Spectrum Profile Research Articles

Fano-Like Spectrum With a Quasi-Independent Tuning of Slope Ratio Based on HE Mode Components Coupled Whispering Gallery Mode

Narrow bandwidth Fano-like spectrum was demonstrated with tunable slope ratio, stable intensity extremums and high extinction ratio based on HE mode components coupled whispering gallery mode. The theory was presented with calculations to analyze the spectra profiles with slope ratio and extremums of the transmission included. In the experiment, spectra with a modified positive slope ratio from 49.2 dB/GHz to 197.0 dB/GHz, and a negative slope ratio from −71.9 dB/GHz to −230.2 dB/GHz were achieved with the extremums varied less than 10%. The configuration could be widely applied in optical sensing, optical switching and dispersion control.

Spectrum and Antifungal Susceptibility Profiles of Candida Species Causing Vulvovaginitis in Lomé, Togo—Candida vaginitis and species involved in Lomé (Togo)

Background: Vulvovaginal infections are common in women. In Togo’s medical biology laboratories, routine diagnosis is often limited to filamentation testing, and the identification of fungal species is rarely performed. The aim of this study was to update the spectrum of Candida species isolated in vulvovaginitis and to determine their antifungal susceptibility profiles. Methods: Cross-sectional analytical study was carried out in women presenting leukorrhea received in two public laboratories in Lomé from June 2015 to October 2015. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected through a structured questionnaire during an individual interview. Vulvovaginal samples were cultured in Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloramphenicol. Identification of fungi was determined by filamentation test and API 20C AUX® gallery. The antifungal susceptibility profile was performed on five antifungal agents by a semi-solid medium microdilution technique of the ATB Fungus 3® gallery. Results: Candida albicans/dubliniensis/africana complex was isolated in 51.6% of cases by API 20C AUX® gallery. The same species were isolated by filamentation test in 12.3% of cases. All Candida species identified were sensitive to Voriconazole, whereas four species including Candida albicans/dubliniensis/africana complex had variable sensitivities compared to the five antifungal agents tested. Conclusions: This study demonstrated a high distribution of non-albicans species of Candida in Togo. Empirical treatment of candidiasis could contribute to increasing antifungal resistance. Routine fungi identification, at least by using an auxanogram test, could be instituted in medical laboratories to improve the therapeutic management of these diseases.

Multivariate Statistical Approach for the Discrimination of Honey Samples from Galicia (NW Spain) Using Physicochemical and Pollen Parameters.

Raw honey is a food with a close relation to the territory in which it is produced because of factors such as soil conditions, weather patterns, and plant communities living in the area together. Furthermore, beekeeping management affects the properties of honey. Protected Geographical Indication Miel de Galicia protects the honey produced in Galicia (Northwest Spain). Various types of honeys (362 samples) from this geographical area were analyzed using chemometric techniques. Principal component analysis was favorable to analyzing the physicochemical and pollen variables with the greatest weight in the differentiation of honey. The linear discriminant analysis correctly classified 89.8% of the samples according to the botanical origin using main pollen spectra and physicochemical attributes (moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, diastase content, phenols, flavonoids, and color). Regarding unifloral honey, blackberry, eucalyptus, and heather honeys were correctly grouped, while five chestnut honeys and fourteen samples of honeydew honeys were misclassified. The chestnut and honeydew honeys have similar physicochemical properties and frequently similar pollen spectra profiles complicating the differentiation. Experimental evidence suggests the potential of multivariate statistics in the characterization of honey of the same geographical origin. Therefore, the classification results were good, with electrical conductivity, total phenol content, total flavonoid content and dominant pollens Eucalyptus, Erica, Rubus and Castanea sativa as the variables of higher importance in the differentiation of botanical origin of honeys.

