Linear Size Research Articles

An Algorithm for Construction of the Asymptotic Approximation of a Stable Stationary Solution to a Diffusion Equation System with a Discontinuous Source Function

An algorithm is presented for the construction of an asymptotic approximation of a stable stationary solution to a diffusion equation system in a two-dimensional domain with a smooth boundary and a source function that is discontinuous along some smooth curve lying entirely inside the domain. Each of the equations contains a small parameter as a factor in front of the Laplace operator, and as a result, the system is singularly perturbed. In the vicinity of the curve, the solution of the system has a large gradient. Such a problem statement is used in the model of urban development in metropolitan areas. The discontinuity curves in this model are the boundaries of urban biocenoses or large water pools, which prevent the spread of urban development. The small parameter is the ratio of the city’s outskirts linear size to the whole metropolis linear size. The algorithm includes the construction of an asymptotic approximation to a solution with a large gradient at the media interface as well as the steps for obtaining the existence conditions. To prove the existence and stability theorems, we use the upper and lower solutions, which are constructed as modifications of the asymptotic approximation to the solution. The latter is constructed using the Vasil’yeva algorithm as an expansion of a small parameter exponent.

Novel Size-Tunable and Straightforward Ultra-Small Nanoparticle Synthesis in a Varying Concentration Range of Glycerol as a Green Reducing Solvent.

Despite all the possibilities available so far for the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs), synthesizing ultra-small (<10 nm) monodispersed particles is still demanding. Getting a particular size with a straightforward method is a trial-and-error approach. To explore this prospective, in the current study, we have introduced a protocol which offers a varying concentration range of glycerol to successfully generate the NPs of repeatable and consistent particle size in each synthesis, thus giving an alternative from lengthy tentative preparations and/or testing protocols. Since synthesizing controlled sized nanoparticles in aqueous medium is somewhat difficult as the balance of particle growth and nucleation is challenging to control, herein, we used a polyol method with glycerol both as a solvent medium as well as reducing species for silver nitrate, as an example model ion source, to execute the nanoparticle synthesis. In order to maintain the stability of the synthesized NPs, polyvinylpyrolidone (PVP) was added as a stabilizer. The synthesis, monodispersity, and stability were confirmed using techniques such as UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), while morphological analysis and ultra-small size validation were conducted using TEM, SEM, and AFM. Interestingly, in the various concentrations of glycerol solution used (10-100%), we have observed a tunable linear size range to obtain ultra-small nanoparticles (<10 nm) up to 60% glycerol, while further increasing the glycerol component increased the size approximately to ∼160 nm, providing tunable properties in this synthesis procedure. Hence, this study provides a distinct possibility to obtain ultra-small nanoparticles with a tunable size feature for further applications in numerous fields.

Tumor Microenvironment Can Predict Chemotherapy Response of Patients with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Receiving Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a breast cancer subtype that has poor prognosis and exhibits a unique tumor microenvironment. Analysis of the tumor microbiome has indicated a relationship between the tumor microenvironment and treatment response. Therefore, we attempted to reveal the role of the tumor microbiome in patients with TNBC receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We collected TNBC patient RNA-sequencing samples from the Gene Expression Omnibus and extracted microbiome count data. Differential and relative abundance were estimated with linear discriminant analysis effect size. We calculated the immune cell fraction with CIBERSORTx and conducted survival analysis using the Cancer Genome Atlas patient data. Correlations between the microbiome and immune cell compositions were analyzed and a prediction model was constructed to estimate drug response. Among the pathological complete response group (pCR), the beta diversity varied considerably; consequently, 20 genera and 24 species were observed to express a significant differential and relative abundance. Pandoraea pulmonicola and Brucella melitensis were found to be important features in determining drug response. In correlation analysis, Geosporobacter ferrireducens, Streptococcus sanguinis, and resting natural killer cells were the most correlated factors in the pCR, whereas Nitrosospira briensis, Plantactinospora sp. BC1, and regulatory T cells were key features in the residual disease group. Our study demonstrated that the microbiome analysis of tumor tissue can predict chemotherapy response of patients with TNBC. Further, the immunological tumor microenvironment may be impacted by the tumor microbiome, thereby affecting the corresponding survival and treatment response.

