Multiple Specimens Research Articles

Exploring the diversity of leafrollers (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) associated with eucalypts in South African forestry nurseries and plantations, with a new report of Strepsicrates sp.

A number of insect pests cause damage to eucalypts in South Africa. Their accurate identification is a key part of managing and controlling these pests. The aims of this study were to identify leafroller insect species in South African eucalypt nurseries and plantations, and to determine whether the species were native insects that had developed new host associations with eucalypts or introduced non-native species. A section of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) gene of multiple specimens from nurseries and plantations was sequenced. The sequence data were compared and validated using sequences available in BOLD systems and GenBank databases. Results revealed the presence of an introduced non-native Strepsicrates sp. in both nurseries and plantations. In addition, the native species Choristoneura occidentalis and Eccopsis incultana were confirmed as present in plantations only and the native species Lozotaenia capensana was confirmed as present in one of the nurseries. Eucalypts are reported as host plants of C. occidentalis, E. incultana and Lozotaenia capensana for the first time. The findings contribute valuable insights into the identification and diversity of leaf rollers in eucalypt plantations in South Africa, with potential implications for pest management.

High-throughput in-situ mechanical evaluation and parameter optimization for 3D printing of continuous carbon fiber composites

The mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) molded parts produced by thermal fusion lamination 3D printing vary with printing conditions. This study assesses the influence of the 3D printing parameters on the mechanical properties of resulting CFRTP products through parameter evaluation testing. An in-situ three-point bending test mechanism was developed to enhance the efficiency of these tests, allowing the same 3D printer to handle all processes from printing multiple CFRTP specimens simultaneously to conducting a bending test, reducing manual handling time to about one minute. Using this modified 3D printer, 700 specimens with varying printing conditions were produced, and their flexural strength was measured semi-automatically. Results revealed that the flexural strength of the 3D-printed CFRTP object varied with nozzle temperature, printing pitch, and stacking pitch, but not with printing speed. Machine learning was then employed to predict the maximum flexural strength and determine optimal printing parameters using the collected data as training data.

Data-driven evaluation of the Paris’ law parameters in polyethylene pipe grades — Increasing the precision of fracture mechanical lifetime estimation

The Paris’ Law parameters A and m are a necessity for predicting lifetimes of structural components under static or fatigue loading that fail due to crack initiation and propagation. Conventional methods require measurements of crack growth kinetics that involve direct or indirect monitoring of physical crack extension during long-term experiments. Usually, measurement series also involve multiple specimens in order to obtain a crack growth controlled failure diagram of an investigated material under relevant load conditions. In this contribution a combination of simple numerical, statistical and analytical approaches is presented to obtain A and m without the need to measure actual crack growth. This is accomplished by reformulating the Paris’ Law to express A as a function of m. The parameter m is varied within a reasonable range to generate an analytical function for A that solves the equation of the Paris’ Law based lifetime for a single specimen. A subsequent superposition of all available specimens reveals an intersection of all A functions at the technically relevant pair of A and m values that are capable of describing the lifetime of all specimens with a minimum error. The obtained best-fitting A and m are in good agreement with literature and are able to predict the lifetime of previously published sample data based upon cyclic Cracked Round Bar test results with an average error of 3.30 ± 2.67%.

Computer Vision-Assisted Robotized Sampling of Volatile Organic Compounds.