Controlled growth and spectroscopy characterization of blue violet perovskite quantum dots in borate glasses

Blue violet light emitting CsPb(Cl/Br)3 perovskite quantum dots glasses (QDGs) have been successfully fabricated in multi-component borate glass matrix by melt quenching and heat treatment. The spectral characteristics have been evaluated by photoluminescence (PL), PL excitation (PLE), PL decay and absorption spectra. The recipe and preparation conditions have been optimized for controlled growth of QDs. By using raw materials of NH4Br/NH4Cl/PbO and crucible cover, optimizing composition of Na2O/K2O in matrix, melting temperature and time, heat treatment temperature and time, and NH4Cl and NH4Br contents, we have finally realized blue violet exciton emission in target range of 405–440 nm. The PL wavelength adjustment is comprehensive effect of the abovementioned influence factors. The emission in short wavelength of 405–440 nm is due to controlled growth of the QDs. In final CsPb(Cl/Br)3 QDs, the contents of Cl and Br are suitable and the Cl/Br ratios are large. A little Br is necessary for growth of CsPb(Cl/Br)3 QDs and then the Br is partially replaced by Cl at suitable treatment condition. Unsymmetrical PL spectrum profile of some samples is explained as reabsorption effect by monitoring PL spectral profile and PL decay. The temperature characteristics of PL spectra show good recoverability after a temperature cycle.

A GHRHR founder mutation causes isolated growth hormone deficiency type IV in a consanguineous Pakistani family.

Isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) is caused by a severe shortage or absence of growth hormone (GH), which results in aberrant growth and development. Patients with IGHD type IV (IGHD4) have a short stature, reduced serum GH levels, and delayed bone age. To identify the causative mutation of IGHD in a consanguineous family comprising four affected patients with IGHD4 (MIM#618157) and explore its functional impact in silico. Clinical and radiological studies were performed to determine the phenotypic spectrum and hormonal profile of the disease, while whole-exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing were performed to identify the disease-causing mutation. In-silico studies involved protein structural modeling and docking, and molecular dynamic simulation analyses using computational tools. Finally, data from the Qatar Genome Program (QGP) were screened for the presence of the founder variant in the Qatari population. All affected individuals presented with a short stature without gross skeletal anomalies and significantly reduced serum GH levels. Genetic mapping revealed a homozygous nonsense mutation [NM_000823:c.G214T:p.(Glu72*)] in the third exon of the growth-hormone-releasing hormone receptor gene GHRHR (MIM#139191) that was segregated in all patients. The substituted amber codon (UAG) seems to truncate the protein by deleting the C-terminus GPCR domain, thus markedly disturbing the GHRHR receptor and its interaction with the growth hormone-releasing hormone. These data support that a p.Glu72* founder mutation in GHRHR perturbs growth hormone signaling and causes IGHD type IV. In-silico and biochemical analyses support the pathogenic effect of this nonsense mutation, while our comprehensive phenotype and hormonal profiling has established the genotype-phenotype correlation. Based on the current study, early detection of GHRHR may help in better therapeutic intervention.

Investigation of bread staling by handheld NIR spectroscopy in tandem with 2D-COS and MCR-ALS analysis

The present investigations were carried out using the technique of handheld near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for time-dependent diffuse-reflection measurements of the cut face of a fresh baguette. The critical structural factors in the staling process of bread are the crystallization of amylopectin in starch and the decrease of water content by evaporation and diffusion from core to crust. To monitor the synchronicity and sequence of these changes, Two-Dimensional Correlation Spectroscopy (2D-COS) was applied. Due to the significant variation of spectral changes at different stages of the aging process, the spectra were split into two sets of 0 – 6/6 – 48 hr. 2D-COS analysis allowed to differentiate the detailed sequence of the following structural events for these time intervals: crystallization of amylopectin/evaporation of weakly and strongly hydrogen-bonded water/reorganization of starch OH-functionalities. Furthermore, Multivariate Curve Resolution-Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) was used to investigate the changes in the spectra profile as a function of aging time.

Refreezing of Partially Melted Hydrometeors: Polarimetric Radar Observations and Microphysical Model Simulations

