil carbon storage in 10‐year‐old Douglas‐fir plantations of western Oregon and Washington remains similar to pre‐harvest

AbstractForests around the world, and in the case of this study, the coastal Pacific Northwest United States, store large amounts of carbon, both above ground in the trees and below ground in soils. Understanding the effects of forest disturbance, including timber harvesting, is important in order to evaluate the role that forestry plays in the global carbon cycle. Soil carbon can be difficult to assess with enough precision to detect the kinds of changes that are expected, yet a series of small changes over time in the same direction could have important cumulative effects. In this study, eight randomly selected Douglas‐fir forest stands in Oregon and Washington were sampled at 300 points each using a fixed‐depth sampling approach to attempt to detect a 5% or higher change in soil carbon storage to 1 m, longitudinally from pre‐harvest to 10 years post‐harvest. There was moderate variability in results over time at individual sites, with some sites decreasing slightly and others increasing slightly. Only two sites achieved lower than the 5% minimum detectible difference target. The remaining six sites were able to detect 5.7%–10.7% differences. In one case, an unexpectedly large increase in mineral soil carbon 10 years post‐harvest occurred without clear explanation. On average, forest floor carbon stores were 20% larger 10 years post‐harvest than pre‐harvest. Even with the large increases excluded, both the fixed‐depth approach and equivalent soil mass correction showed there was no significant change in mineral soil carbon stores to 1 m at 10 years post‐harvest in the region.

Study on the metabolic changes and regulatory mechanism of Aspergillus flavus conidia germination.

Aspergillus flavus conidia are widespread in air; they attach to food and feed crops and secrete aflatoxins, which results in serious contamination. Germination of A. flavus conidia is the most critical step in contamination of food by A. flavus. This study aims to gain an insight into A. flavus conidia through dormancy to germination to provide a theoretical basis for inhibition of A. flavus conidia germination. The morphological changes and regulation mechanism of A. flavus conidia germination at 0, 4, 8, and 12 hours were observed. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses showed that conidia became active from dormancy (0 hour) to the initial stage of germination (4 hours), cellular respiration and energy metabolism increased, and amino acids and lipids were synthesized rapidly. The number of differentially expressed genes and differential metabolites was highest at this stage. Besides, we found that conidia germination had selectivity for different carbon and nitrogen sources. Compared with monosaccharides, disaccharides, as the only carbon source, significantly promoted the germination of conidia. Moreover, MepA, one of genes in the ammonium transporter family was studied. The gene deletion mutant ΔMepA had a significant growth defect, and the expression of MeaA was significantly upregulated in ΔMepA compared with the wild-type, indicating that both MepA and MeaA played an important role in transporting ammonium ions.IMPORTANCEThis is the first study to use combined transcriptomic and metabolomics analyses to explore the biological changes during germination of Aspergillus flavus conidia. The biological process with the highest changes occurred in 0-4 hours at the initial stage of germination. Compared with polysaccharides, monosaccharides significantly increased the size of conidia, while significantly decreasing the germination rate of conidia. Both MeaA and MepA were involved in ammonia transport and metabolism during conidia germination.

Muscle hypertrophy response across four muscles involved in the bench press exercise: Randomized 10 weeks training intervention

Background and purposeResistance training exercise provides increases in muscle size and is used by coaches and health care professional as a tool to improve functional performance. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of 10 weeks of resistance training program performed on the bench press (BP) exercise on the hypertrophic responses of four different muscles (pectoralis major, anterior and medial deltoid, brachii, and pectoralis minor) involved in the task compared to controls. MethodsTwenty-four healthy males were recruited, and thirteen performed a resistance training intervention while eleven were control. RT group trained for 10 weeks and the protocol consisted of a time under tension for each set of 36s (3–4 sets) with 12 repetitions with an intensity of 50–55% of the 1RM, a training frequency of 3 times a week, with a 3 min rest between sets. Muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) was measure by magnetic resonance imaging. ResultsIndividuals in the RT group demonstrated higher changes in CSA of the pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, anterior deltoid, and triceps brachii (P ≤ 0.019) than in the Control group. It was identified in the RT group higher increases in CSA of all muscles compared to medial deltoid (P ≤ 0.016), while pectoralis major demonstrated larger increases in CSA than pectoralis minor and triceps brachii (P ≤ 0.030). ConclusionsWe demonstrated that 10 weeks of resistance training performed on the BP exercise led to increases in muscle size of the muscles involved in the task, but not in the same magnitude.