In conventional chemical analysis, samples are homogenized, extracted, purified, and injected into an analytical instrument manually or with a certain degree of automation. Such complex methods can provide superior performance in terms of sensitivity or selectivity. However, in some cases, it would be advantageous to possess a method that circumvents those preparatory steps, which require much attention. Here, we present a facile analytical approach to sampling volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Solid specimens emitting VOCs can be dropped onto the drop-off zone at a random position without any special alignment. A computer vision system recognizes specimen position, and a robotic arm places a sampling probe in the proximity of the specimen. The probe aspirates the VOCs─emitted by the specimen─with the aid of a suction force. A portion of the gaseous extract is transferred to the tritium-based ion source of a drift-tube ion mobility spectrometer. The ion mobility spectrum is immediately displayed in the customized graphical user interface (GUI). The sampling system also features a function for flushing extract ducts with hot nitrogen gas. Multiple specimens can be dropped for analysis at the same time. In one embodiment, the system can distinguish fresh meat from spoiled meat. When two meat specimens are placed on the drop-off zone, they are immediately sampled by the robotic arm, analyzed, and labeled on the digital image displayed on the GUI. Thus, the developed autosampling platform provides a hassle-free way of qualitative or semiquantitative analysis of raw specimens.

Ontogeny and associated changes of the extinct sloth Simomylodon uccasamamensis (Xenarthra, Mylodontidae) from the Pliocene of the eastern Puna, Argentina.

Within Xenarthra (Eocene-Recent), Folivora developed (late Eocene-Recent) a remarkable diversity with respect to ecology and taxonomy over its evolutionary history. Knowledge of the diversity achieved by members of this clade in high-altitude areas of South America (i.e., Altiplano and Puna regions of Peru, Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina) has been improved in recent decades. A particular example involves the late Neogene Mylodontidae Simomylodon uccasamamensis, known mostly from multiple specimens recovered from the Bolivian Altiplano. Although several anatomical descriptions of this ground sloth have been published, almost nothing is known about its ontogenetic development and the associated morphological changes. Here we describe and compare new specimens of S. uccasamamensis from the upper level of the Tafna Formation (Pliocene) in the eastern Puna (ca. 3800 masl), Argentina, representing the southernmost record of this species. The new material is represented by specimens showing different ontogenetic stages, from infant to adult. One subadult specimen reached an estimated body mass of ca. 232 kg. The comparative study of external and internal morphology (the latter obtained from CT scans and radiography) shows remarkable changes in the mandible and molariforms associated with ontogeny; in addition, evidence suggests that the mfs2-3 are the first functional teeth, followed by mf1 and cf1. Based on our body mass estimates (ca. 232 kg.), we inferred an average lifespan of 14 years, 9-month gestation time, and sexual maturation at 4.1 years, quite similar to the values we obtained based on estimated body masses of adult specimens from Bolivia published by previous authors. Along its latitudinal distribution (ca. 14° S-21° S) S. uccasamamensis co-occurred with other ground sloths (e.g., Megatheriinae, Thalassocninae, and Scelidotheriinae), suggesting niche partitioning. The presence of this medium-sized ground sloth is consistent with the similarity between the faunas of eastern Puna and the Bolivian Altiplano during the Pliocene, which is also concordant with what was observed in other clades, such as Rodentia and Notoungulata.

A single-center study on the distribution and shifting trend of infectious keratitis pathogens from 2018 to 2022