Tongue coating microbiome composition reflects disease severity in patients with COVID-19 in Nanjing, China

ABSTRACT Our purpose is to investigate the relationship between the microbiota of patients' tongue coating microbiota and the severity of COVID-19, and to identify the severity of COVID-19 patients' condition as early as possible. The participants were categorized into three groups: healthy controls (Con group) consisting of 37 individuals, patients with mild to moderate symptoms (M group) comprising 49 individuals, and patients with severe and critical symptoms (S-C group) consisting of 44 individuals. We collected oral swabs from all participants and performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyze the microbiome. The α and β diversity differences were assessed respectively. Additionally, we employed the Linear Discriminant Analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis to evaluate taxonomic differences among the three groups. Our findings revealed a significantly higher richness of tongue coating microbiota in both the S-C group and M group compared to the Con group. When compared with Con group, decreased Prevotella, Neisseria, Fusobacterium and Alloprevotella, and over-expressed Streptococcus and Rothia in M and S-C group were identified. LEfSe analysis indicated a greater abundance of Pseudomonas, Acinetbacter, Lactobacillus, Corynebacterium, Rothia in S-C group. Our study suggests a potential association between tongue coating microbiome and the severity of COVID-19 patients.

The effect of seed bacterization with Bacillus paralicheniformis 2R5 on bacterial and fungal communities in the canola rhizosphere

Bacillus sp. is one of the best-studied plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). However, more detailed studies targeting its effect on the rhizosphere microbial community are required for improving management practices regarding its commercial application in the field. Our earlier study showed that PGPR Bacillus paralicheniformis 2R5 stimulated canola growth. Hence, this study aimed to assess the time-course impact of B. paralicheniformis 2R5 on bacterial and fungal community structure and diversity. The results showed that inoculation with B. paralicheniformis 2R5 initially significantly decreased the observed bacterial richness compared to the control, while after 44 days of treatment this alpha diversity metrics increased. A linear discriminant analysis effect size showed that B. paralicheniformis 2R5 altered the soil bacterial and fungal community structure by increasing the abundance of plants’ beneficial microorganisms such as Nitrospira, Ramlibacter, Sphingomonas, Massilia, Terrimonas as well as Solicoccozyma, Schizothecium, Cyphellophora, Fusicolla, Humicola. B. paralicheniformis 2R5 seems to be a promising alternative to chemical pesticides and can be considered for practical application in the field. Its ability to alter the rhizosphere microbiome by increasing the diversity and composition of bacterial communities and increasing plants’ beneficial groups of fungi, appears to be important in terms of improving canola development. However, further studies on these increased microbial taxa are necessary to confirm their function in promoting canola growth.

Effect of Root-Knot Nematode Disease on Bacterial Community Structure and Diversity in Peanut Fields