Abstract The discovery of a polarimetric radar signature indicative of hydrometeor refreezing has shown promise in its utility to identify periods of ice pellet production. Uniquely characterized well below the melting layer by locally enhanced values of differential reflectivity (ZDR) within a layer of decreasing radar reflectivity factor at horizontal polarization (ZH), the signature has been documented in cases where hydrometeors were completely melted prior to refreezing. However, polarimetric radar features associated with the refreezing of partially melted hydrometeors have not been examined as rigorously in either an observational or microphysical modeling framework. Here, polarimetric radar data—including vertically pointing Doppler spectral data from the Ka-band Scanning Polarimetric Radar (KASPR)—are analyzed for an ice pellets and rain mixture event where the ice pellets formed via the refreezing of partially melted hydrometeors. Observations show that no such distinct localized ZDR enhancement is present, and that values instead decrease directly beneath enhanced values associated with melting. A simplified, explicit bin microphysical model is then developed to simulate the refreezing of partially melted hydrometeors, and coupled to a polarimetric radar forward operator to examine the impacts of such refreezing on simulated radar variables. Simulated vertical profiles of polarimetric radar variables and Doppler spectra have similar features to observations, and confirm that a ZDR enhancement is not produced. This suggests the possibility of two distinct polarimetric features of hydrometeor refreezing: ones associated with refreezing of completely melted hydrometeors, and those associated with refreezing of partially melted hydrometeors. Significance Statement There exist two pathways for the formation of ice pellets: refreezing of fully melted hydrometeors, and refreezing of partially melted hydrometeors. A polarimetric radar signature indicative of fully melted hydrometeor refreezing has been extensively documented in the past, yet no study has documented the refreezing of partially melted hydrometeors. Here, observations and idealized modeling simulations are presented to show different polarimetric radar features associated with partially melted hydrometeor refreezing. The distinction in polarimetric features may be beneficial to identifying layers of supercooled liquid drops within transitional winter storms.

Brain Tumor: A Review of Its Demographic in a Rural Hospital of Sibu in Sarawak, Malaysia.

According to World Health Organization's GLOBOCAN 2012 database, brain tumors account for about 2% of all cancers in Malaysia. It was ranked 11th and 13th most common cancer among males and females, respectively. This debilitating disease can cause a tremendous burden to patients and their families and healthcare services. The main objective of this study is to provide demographic data on the type of brain tumors and their distribution of age and gender from the cases presented to the neurosurgical department of a rural hospital in Sibu from 2018 to 2021. This is a retrospective study of the incidence and pattern of brain tumors admitted to the Neurosurgery Department in Sibu Hospital. Data were emanated from the brain tumor registry census from 2018 to 2021. Of all cases, only cases with confirmed histopathological results were included. Inoperable brain tumors that were diagnosed through radiological investigations were excluded. There were 230 patients with brain tumors included in this study. Males constituted 42.6% ( n = 98) of the cases, whereas 57.4% ( n = 132) of them were female. The brain tumor was the least common in the pediatric group (0 to 10 years old) with only 3.5% ( n = 8). The incidence of brain tumors increased with age and reached its peak in the age group of 51 to 60 years (34.8%). The commonest type of brain tumor was meningioma (38.7%), followed by a metastatic brain tumor (25.2%) and glioma (15.6%). Meningothelial WHO grade I was the most common variant that accounted for 67% ( n = 46) of all meningioma. Lung carcinoma was found to be the most common primary, accounting for more than half (69.0%) of the metastatic brain tumors, followed by breast cancer (10.3%), thyroid cancer (8.6%), female genital tract (8.6%), and malignant melanoma (3.5%). The crude incidence of the brain tumor in Sibu was 4.98 per 100,000 population/year. This study showed that the commonest brain tumor in central rural of Sarawak was meningioma, followed by metastatic brain tumor and glioma. Meningothelial is the most frequent subtype of meningioma, whereas lung carcinoma was the commonest primary in brain metastases. The peak age group was 51 to 60 years old, and females showed a higher incidence than males. This study provides a baseline profile of the brain tumor spectrum in rural Sarawak. More data should be collected to aid in future research and healthcare planning.

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Datura metel Flower Extract Assisted by Ultrasound Method and Its Antibacterial Activity.

Green synthesis method of nanoparticles has been developed for several years. Besides providing environmental-friendly process, green synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extract provides synergistic effect of the secondary metabolite in such antibiotic activity. The study with an intensification process in nanoparticles formation is also gaining great attention. This research deals with the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Datura metel flower extract for the antibacterial agent. The use of ultrasound-assisted method for the synthesis was investigated. Synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Datura metel flower extract under ultrasound- assisted method has been conducted. Evaluation of the successful synthesis was done using UV-visible spectrophotometry, particle size analyzer, x-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The prepared AgNPs were tested as an antibacterial against S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, S. pyogenes, and E. coli. The ultrasound-assisted synthesis of AgNPs produces particles ranging from 25-70 nm in size; meanwhile, the reflux method demonstrated the size of 50-170 nm. These particles size represents the effect on the antibacterial activity as the ultrasound-assisted synthesized Ag NPs have higher inhibition zone towards all tested bacteria. Subsequently, these data presented the applicability of Ag NPs synthesis using an ultrasound method as a potential candidate for biomedical applications. The profile of UV-Visible spectra and particle size analyses demonstrated the applicability of the ultrasound technique to produce a smaller size of the nanoparticles with higher antibacterial activity.