Objective: To investigate the pathogen species, composition, and distribution characteristics of infectious keratitis pathogens in Shandong Province and its surrounding areas. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients with keratitis who underwent corneal sampling and microbiological culture at the Shandong Eye Hospital from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022 were included. Under topical anesthesia, the edge of the lesion was scraped by an experienced physician. The samples were inoculated on blood agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar plates, separately for bacterial and fungal culture and identification. If necessary, the samples were inoculated on a non-nutrient agar medium with Escherichia coli for Acanthamoeba culture. Bacterial isolates were identified using Vitek 2 compact or matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Fungal isolates were identified based on morphological characteristics or sent to a company for sequencing in cases of difficult identification. The epidemiological data of the patients, pathogen species and number (counting as 1 strain if the same strain was isolated from multiple corneal specimens of the same patient), culture positivity rate, and seasonal distribution were recorded. Differences in pathogen positivity rates among different seasons were analyzed using the chi-square test. Results: Among the 4, 024 patients with infectious keratitis during the study period, there were 2 510 males (62.3%) and 1 514 females (37.6%), aged from 46 days to 94 years. Positive microbial culture results were achieved in 2, 363 patients (58.7%), including 906 cases (38.3%) with bacterial positivity, 1 231 cases (52.1%) with fungal positivity, 28 cases (1.2%) with Acanthamoeba positivity, and 198 cases (8.4%) with mixed fungal and bacterial infections. A total of 2 561 strains were isolated, including 1 104 bacterial strains. The most common bacteria were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. (623/1 104, 56.4%), followed by Streptococcus spp. (131/1 104, 11.9%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (68/1 104, 6.2%). The most common fungi were Fusarium spp. (634/1 429, 44.4%), followed by Aspergillus spp. (279/1 429, 19.5%) and Alternaria spp. (229/1 429, 16.0%). Bacterial keratitis was more common in summer and autumn, while fungal keratitis was more common in autumn and winter. Conclusions: Among infectious keratitis cases in Shandong Eye Hospital, Fusarium species were predominant fungal pathogens, while coagulase-negative Staphylococcus predominated in bacterial pathogens. Both fungal and bacterial corneal infections showed seasonal variations.

To pool or not to pool: Pooled metabarcoding does not affect estimates of prey diversity in spider gut content analysis

Abstract Gut content metabarcoding has provided important insights into the food web ecology of spiders, the most dominant terrestrial arthropod predators. In small invertebrates, like spiders, gut content analysis is often performed on whole body DNA extracts of individual predators, from which prey sequences are selectively enriched and sequenced. Since many spider species are generalist predators, large numbers of samples comprising individual spider specimens must be analysed to recover an exhaustive image of a spider species' prey spectrum, which is costly and time‐consuming. Pooled processing of bulk samples of multiple specimens has been suggested to reduce the necessary workload and cost while still recovering a representative estimate of the prey diversity. However, it is still unclear if pooling approaches lead to bias in recovering the prey spectrum and if the results are comparable with data from individually processed spiders. Here, we test the effects of metabarcoding pooled spider gut content on the recovered taxonomic diversity and composition of prey. Using a newly adapted primer pair, which efficiently enriches COI barcode sequences of diverse arthropod prey groups while suppressing spider amplification, we test if pooling leads to reduced taxonomic diversity or skewed estimates of prey composition. Our results show that pooling and individual processing recover highly correlated taxonomic diversity and composition of prey. The only exception are very rare prey items which were less well recovered by pooling. Our results support pooling as a cost‐effective and time‐efficient approach to recover the diet of generalist predators for population‐level studies of spider trophic interactions.

Species delimitation in Xanthium sect. Acanthoxanthium (Heliantheae, Asteraceae) and the neglected species Xanthium argenteum

AbstractXanthium is a genus of annual herbaceous plants that stands out within Asteraceae for being wind‐pollinated, diclinous monoecious, and bearing solitary pistillate flowers in peculiar spiny structures (burs). Xanthium sect. Acanthoxanthium is native to South America and characterized by the presence of trifurcate spines at the base of the leaves. Past taxonomic treatments of the section have been contradictory, some recognising up to six species, others reducing all to a single polymorphic species. Altogether, 42 samples of X. sect. Acanthoxanthium were analysed, the vast majority taken from herbarium specimens between 20 and 160 years old. We sampled multiple specimens of X. spinosum from throughout its broad range as well as those taxa with narrower distributions, covering the whole range of morphological variation in the section. When possible, we included types and original material. We used Hyb‐Seq techniques to obtain information from about 1000 single‐copy nuclear genes and complete plastomes. Phylogenomic data were submitted to coalescent‐based species delimitation approaches (SPEEDEMON). Additionally, we performed geometric morphometric analysis of leaf outlines. The results strongly support the identification of four lineages in the section favouring the acceptance of four of the hitherto described species, i.e., X. ambrosioides, X. argenteum, X. catharticum, and X. spinosum. These results were to some extent corroborated by morphometric analyses. While X. ambrosioides was well distinct from X. spinosum based on leaf morphology, such difference was not observed between X. spinosum and X. catharticum. However, X. catharticum differs from X. spinosum in its ecological requirements, being a species rather adapted to high‐mountain environments of the Neotropics. Intriguingly, X. argenteum – a taxon described from a single herbarium collection – was also inferred as a species.