The root-knot nematode (RKN) disease is a highly destructive soilborne disease that significantly affects peanut yield in Northern China. The composition of the soil microbiome plays a crucial role in plant disease resistance, particularly for soilborne diseases like RKN. However, the relationship between the occurrence of RKN disease and the structure and diversity of bacterial communities in peanut fields remains unclear. To investigate bacterial diversity and the community structure of peanut fields with severe RKN disease, we applied 16S full-length amplicon sequencing based on the third high-throughput sequencing technology. The results indicated no significant differences in soil bacterial α-diversity between resistant and susceptible plants at the same site. However, the Simpson index of resistant plants was higher at the site of peanut-wheat-maize rotation (Ro) than that at the site of peanut continuous cropping (Mo), showing an increase of 21.92%. The dominant phyla identified in the peanut bulk soil included Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. Further analysis using LEfSe (Linear discriminant analysis effect size) revealed that Sulfuricellaceae at the family level was a biomarker in the bulk soil of susceptible peanut compared to resistant peanut. Additionally, Singulisphaera at the genus level was significantly more enriched in the bulk soil of resistant peanut than that of susceptible peanut. Soil properties were found to contribute to the abundance of bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Available phosphorus (AP), available nitrogen (AN), organic matter (OM), and pH made a positive contribution to the bacterial OTUs, while available potassium (AK) made a negative contribution. The metabolic pathway of novobiocin biosynthesis was only enriched in soil samples from resistant peanut plants. Eleven candidate beneficial bacteria and ten candidate harmful strains were identified in resistant and susceptible peanut, respectively. The identification of these beneficial bacteria provides a resource for potential biocontrol agents that can help improve peanut resistance to RKN disease. Overall, the study demonstrated that severe RKN disease could reduce the abundance and diversity of bacterial communities in peanut bulk soil. The identification of beneficial bacteria associated with resistant peanut offered the possibility for developing biocontrol strategies to enhance peanut resistance to RKN disease.

Changes of gut mycobiota in the third trimester of pregnant women with preeclampsia

Objective Studies recently acknowledged that the fungal community in the gut plays an important role in many inflammatory diseases of noninfectious origin. but the role of gut fungi in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE) remains unknown. Methods We performed a case-case–control study to compare the gut mycobiota of PE, pregnancy with chronic hypertension (PCH), and the normal group (Normal pregnancy group without any underlying disease) by internal transcribed spacer sequencing. In addition, LC/MS was used to explore the relationship between the fecal metabolites and gut mycobiota. Results Compared with the PCH and the normal group, α diversity (represented the species abundance in a single sample) of mycobiota were lower in the PE group, but there was no statistically significant difference among these three groups. However, Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis found 3 differentially abundant fungal taxa in PE group when compared with the normal group. The gut metabolites of PE patients were significantly different from PCH and the normal group. Choline metabolism molecule glycerophosphocholine was the most discriminant metabolite between PE and the normal group. Correlation analysis found that Candida spp.was positively correlated with glycerophosphocholine which increased in PE. Conclusion We found that gut mycobiota changed in the third trimester of pregnant women with preeclampsia.

Urinary microbiota and serum metabolite analysis in patients with diabetic kidney disease

BackgroundDiabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a common and potentially fatal consequence of diabetes. Chronic renal failure or end-stage renal disease may result over time. Numerous studies have demonstrated the function of the microbiota in health and disease. The use of advanced urine culture techniques revealed the presence of resident microbiota in the urinary tract, undermining the idea of urine sterility. Studies have demonstrated that the urine microbiota is related with urological illnesses; nevertheless, the fundamental mechanisms by which the urinary microbiota influences the incidence and progression of DKD remain unclear. The purpose of this research was to describe key characteristics of the patients with DKD urinary microbiota in order to facilitate the development of diagnostic and therapeutic for DKD. MethodsWe evaluated the structure and composition of the microbiota extracted from urine samples taken from DKD patients (n = 19) and matched healthy controls (n = 15) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Meanwhile, serum metabolite profiles were compared using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Associations between clinical characteristics, urine microbiota, and serum metabolites were also examined. Finally, the interaction between urine microbiota and serum metabolites was clarified based on differential metabolite abundance analysis. ResultsThe findings indicated that the DKD had a distinct urinary microbiota from the healthy controls (HC). Taxonomic investigations indicated that the DKD microbiome had less alpha diversity than a control group. Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria phyla increased in the DKD, while Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Acidobacteria was the most prevalent microbiota in the DKD, as determined by the Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) plot. Changes in the urinary microbiota of DKD also had an effect on the makeup of metabolites. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and protein-bound uremic toxins (PBUTs) were shown to be specific. Then we discovered that arginine and proline metabolism was the primary mechanism involved in the regulation of diabetic kidney disease. ConclusionsThis study placed the urinary microbiota and serum metabolite of DKD patients into a functional framework and identified the most abundant microbiota in DKD (Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria). Arginine metabolites may have a major effect on DKD patients, which correlated with the progression of DKD.