A Broadband X-Ray Study of the Rabbit Pulsar Wind Nebula Powered by PSR J1418-6058

We report on broadband X-ray properties of the Rabbit pulsar wind nebula (PWN) associated with the pulsar PSR J1418−6058 using archival Chandra and XMM-Newton data, as well as a new NuSTAR observation. NuSTAR data above 10 keV allowed us to detect the 110 ms spin period of the pulsar, characterize its hard X-ray pulse profile, and resolve hard X-ray emission from the PWN after removing contamination from the pulsar and other overlapping point sources. The extended PWN was detected up to ∼20 keV and is described well by a power-law model with a photon index Γ ≈ 2. The PWN shape does not vary significantly with energy, and its X-ray spectrum shows no clear evidence of softening away from the pulsar. We modeled the spatial profile of X-ray spectra and broadband spectral energy distribution in the radio to TeV band to infer the physical properties of the PWN. We found that a model with low magnetic field strength (B ∼ 10 μG) and efficient diffusion (D ∼ 1027 cm2 s−1) fits the PWN data well. The extended hard X-ray and TeV emission, associated respectively with synchrotron radiation and inverse Compton scattering by relativistic electrons, suggest that particles are accelerated to very high energies (≳500 TeV), indicating that the Rabbit PWN is a Galactic PeVatron candidate.

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic Analysis of Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. (Keluss) and Portulaca oleracea: Two Valuable Herbs

Introduction: Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. (Keluss) and Purslanes with the scientific name Portulaca oleracea have many uses in the food and pharmaceutical industries due to their antioxidant properties. The purpose of this study was to identify the functional groups of Keluss and purslanes native to Ilam by fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) method, so that by knowing the main and effective compounds of the plants, we can more easily move towards the identification and production of bio-molecules and effective herbal medicines. Methods: Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. (Keluss) and Purslanes with the scientific name Portulaca oleracea have many uses in the food and pharmaceutical industries due to their antioxidant properties. The purpose of this study was to identify the functional groups of Keluss and purslanes native to Ilam by fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) method, so that by knowing the main and effective compounds of the plants, we can more easily move towards the identification and production of bio-molecules and effective herbal medicines. Results: Based on the results of spectrometry, it was found that K. odoratissima has 9 spectra including N-H, C-H, C-H, C=O, C=N, C-H, C-N, S=O, and C-Br. Furthermore, it was observed that P. oleracea has 13 spectra including O-H, O-H, N-H, C=O, C=N, C=C, C-H, S=O, C-H, C-H, C-O, C=C, and C-H groups. Conclusion: The results of the present investigation revealed that K. odoratissima and P. oleracea had a variety of FTIR spectrum profile including different functional groups which are responsible for their biological properties.

In situ expression of Th17 immunologic mediators in American cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (V.) braziliensis and Leishmania (L.) amazonensis in the Brazilian Amazon

American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) presents a wide spectrum of clinical and immunopathological manifestations. In Brazil, Leishmania (L.) amazonensis[La] and Leishmania(V.)braziliensis[Lb] show the highest pathogenic potential for humans causing different clinical forms: localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL : Lb/La), anergic diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (ADCL : La) and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL : Lb). ADCL and MCL are the most severe forms and infection leads to a cellular immune response at the hyposensitivity and hypersensitivity poles. Th17-cells are involved in the ACL pathogenesis, are derived from naïve TCD4+ cells regulated by RORγt, differentiate in presence of IL-6, TGF-β, IL- 1β, IL-23 and express IL-17. Aim of this study was to characterize the cellular immune response mediated by Th17-profile cells through in situ determination of the expression of RORγt, IL-17, IL-6, TGF-β, IL-1β, and IL-23 in the ACL clinical-immunopathological spectrum caused by L.(L.)amazonensis and L.(V.)braziliensis. Biopsies of skin and mucosal lesions from forty patients including ADCL(n=8), LCL[La](n=17), LCL[Lb](n=9) and MCL(n=6), were examined by immunohistochemistry. The immunostained cells density (cells/mm2) was determined in image analysis system using AxionVision 4.8 software (Zeiss). As the disease evolution time (DET) was different among ACL patients, the effect of DET on the expression of immunological markers was evaluated in different clinical forms and histopathological changes, using ANCOVA. Our results showed significantly increased expression of RORγt, IL-17, IL-6, IL-1β and IL-23 in patients with ACL polar forms (ADCL and MCL); higher TGF-β expression was found in ADCL. DET influenced the expression of RORγt and IL-6 in: clinical forms of ACL and in categories of parasitism. DET also affected the production of RORγt, IL-17, IL-6, TGF-β and IL-1β in types of inflammatory infiltrate, evidencing that DET had effect on the expression of Th17 profile cytokines in ACL. Together, the expression of immunological mediators of Th17 profile in the ACL spectrum, as well as the DET effect, demonstrate the participation of this cell lineage in the immunopathogenesis of ACL, mainly in the polar and more severe forms of ACL spectrum. The dubious role played by Th17-cells may favors immune response suppression and parasitic persistence in ADCL, while in MCL it contributes to an exacerbated immune response and parasite scarcity.