Short Fatigue-Crack Growth from Crack-like Defects under Completely Reversed Loading Predicted Based on Cyclic R-Curve.

Understanding short fatigue-crack propagation behavior is inevitable in the defect-tolerant design of structures. Short cracks propagate differently from long cracks, and the amount of crack closure plays a key role in the propagation behavior of short cracks. In the present paper, the buildup of fatigue-crack closure due to plasticity with crack extension from crack-like defects is simulated with a modified strip yield model, which leaves plastic stretch in the wake of the advancing crack. Crack-like defects are assumed to be closure-free and do not close even under compression. The effect of the size of crack-like defects on the growth and arrest of short cracks was systematically investigated and the cyclic R-curve derived. The cyclic R-curve determined under constant amplitude loading of multiple specimens is confirmed to be independent of the initial defect length. Load-shedding and ΔK-constant loading tests are employed to extend the cyclic R-curve beyond the fatigue limit determined under constant amplitude loading. The initiation stage of cracks is taken into account in R-curves when applied to smooth specimens.

A whole-body micro-CT scan library that captures the skeletal diversity of Lake Malawi cichlid fishes

Here we describe a dataset of freely available, readily processed, whole-body μCT-scans of 56 species (116 specimens) of Lake Malawi cichlid fishes that captures a considerable majority of the morphological variation present in this remarkable adaptive radiation. We contextualise the scanned specimens within a discussion of their respective ecomorphological groupings and suggest possible macroevolutionary studies that could be conducted with these data. In addition, we describe a methodology to efficiently μCT-scan (on average) 23 specimens per hour, limiting scanning time and alleviating the financial cost whilst maintaining high resolution. We demonstrate the utility of this method by reconstructing 3D models of multiple bones from multiple specimens within the dataset. We hope this dataset will enable further morphological study of this fascinating system and permit wider-scale comparisons with other cichlid adaptive radiations.

Sequential and parallel testing for microbiological confirmation of tuberculosis disease in children in five low-income and middle-income countries: a secondary analysis of the RaPaed-TB study