The Impact of Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticle Size on the Viscosity and Stability of Nanofluids: A Comprehensive Study

This study investigated the impact of silicon dioxide nanoparticle size on the viscosity and stability of nanofluids. A comprehensive study was conducted, including the synthesis and characterization of silicon dioxide nanoparticles of varying sizes, as well as the preparation and testing of nanofluids with different nanoparticle concentrations. The results show that nanoparticle size has a significant effect on both the viscosity and stability of nanofluids, with smaller nanoparticles leading to higher viscosity and improved stability. Silicon dioxide nanoparticles were dispersed in deionized water at mass fractions of 0.5% and 3% and average particle diameters of 12 nm and 40 nm using an ultrasonic disperser. The rheological properties of the obtained nanofluids at 304 K were studied depending on the mass concentration and linear size of nanoparticles in the liquid. An analysis of the results showed that the viscosity of the nanofluids increased with decreasing linear size of the nanoparticles. These findings have important implications for the development and optimization of nanofluid-based applications in various industries, such as electronics, energy, and biomedical engineering.

Changes in the intestinal microbiota of farmed northern sheatfish (Silurus soldatovi) associated with natural bacterial infection

AbstractAn acute infectious disease of northern sheatfish (Silurus soldatovi) was found in a commercial aquaculture pond in Tianjin, China. Herein, two dominant bacterial strains were isolated from naturally diseased northern sheatfish and identified as Aeromonas veronii and Vibrio cholerae. Seven healthy and seven naturally diseased fish that were collected from the pond were used for the gut microbiota analysis by high‐throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The α‐diversity indices (ACE, Chao 1, and Shannon) did not differ significantly between diseased and healthy fish (p &gt; 0.05), but a significant separation was observed between them when β‐diversity analysis of the bacterial population was performed. The diseased fish demonstrated a significant elevation in the relative abundances of Aeromonas, Vibrio, Blautia, and Megamonas and a decrease in Cetobacterium, Bacteroides, Chryseolinea, Ralstonia, and Pseudomonas compared with healthy fish (p &lt; 0.05). Linear discriminant analysis effect size showed that microbial marker species in the diseased fish were in the order Aeromonadales, the family Aeromonadaceae, and the genus Aeromonas. The functional profiles of the microbial community that were predicted using the PICRUSt2 indicated that the disturbance of gut microbiota caused the alteration of its functional profiles in the diseased fish.

Calculating the Relative Variances of Magnetization, Heat Capacity, and Susceptibility in a Two-Dimensional Weakly Diluted Four-Component Potts Model

The relative variances of the magnetization Rm, heat capacity Rc, and susceptibility Rχ are calculated by the Monte Carlo method in the spin lattice four-component weakly diluted Potts model on a square lattice at a spin density p = 0.80. It is shown that introducing a disorder in the form of nonmagnetic impurities into the 2D Potts model leads to nonzero values of Rm, Rc, and Rχ at the critical point. It has been found that these values decrease noticeably for systems with linear sizes L ≥ 120 interatomic distances.

Modulating effects of Astragalus polysaccharide on immune disorders via gut microbiota and the TLR4/NF-κB pathway in rats with syndrome of dampness stagnancy due to spleen deficiency.