Does lung ultrasound-guided ultrafiltration lead to better outcomes in acute kidney injury requiring intermittent hemodialysis: A randomized control trial.

Optimization of ultrafiltration during hemodialysis is a critical parameter in achieving therapeutic efficacy and ensuring hemodynamic stability. While various modalities such as blood volume monitoring, inferior vena cava diameter assessment, natriuretic peptide levels, bioimpedance assay, and lung ultrasound have been widely explored in the context of maintenance hemodialysis, the concept of volume-guided ultrafiltration in dialysis patients with acute kidney injury remains unexplored. Adult patients with acute kidney injury requiring dialysis, who were hemodynamically stable and not on ventilator support, without underlying lung pathology or cardiac failure, were randomized into two groups. All patients underwent 28-zone lung ultrasound before dialysis. The ultrafiltration was decided based on the treating physician's clinical judgment in controls. In the intervention group, the ultrafiltration orders prescribed by the treating physician were modified, based on the Kerley B line scores obtained by lung ultrasound. The rest of the dialysis prescriptions were similar. A postdialysis lung ultrasound was done in both groups to assess the postdialysis volume status 30 min after the dialysis session. A total of 74 patients undergoing hemodialysis for acute kidney injury were randomized. The baseline characteristics were comparable except for higher baseline B line score scores in the intervention arm. All patients received similar dialysis prescriptions. The lung ultrasound-guided ultrafiltration arm had a higher change in B line scores (BLS) from baseline (4 [0-9.5] vs. 0 [0-4]; p value 0.004) during the first dialysis session. The predialysis BLS indexed to ultrafiltration (mL/kbw/h) were significantly lower in controls, reflecting a relatively higher rate of ultrafiltration in controls compared with intervention (p = 0.006). The total number of dialysis sessions done in the control and intervention arm were 61 and 59, respectively. Among controls, 23/61 sessions (37.7%) had intradialytic adverse events, whereas, in the intervention arm, only 4/59 sessions (6.7) had any adverse intradialytic events (p < 0.01). Lung ultrasound-guided ultrafiltration was associated with a better safety profile, as demonstrated by reduced intradialytic events.

Surface Roughness Examination of Glass Ionomer Restorative Cements Treated with Acidic and Basic Pediatric Medications: An In Vitro Study.

Consumption of different types of beverages and liquid drugs can affect of the surface properties of restorative material. This may lead to an increased probability of dental caries and periodontal inflammation. This study evaluated and compared the effect of amoxicillin suspension (AMS) and azithromycin suspension (AZS) on the surface roughness (SR) of silver-reinforced glass ionomer (SGI) and nano resin-modified glass ionomer (NGI). Thirty disks (2 mm height × 4 mm diameter) of each glass ionomer (GI) type were prepared and subdivided into three groups (n = 10), which were separately exposed to AMS, AZS, and artificial saliva (AS). SR was evaluated by atomic force microscopy before and after three-immersion protocols repeated over a 3-week duration with 2-day intervals. In each protocol, the GI samples were exposed weekly to AMS three times daily, AZS once daily, and a full day to AS. This study demonstrated, for the first time, the effect of a basic drug (AZS) on the SR of GIs. Intra- and inter-group comparisons showed significant changes (P ˂ 0.05) in the SR pattern of the GIs after immersion cycles in AZS, AMS, and AS. However, the acidic medication (AMS) exhibited significantly higher changes in SGI than in NGI. The SR of NGIs and SGIs can be significantly affected by the use of AMS and AZS suspensions. SGI demonstrated higher SR deterioration than NGI after immersion cycles in AMS.