Despite causing high mortality worldwide, paediatric tuberculosis is often undiagnosed. We aimed to investigate optimal testing strategies for microbiological confirmation of tuberculosis in children younger than 15 years, including the yield in high-risk subgroups (eg, children younger than 5 years, with HIV, or with severe acute malnutrition [SAM]). For this secondary analysis, we used data from RaPaed-TB, a multicentre diagnostic accuracy study evaluating novel diagnostic assays and testing approaches for tuberculosis in children recruited from five health-care centres in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, and India conducted between Jan 21, 2019, and June 30, 2021. Children were included if they were younger than 15 years and had signs or symptoms of pulmonary or extrapulmonary tuberculosis; they were excluded if they weighed less than 2 kg, had received three or more doses of anti-tuberculosis medication at time of enrolment, were in a condition deemed critical by the local investigator, or if they did not have at least one valid microbiological result. We collected tuberculosis-reference specimens via spontaneous sputum, induced sputum, gastric aspirate, and nasopharyngeal aspirates. Microbiological tests were Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (hereafter referred to as Ultra), liquid culture, and Löwenstein-Jensen solid culture, which were followed by confirmatory testing for positive cultures. The main outcome of this secondary analysis was categorising children as having confirmed tuberculosis if culture or Ultra positive on any sample, unconfirmed tuberculosis if clinically diagnosed, and unlikely tuberculosis if neither of these applied. Of 5313 children screened, 975 were enrolled, of whom 965 (99%) had at least one valid microbiological result. 444 (46%) of 965 had unlikely tuberculosis, 282 (29%) had unconfirmed tuberculosis, and 239 (25%) had confirmed tuberculosis. Median age was 5·0 years (IQR 1·8-9·0); 467 (48%) of 965 children were female and 498 (52%) were male. 155 (16%) of 965 children had HIV and 110 (11%) children had SAM. 196 (82%) of 239 children with microbiological detection tested positive on Ultra. 110 (46%) of 239 were confirmed by both Ultra and culture, 86 (36%) by Ultra alone, and 43 (18%) by culture alone. 'Trace' was the most common semiquantitative result (93 [40%] of 234). 481 (50%) of 965 children had only one specimen type collected, 99 (21%) of whom had M tuberculosis detected. 484 (50%) of 965 children had multiple specimens collected, 141 (29%) of whom were positive on at least one specimen type. Of the 102 children younger than 5 years with M tuberculosis detected, 80 (78%) tested positive on sputum. 64 (80%) of 80 children who tested positive on sputum were positive on sputum alone; 61 (95%) of 64 were positive on induced sputum, two (3%) of 64 were positive on spontaneous sputum, and one (2%) was positive on both. High rates of microbiological confirmation of tuberculosis in children can be achieved via parallel sampling and concurrent testing procedures. Sample types and choice of test to be used sequentially should be considered when applying to groups such as children younger than 5 years, living with HIV, or with SAM. European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership programme, supported by the EU, the UK Medical Research Council, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, the German Center for Infection Research, and Beckman Coulter.

Degradation of Unsintered Hydroxyapatite and Poly-L-Lactide Composite Sheets In Vivo and In Vitro.

Bioabsorbable sheet-shaped implants made of forged composites of unsintered hydroxyapatite and poly-L-lactide (F-u-HA/PLLA) have been used for orbital fracture repair with good results. This is the first report using multiple specimens implanted in the human orbit to demonstrate the biodegradation and loss of strength of F-u-HA/PLLA sheets. Among the patients who underwent various facial fracture repairs with F-u-HA/PLLA sheets implanted in their orbits, those whose sheets were subsequently extracted were included in the study. Viscosity-average molecular weight, crystallinity, and bending strength of the extracted implants were measured. An in vitro degradation test was also performed for comparison. Among the 111 patients who underwent F-u-HA/PLLA sheet implantation, 13 subsequently underwent surgical extraction of implants; the majority were due to secondary correction of complex fractures. One patient developed an infection; none developed foreign body reactions. Overall, 11 specimens from 10 patients with consent were examined. The time from implantation to extraction ranged from 43 to 632 days (median: 210d). Compared with the results of the in vitro degradation test, the viscosity-average molecular weight and bending strength had a slower decrease. The F-u-HA/PLLA sheets retained more than 50% of their initial bending strength after 12 months. Crystallinity varied widely. F-u-HA/PLLA sheets implanted in human orbits did not degrade faster than those of in vitro testing. Sheet-shaped implants made of forged composites of unsintered hydroxyapatite and poly-L-lactide can be considered appropriate reconstructive materials for orbital fractures as they retained sufficient strength to support the orbital contents at 12 months postoperatively, and no case of delayed foreign body reactions was observed.