The syndrome of dampness stagnancy due to spleen deficiency (DSSD) is relatively common globally. Although the pathogenesis of DSSD remains unclear, evidence has suggested that the gut microbiota might play a significant role. Radix Astragali, used as both medicine and food, exerts the effects of tonifying spleen and qi. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) comprises a macromolecule substance extracted from the dried root of Radix Astragali, which has many pharmacological functions. However, whether APS mitigates the immune disorders underlying the DSSD syndrome via regulating gut microbiota and the relevant mechanism remains unknown. Here, we used DSSD rats induced by high-fat and low-protein (HFLP) diet plus exhaustive swimming, and found that APS of moderate molecular weight increased the body weight gain and immune organ indexes, decreased the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and endotoxin, and suppressed the Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-‍κB (TLR4/NF-‍κB) pathway. Moreover, a total of 27 critical genera were significantly enriched according to the linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe). APS increased the diversity of the gut microbiota and changed its composition, such as reducing the relative abundance of Pseudoflavonifractor and Paraprevotella, and increasing that of Parasutterella, Parabacteroides, Clostridium XIVb, Oscillibacter, Butyricicoccus, and Dorea. APS also elevated the contents of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Furthermore, the correlation analysis indicated that 12 critical bacteria were related to the body weight gain and immune organ indexes. In general, our study demonstrated that APS ameliorated the immune disorders in DSSD rats via modulating their gut microbiota, especially for some bacteria involving immune and inflammatory response and SCFA production, as well as the TLR4/NF-κB pathway. This study provides an insight into the function of APS as a unique potential prebiotic through exerting systemic activities in treating DSSD.

Small-d MSR Codes With Optimal Access, Optimal Sub-Packetization, and Linear Field Size

This paper presents an explicit construction of a class of optimal-access, minimum storage regenerating (MSR) codes, for small values of the number <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">d</i> of helper nodes. The construction is valid for any parameter set ( <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">n, k, d</i> ) with <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">d</i> ∈ { <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">k</i> +1, <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">k</i> +2, <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">k</i> +3} and employs a finite field F <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><i>q</i></sub> of size <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">q</i> = <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">O(n)</i> . We will refer to the constructed codes as Small-d MSR codes. The sub-packetization level α is given by α = <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">s</i> ⎾ <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">n/s</i> ⏋, where <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">s</i> = <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">d</i> – <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">k</i> + 1. By an earlier result on the sub-packetization level for optimal-access MSR codes, this is the smallest value possible.

Dietary supplemental coated essential oils and organic acids mixture improves growth performance and gut health along with reduces Salmonella load of broiler chickens infected with Salmonella Enteritidis

BackgroundReducing Salmonella infection in broiler chickens by using effective and safe alternatives to antibiotics is vital to provide safer poultry meat and minimize the emergence of drug-resistant Salmonella and the spread of salmonellosis to humans. This study was to first evaluate the protective efficacy of feeding coated essential oils and organic acids mixture (EOA) on broiler chickens infected with Salmonella Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis, SE), and then its action mechanism was further explored.MethodsA total of 480 1-day-old Arbor Acres male chickens were randomly assigned into five treatments with six replicates, including non-challenged control fed with basal diet (A), SE-challenged control (B), and SE-infected birds fed a basal diet with 300 mg/kg of EOA (BL), 500 mg/kg of EOA (BM) and 800 mg/kg of EOA (BH), respectively. All birds on challenged groups were infected with Salmonella Enteritidis on d 13. ResultsFeeding EOA showed a reversed ability on negative effects caused by SE infection, as evidenced by decreasing the feed conversion rate (FCR) and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (VH/CD) (P < 0.05), obviously decreasing intestinal and internal organs Salmonella load along with increasing cecal butyric acid-producing bacteria abundance (P < 0.05). Moreover, supplemental different levels of EOA notably up-regulated claudin-1 (CLDN-1), occludin (OCLN), zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), mucin-2 (MUC-2), fatty acid binding protein-2 (FABP-2), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), myeloid differential protein-88 (MyD88) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA levels in the ileum of the infected chickens after challenge, whereas down-regulated toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) mRNA levels (P < 0.05). Linear discriminant analysis combined effect size measurements analysis (LEfSe) showed that the relative abundance of g_Butyricicoccus, g_Anaerotruncus and g_unclassified_f_Bacillaceae significantly was enriched in infected birds given EOA. Also, phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) analysis showed that alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids were significantly enriched in the EOA group.ConclusionOur data suggest that the essential oils and organic acids mixture can be used as an effective strategy to ameliorate and alleviate Salmonella Enteritidis infection in broilers.