Spectral Manipulation of X‐Ray Excited Optical/Persistent Luminescence by Constructing Metal–Organic Framework@Fluoride Nanoparticles Composites

AbstractLanthanide doped fluoride nanoparticles (NPs) possess superior X‐ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) and persistent luminescence (XEPL), which attracts great attention in many fields. Manipulating profiles of XEOL and XEPL spectra is of siginificance for new emerging applications, however, the intrinsic sharp 4f–4f transitions of trivalent lanthanide ions only generate narrow emission profiles. Here, a convenient and versatile strategy is demonstrated to greatly modulate the emission spectrum in a broad wavelength range by constructing a new class of metal–organic framework (MOF)@NPs composites which involves electrostatic binding of positively charged various rare‐earth containing fluoride nanoparticles with the same negatively charged surface of a MOF. The emission profile can be facile designed through controlling the attached NPs composition and their relative contents on the MOF crystals. For the first time, the MOF@NPs composites are employed to realize full XEOL spectrum for multiple organic molecules sensing using the matching of their absorption profiles with the XEOL of a specific NP to effect energy transfer. In addition, time and temperature dependent multicolor XEPL evolution provides advanced information encryption. These findings can promote the exploration of a new type of nanoscintillators with innovative XEOL and XEPL performances.

A Comparison of Different Sample Processing Protocols for MALDI Imaging Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Formalin-Fixed Multiple Myeloma Cells.

Sample processing of formalin-fixed specimens constitutes a major challenge in molecular profiling efforts. Pre-analytical factors such as fixative temperature, dehydration, and embedding media affect downstream analysis, generating data dependent on technical processing rather than disease state. In this study, we investigated two different sample processing methods, including the use of the cytospin sample preparation and automated sample processing apparatuses for proteomic analysis of multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines using imaging mass spectrometry (IMS). In addition, two sample-embedding instruments using different reagents and processing times were considered. Three MM cell lines fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde were either directly centrifuged onto glass slides using cytospin preparation techniques or processed to create paraffin-embedded specimens with an automatic tissue processor, and further cut onto glass slides for IMS analysis. The number of peaks obtained from paraffin-embedded samples was comparable between the two different sample processing instruments. Interestingly, spectra profiles showed enhanced ion yield in cytospin compared to paraffin-embedded samples along with high reproducibility compared to the sample replicate.

Investigation of the multiple characteristics of the self-mixing effect subject to a single particle.

As a compact interferometry technique, self-mixing interferometry (SMI) is a promising tool for micro particle detection in biochemical analysis and the monitoring of laser manufacturing processing, and currently SMI based micro particle detection is attracting increasing attention. However, unlike the typical displacement or vibration measurement driven by a macro target, only a small amount of literature has targeted the SMI effect induced by a single micro moving particle. In this paper, two numerical models were investigated to describe the characteristics of the signal sparked by individual particle. We compared the measurement results with the two models' simulations in three signal characteristic aspects: the temporal waveform, frequency spectrum, and phase profile. From these results, we established that both amplitude modulation and frequency modulation effects apply under different conditions in the self-mixing process. And for the first time, we analyzed the effect of the laser illumination spot size on the particle-induced SMI signal features with two optical arrangements. When the laser beam size is larger than the particle size, the signal bursts are likely to result from frequency modulation, and vice versa. Our results can improve the capability of SMI technology in particle size discrimination and particle sorting.