Natural Lime–Cork Mortar for the Seismic and Energetic Retrofit of Infill Walls: Design, Materials, and Method

Recent seismic events have prompted research into innovative and sustainable materials for strengthening and repairing obsolete and vulnerable buildings. These earthquakes have exposed the high seismic vulnerability of existing reinforced concrete (RC) buildings, particularly in secondary structural elements like infill walls. In addition to structural issues, these buildings often face significant energy deficiencies, such as thermal bridges, due to inadequate insulation. Traditionally, structural and energy improvements for residential buildings are addressed separately with different methods and protocols. This preliminary study is part of a broader research initiative at the University of Reggio Calabria (Italy), aiming to design an innovative fiber-reinforced plaster using natural, sustainable, and locally produced materials to enhance the energy and structural performance of existing wall infills. The study investigates two plaster matrices made of natural hydraulic lime and silica sand, with 15% and 30% cork granules added. Mechanical and thermophysical tests on multiple specimens were conducted to evaluate their suitability for seismic and energy retrofitting of infill walls. Results indicate that adding cork reduces mechanical strength by approximately 42% at a 30% cork content without compromising its use in seismic retrofitting. Thermophysical tests show improved thermal performance with a higher cork content. These findings suggest that the lime–cork mixture at 30% is effective, offering excellent ductility and serving as a promising alternative to traditional cementitious plaster systems. The next experimental phase will test matrices with varying percentages of gorse fiber.

The postcranial anatomy of Moschorhinus kitchingi (Therapsida: Therocephalia) from the Karoo Basin of South Africa.

Therocephalia are an important clade of non-mammalian therapsids that evolved a diverse array of morphotypes and body sizes throughout their evolutionary history. The postcranial anatomy of therocephalians has largely been overlooked, but remains important towards understanding aspects of their palaeobiology and phylogenetic relationships. Here, we provide the first postcranial description of the large akidnognathid eutherocephalian Moschorhinus kitchingi by examining multiple specimens from fossil collections in South Africa. We also compare the postcranial anatomy with previously described therocephalian postcranial material and provide an updated literature review to ensure a reliable foundation of comparison for future descriptive work. Moschorhinus shares all the postcranial features of eutherocephalians that differentiate them from early-diverging therocephalians, but is differentiated from other eutherocephalian taxa by aspects concerning the scapula, interclavicle, sternum, manus, and femur. The novel anatomical data from this contribution shows that Moschorhinus possessed a stocky bauplan with a particularly robust scapula, humerus, and femur. These attributes, coupled with the short and robust skull bearing enlarged conical canines imply that Moschorhinus was well equipped to grapple with and subdue prey items. Additionally, the combination of these attributes differ from those of similarly sized coeval gorgonopsians, which would have occupied a similar niche in late Permian ecosystems. Moreover, Moschorhinus was the only large carnivore known to have survived the Permo-Triassic mass extinction. Thus, the subtle but important postcranial differences may suggest a type of niche partitioning in the predator guild during the Permo-Triassic mass extinction interval.

Hierarchical Bayesian modeling for calibration and uncertainty quantification of constitutive material models: Application to a uniaxial steel material model

Constitutive material models play an integral role in finite element (FE) modeling of structural components and systems and are governed by a set of parameters. The values of the material model parameters are important for the FE model to be able to predict the real structural behavior as closely as possible. Realistic cyclic material constitutive models well calibrated to experimental data are critical when predicting the nonlinear dynamic response of structural systems to extreme loads (e.g., earthquakes, high winds, blast). Hence, this study focuses on the inference and uncertainty quantification of material model parameters from an experimental dataset consisting of data from experiments on multiple specimens of the same kind, which is a topic of great interest to the structural modeling and simulation community. Traditionally, Bayesian inference is performed by pooling the data from all the specimens, or by considering the data from a single specimen, disregarding the inherent variability (aleatory uncertainty) among specimens of the same kind. Consequently, traditional approaches fail to capture the population distribution of material model parameters, which represents the aleatory specimen-to-specimen variability that is essential for conducting reliability analysis and uncertainty propagation studies. Moreover, these approaches cannot accurately simulate the response of new specimens. To overcome these limitations, this study introduces a novel application of hierarchical Bayesian inference for calibrating material model parameters. By simultaneously considering experimental data from multiple specimens of the same kind, hierarchical Bayesian modeling quantifies both epistemic uncertainty and aleatory specimen-to-specimen variability. In this study, the parameters of the well-known Giuffré-Menegotto-Pinto (GMP) uniaxial material model for reinforcing steel are calibrated and validated based on a dataset of experimental cyclic tests conducted on thirty-six steel specimens, or coupons, originating from three different manufacturing mills, complying to two different manufacturing standards, and subjected to different strain histories. These strain histories are similar to those experienced during seismic events by reinforcing steel bars within reinforced concrete structures. The material model parameters are calibrated using both the traditional and the hierarchical Bayesian approach and the results are compared. Based on the experimental dataset employed in this study, a joint probability distribution of the GMP material model parameters that quantifies both epistemic (due to finite sample size) and aleatory (coupon-to-coupon) variability or uncertainty is provided which can be used for uncertainty propagation in reliability and risk analyses of nonlinear dynamic systems.