Эффективность применения агроприемов на участке гибридизации подсолнечника для улучшения физико-механических и биологических свойств выращиваемых семян

Influence of agrotechnical practices on biological, physical and mechanical qualities of seeds produced on a hybridization plot of the promising sunflower hybrid Surus was studied. To reach a goal we used a complex of agrotechnical practices (seed-sowing rates, fertilizers, chemical and biological plant protective means against diseases and pests) which had different levels of efficiency on the improvement of the biological, physical and mechanical qualities of the produced seeds. To improve the biological qualities of seeds, we graded the seeds into three different fractions: large, middle, and small. This resulted the seeds became more uniform by size, weight, volume weight, and had the higher laboratory germination. Output of a small fraction (size ˂ 3.0 mm) was 38%, a middle one (size 3.0–3.2 mm) – 37, and a large one (size ˃ 3.2 mm) – 25%, and 1000 seed weight by variants of an experiment within 40–41 g of small fraction, 46–48 – middle, and 50–52 g of large one. An average 1000 seed weight by all variants of the experiment and seed-sowing rates of the small fraction of seeds was 40 g, middle one was 47 g, and large one was 51 g. The grading of seeds by physical qualities within their linear sizes caused increasing of the laboratory germination of small seeds higher the level (85%) prescribed by the State Standard of Russia 52325-2005 in variants with chemical and biological plant protection against pests and diseases. The germination of the selected middle seed fraction was the highest (91%) in all variants of the experiment compared to the other two fractions. In a large seed fraction, there were no certified seeds by the germination. Therefore, grading the seeds by fractions is the effective method of selection and uniforming them by physical and mechanical, and biological qualities that as a result can positively effect on yield and quality of commercial seeds in progenies.

Структура, фазовий склад і властивості сплаву АК12М2МгН з підвищенням вмістом заліза, обробленого в рідкому стані електричним струмом

The possibility of replacing the piston eutectic alloy of the Al-Si-Cu system AK12M2MgN, which was produced at OJSC "Zaporizhsky Aluminum Combine" from primary aluminum, with AK12M2MgNZH with an increased iron content, which will allow expanding the raw material base of production due to the use of scrap and waste. It is proposed to solve this problem by introducing into the technological process of processing the melt with a unipolar pulsed electric current during pouring according to specially developed modes. To investigate this possibility, experiments were conducted on the effect of electric current on the microstructure, phase composition of AK12M2MgN and AK12M2MgNZH alloys and their mechanical properties at temperatures of 20 oC and 300 oC. The melt was treated with an electric current in the following modes: electric current density (j) 100 - 400 A/cm2, pulse frequency (ν) 50 - 2000 Hz. The phase composition of alloys is considered. It is shown that the main iron-containing phase of the AK12M2MgN alloy is (Fe,Mn)3Si2AI15 (α) in the form of branched eutectic crystals. The acicular β-FeSiAI5 phase is practically absent. Unlike AK12M2MgN, the composition of AK12M2MgNZH alloy includes β-FeSiAl5 intermetallic and primary coarse crystals of (Fe,Mn)3Si2AI15 phase. After treatment of alloys in the liquid state with pulsed electric current in different modes, their microstructure and phase composition change significantly. The degree of differentiation of eutectic components increases. In particular, the linear size of eutectic silicon crystals, depending on the density and frequency of the electric current, decreases by 2-3 times. Primary crystals of the intermetallic (Fe,Mn)3Si2Al15 are formed in the AK12M2MgN alloy, which in cross-section have the appearance of compact, close to globular crystals. X-ray spectral studies have shown that despite the same crystallographic structure, eutectic and primary crystals of the (Fe,Mn)3Si2Al15 phase differ in the higher concentration of iron, manganese, copper and nickel in the latter. In the composition of the AK12M2MgNZH alloy, there is practically no acicular intermetallic β-FeSiAl5, the formation of which is one of the main reasons for the decrease in mechanical properties. Similar to the AK12M2MgN alloy, compact crystals of the primary phase (Fe,Mn)3Si2Al15 and a significant amount of the π-FeMg3Si6Al8 phase appear. Such structural changes ensured an increase in the mechanical properties at 20 and 300 oC of both the AK12M2MgN alloy and AK12M2MgNZH. The highest properties of both alloys are achieved at j = 100 A/cm2; ν = 1000 ‒ 2000 Hz. The characteristics of mechanical properties increase from 25 % to 40 %. The structural and phase changes caused by the processing of the AK12M2MgNZH melt with an electric current according to experimentally established modes provide it with mechanical properties at the level of the AK12M2MgN alloy with several higher heat resistance indicators. In addition, treatment of the melt with electric current allows to reduce the consumption of sodium-potassium fluxes by 15-50%; time of heat treatment for T1 from 10-12 hours. up to 2-3 hours.

Lifestyles, arterial aging, and its relationship with the intestinal and oral microbiota (MIVAS III study): a research protocol for a cross-sectional multicenter study.

The microbiota is increasingly recognized as a significant factor in the pathophysiology of many diseases, including cardiometabolic diseases, with lifestyles probably exerting the greatest influence on the composition of the human microbiome. The main objectives of the study are to analyze the association of lifestyles (diet, physical activity, tobacco, and alcohol) with the gut and oral microbiota, arterial aging, and cognitive function in subjects without cardiovascular disease in the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, the study will examine the mediating role of the microbiome in mediating the association between lifestyles and arterial aging as well as cognitive function. MIVAS III is a multicenter cross-sectional study that will take place in the Iberian Peninsula. One thousand subjects aged between 45 and 74 years without cardiovascular disease will be selected. The main variables are demographic information, anthropometric measurements, and habits (tobacco and alcohol). Dietary patterns will be assessed using a frequency consumption questionnaire (FFQ) and the Mediterranean diet adherence questionnaire. Physical activity levels will be evaluated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Marshall Questionnaire, and an Accelerometer (Actigraph). Body composition will be measured using the Inbody 230 impedance meter. Arterial aging will be assessed through various means, including measuring medium intimate carotid thickness using the Sonosite Micromax, conducting analysis with pulse wave velocity (PWA), and measuring pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) using the Sphygmocor System. Additional cardiovascular indicators such as Cardio Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI), ba-PWV, and ankle-brachial index (Vasera VS-2000®) will also be examined. The study will analyze the intestinal microbiota using the OMNIgene GUT kit (OMR-200) and profile the microbiome through massive sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA), effect size (LEfSe), and compositional analysis, such as ANCOM-BC, will be used to identify differentially abundant taxa between groups. After rarefying the samples, further analyses will be conducted using MicrobiomeAnalyst and R v.4.2.1 software. These analyses will include various aspects, such as assessing α and β diversity, conducting abundance profiling, and performing clustering analysis. Lifestyle acts as a modifier of microbiota composition. However, there are no conclusive results demonstrating the mediating effect of the microbiota in the relationship between lifestyles and cardiovascular diseases. Understanding this relationship may facilitate the implementation of strategies for improving population health by modifying the gut and oral microbiota. clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04924907, ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT04924907. Registered on 21 April 2021.

Identification and sensing of hydrogen fluoride (HF) on aluminum phosphide (Al24P24) nanocage in both gas and water phases: electronic study via density-functional theory computations.