Heterogeneity or change in cell of origin in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas determined using hans algorithm

This study aimed to analyze the heterogeneity or change in cell of origin (COO) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCLs) using the Hans algorithm including 156 patients with multiple DLBCL specimens. COO was detected via immunohistochemical staining for CD10, BCL6, and MUM1. The COO of the main tumor at initial diagnosis was germinal center B-cell (GCB) and non-GCB type in 50 (32%) and 106 (68%) patients, respectively. It did not change in 126 patients (81%). However, it changed in 30 patients (19%), from GCB to non-GCB in 12 patients and vice versa in 18 patients. The COO was heterogeneous or changed in 14% of simultaneous samples at other sites during the initial diagnosis, in 7% of primary refractory sites, and in 20% of samples obtained in the relapse phase other than the primary site. Changes in CD10, BCL6, and MUM1 expression were observed in 15%, 23%, and 24% samples, respectively. A low incidence of change in COO was observed in DLBCL with CD10+/BCL6+/MUM1- (4%), CD10-/BCL6-/MUM1+ (3%), and CD10-/BCL6-/MUM1- (0%) patterns, whereas DLBCL with other patterns showed COO changes at rates of 20–37%. In conclusion, COO was heterogeneous or changed in 19% of DLBCL cases. The COO should be re-examined in other biopsy samples to determine the optimal treatment.

AlCrTaTiZr-based high entropy alloy nitride coatings on stainless steel substrates: Characterization and microscale tension testing

High entropy alloy nitride coatings promise improved mechanical properties and are under current investigation for a range of applications. In this work, we report deposition of high entropy alloy nitride coatings on 316 stainless steel substrates by inductively coupled plasma assisted dc magnetron reactive sputtering of nominally equiatomic AlCrTaTiZr alloy targets. Characterization of coating composition and structure was carried out through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, and scanning/transmission electron microscopy. Mechanical testing was conducted through instrumented nanoindentation, interfacial shear loading through micropillar compression, and tension loading of coated microscale tensile bars in a scanning electron microscope. Microscale tension testing offers a potential avenue to assess the limiting shear strength of the coating/substrate interface, as well as the level of cohesion within the coating. The present study indicates that microscale tension tests yield results consistent with macroscale testing, while avoiding the need for multiple macroscale specimens. The present results suggest that cohesion of the high entropy alloy nitride coating and limiting shear strength of the coating/steel interface both increase with increasing substrate bias voltage during deposition, and that these coatings may be more adaptive to increased levels of ion bombardment during deposition without inducing excessive residual stresses.

Dataset of replicate Apollo sample magnetizations bearing on impacts and absence of a long-lived lunar dynamo

The absence or presence of a lunar paleomagnetosphere is important because it bears directly on the volatile content of the regolith and exploration targets for Artemis and other missions to the Moon. Recent paleointensity study of samples from the Apollo missions has readdressed this question. Multiple specimens from a young 2-million-year-old glass shows a strong magnetization compatible with that induced by charge-separation in an impact plasma, whereas paleointensities of single crystals yield evidence for null magnetizations spanning 3.9 to 3.2 Ga. Together, these data are consistent with an impact mechanism for the magnetization of some lunar samples, and absence of a long-lived lunar core dynamo and paleomagnetosphere recorded in other samples. Here, we present a dataset that allows researchers to examine replicates of these measurements. For the glass, we present data from specimens that fail standard paleointensity selection criteria but nevertheless imply a complex, changing magnetic field environment. For the single crystals, the replicate measurements further illustrate the initial zero magnetization state of these materials.

Additive manufacturing and mechanical analysis of multi-material polymer parts combining thermosets and thermoplastics

Multi-material additive manufacturing (AM) represents one of the most promising solutions to target the contemporary demand for complex products with high individuality and inherent functionalities. Besides continuous advances in machinery and the available material spectrum, a substantial aspect of multi-material AM is still underrepresented: the simultaneous combination of thermosets and thermoplastic within a single AM process. A promising technology in this regard is the newly developed Fusion Jetting (FJ) process. This investigation focuses on the combination of acrylate-based photopolymers (thermoset) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) with FJ. Tensile specimens are built with strategic variations of the process parameters and experimentally analyzed to derive beneficial processing conditions. A proof of concept is delivered by demonstrating a significant increase in Young’s modulus of TPU specimens from approximately 65 to 160 MPa through integration of photopolymer reinforcements. Further experiments regarding variable layer heights and laser powers identify an optimum layer height of 100 µm along with a tolerable laser power of 15 W for maximum mechanical properties. An overall challenging aspect of the FJ process is the presence of unwanted delamination between reinforced and non-reinforced layers. The failure mode is observed during tensile testing on multiple multi-material specimens of this investigation. The origin of delamination can be correlated to the deviation of integrated reinforcements from their originally intended dimensions as well as the unwanted crystallization within reinforced layers. First, countermeasures to minimize delamination are identified, such as decreasing the rotational increment of the laser hatch orientation from 90 to 10° per layer.

Exploring the butyrate metabolism-related shared genes in metabolic associated steatohepatitis and ulcerative colitis

Metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and ulcerative colitis (UC) exhibit a complex interconnection with immune dysfunction, dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, and activation of inflammatory pathways. This study aims to identify and validate critical butyrate metabolism-related shared genes between both UC and MASH. Clinical information and gene expression profiles were sourced from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Shared butyrate metabolism-related differentially expressed genes (sBM-DEGs) between UC and MASH were identified via various bioinformatics methods. Functional enrichment analysis was performed, and UC patients were categorized into subtypes using the consensus clustering algorithm based on sBM-DEGs. Key genes within sBM-DEGs were screened through Random Forest, Support Vector Machines-Recursive Feature Elimination, and Light Gradient Boosting. The diagnostic efficacy of these genes was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis on independent datasets. Additionally, the expression levels of characteristic genes were validated across multiple independent datasets and human specimens. Forty-nine shared DEGs between UC and MASH were identified, with enrichment analysis highlighting significant involvement in immune, inflammatory, and metabolic pathways. The intersection of butyrate metabolism-related genes with these DEGs produced 10 sBM-DEGs. These genes facilitated the identification of molecular subtypes of UC patients using an unsupervised clustering approach. ANXA5, CD44, and SLC16A1 were pinpointed as hub genes through machine learning algorithms and feature importance rankings. ROC analysis confirmed their diagnostic efficacy in UC and MASH across various datasets. Additionally, the expression levels of these three hub genes showed significant correlations with immune cells. These findings were validated across independent datasets and human specimens, corroborating the bioinformatics analysis results. Integrated bioinformatics identified three significant biomarkers, ANXA5, CD44, and SLC16A1, as DEGs linked to butyrate metabolism. These findings offer new insights into the role of butyrate metabolism in the pathogenesis of UC and MASH, suggesting its potential as a valuable diagnostic biomarker.