Hydrogen fluoride (HF) is extensively present in environmental and industrial pollutants. It may harm the health of humans and animals. This work evaluated the adsorption of an (HF)n linear chain (n = 1, 2, 3, and 4) onto an AlP nanocage through ab initio calculations for the evaluation of its performance in sensing and monitoring (HF)n within aqueous and gaseous media. The present work adopted density functional theory (DFT) at the 6-311 G (d, p) basis set to analyze (HF)n linear chain adsorption onto AlP nanocages with the B3LYP functional. This paper examined the adsorption energy, configuration optimization, work function, and charge transfer. In addition, the contributions of the HF linear chain size to electronic properties and adsorption energy were measured. The dimer form of HF on the surface of AlP nanocages was found to have the highest stability based on the adsorption energy values. Once (HF)n was adsorbed onto the nanocage, the HOMO-LUMO energy gap experienced a large reduction from 3.87 to 3.03 eV, enhancing electrical conductivity. In addition, AlP nanocages may serve in the sensing of (HF)n under multiple environmental pollutants.

Effect of time of sample collection after onset of diarrhea on fecal microbiota composition of calves.

The effect of time of sample collection after onset of diarrhea on the fecal microbiota composition of calves is unknown. Compare the fecal microbiota of calves with diarrhea onset on the day of sampling (D <24h), and calves having had diarrhea for >24 to 48 hours (D 24-48h). Thirty-one diarrheic calves (20 D <24h and 11 D 24-48h), 3 to 7 days of age. Cross-sectional study. Diarrhea was defined as a calf with loose feces or watery feces. Assessment of the fecal microbiota was performed by sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicons. Richness and diversity were not statistically different between D <24h and D 24-48h (P > .05), but bacterial membership and structure differed significantly (AMOVA, P < .001 for both comparisons). Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LefSe) showed an enrichment of Faecalibacterium, Phocaeicola, Lachnospiracea, and Lactobacillus in the feces of D <24h calves, whereas Escherichia/Shigella, Ligilactobacillus, Clostridium_Sensu_Stricto, Clostridium_Incerta_Sedis, and Enterococcus were enriched in the D 24-48h calves. Rapid changes in fecal microbiota occur during the first 48 hours of diarrhea with an enrichment of lactic acid-producing bacteria in D <24h followed by an enrichment in Escherichia/Shigella and Clostridium spp. in D 24-48h. The time from diarrhea onset to sampling appears to affect the bacterial composition. Researchers should standardize times for fecal collection based on the time of diarrhea.

Metagenomic insight into the prevalence and driving forces of antibiotic resistance genes in the whole process of three full-scale wastewater treatment plants

The spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is an emerging global health concern, and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), as an essential carrier for the occurrence and transmission of ARGs, deserves more attention. Based on the Illumina NovaSeq high-throughput sequencing platform, this study conducted a metagenomic analysis of 18 samples from three full-scale WWTPs to explore the fate of ARGs in the whole process (influent, biochemical treatment, advanced treatment, and effluent) of wastewater treatment. Total 70 ARG subtypes were detected, among which multidrug, aminoglycoside, tetracycline, and macrolide ARGs were most abundant. The different treatment processes used for three WWTPs were capable of reducing ARG diversity, but did not significantly reduce ARG abundance. Compared to that by denitrification filters, the membrane bioreactor (MBR) process was advantageous in controlling the prevalence of multidrug ARGs in WWTPs. Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) suggested g_Nitrospira, g_Curvibacter, and g_Mycobacterium as the key bacteria responsible for differential ARG prevalence among different WWTPs. Meanwhile, adeF, sul1, and mtrA were the persistent antibiotic resistance genes (PARGs) and played dominant roles in the prevalence of ARGs. Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were the host bacteria of majority ARGs in WWTPs, while Pseudomonas and Nitrospira were the most crucial host bacteria influencing the dissemination of critical ARGs (e.g., adeF). In addition, microbial richness was determined to be the decisive factor affecting the diversity and abundance of ARGs in wastewater treatment processes. Overall, regulating the abundance of microorganisms and key host bacteria by selecting processes with microbial interception, such as MBR process, may be beneficial to control the prevalence of ARGs in WWTPs.