Genetic spectrum and clinical features in a cohort of Chinese patients with isolated dystonia.

Dystonia is a genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous disorder that occurs in isolation (isolated dystonia) or in combination with other movement disorders. To determine the genetic spectrum in isolated dystonia, we enrolled 88 patients with isolated dystonia for whole-exome sequencing (WES). Seventeen mutations, including nine novel ones, were identified in 19 of the 88 patients, providing a 21.59% positive molecular diagnostic rate. Eleven distinct genes were involved, of which TOR1A and THAP1 accounted for 47.37% (9/19) of the positive cases. A novel missense variant, p.S225R in TOR1A, was found in a patient with adolescence-onset generalized dystonia. Cellular experiments revealed that p.S255R results in the abnormal aggregation of Torsin-1A encoding by TOR1A. In addition, we reviewed the clinical and genetic features of the isolated dystonia patients carrying TOR1A, THAP1, ANO3, and GNAL mutations in the Chinese population. Our results expand the genetic spectrum and clinical profiles of patients with isolated dystonia and demonstrate WES as an effective strategy for the molecular diagnosis of isolated dystonia.

Highly efficient reduction of ammonia emissions from livestock waste by the synergy of novel manure acidification and inhibition of ureolytic bacteria

The global livestock system is one of the largest sources of ammonia emissions and there is an urgent need for ammonia mitigation. Here, we designed and constructed a novel strategy to abate ammonia emissions via livestock manure acidification based on a synthetic lactic acid bacteria community (LAB SynCom). The LAB SynCom possessed a wide carbon source spectrum and pH profile, high adaptability to the manure environment, and a high capability of generating lactic acid. The mitigation strategy was optimized based on the test and performance by adjusting the LAB SynCom inoculation ratio and the adding frequency of carbon source, which contributed to a total ammonia reduction efficiency of 95.5 %. Furthermore, 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing analysis revealed that the LAB SynCom treatment reshaped the manure microbial community structure. Importantly, 22 manure ureolytic microbial genera and urea hydrolysis were notably inhibited by the LAB SynCom treatment during the treatment process. These findings provide new insight into manure acidification that the conversion from ammonia to ammonium ions and the inhibition of ureolytic bacteria exerted a synergistic effect on ammonia mitigation. This work systematically developed a novel strategy to mitigate ammonia emissions from livestock waste, which is a crucial step forward from traditional manure acidification to novel and environmental-friendly acidification.

Newborn screening for inborn errors of metabolism in a northern Chinese population.

Newborn screening (NBS) for inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) has been successfully implemented in China. However, the data on the IEM profiles in many regions are lacking. This study aimed to report the incidence, disease spectrum, and genetic profile of IEMs in northern China. A total of 36,590 newborns were screened using tandem mass spectrometry between January 2016 and April 2022. Newborns with positive results were referred for confirmatory testing. Ten patients were confirmed to have IEMs, with an overall incidence of 1:3,539 in the Rizhao region. Five types of IEMs were detected, including four patients with propionic acidemia (PA), three patients with methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), one of each with citrin deficiency, primary carnitine deficiency, and isobutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency. PA was the most common IEM, with an unexpectedly high incidence of 1:8,848, followed by MMA, with an incidence rate of 1:11,797. All patients had abnormal screening markers and harbored biallelic variants in their respective causative genes. Two novel PCCB variants (c.505G>A and c.1123_1124insG) were identified in patients with PA. In silico analyses predicted that these two variants were potentially pathogenic. This study preliminarily clarified the incidence, disease spectrum, and genetic profile of IEMs in the Rizhao region. PA is the most common IEM and MMA is the second most common in our region. The two novel identified PCCB variants further expand the variant spectrum of PA. More attention should be paid to NBS, early diagnosis, and management of PA and MA.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for differential identification of adult Schistosoma worms

BackgroundSchistosomiasis is a major neglected tropical disease that affects up to 250 million individuals worldwide. The diagnosis of human schistosomiasis is mainly based on the microscopic detection of the parasite’s eggs in the feces (i.e., for Schistosoma mansoni or Schistosoma japonicum) or urine (i.e., for Schistosoma haematobium) samples. However, these techniques have limited sensitivity, and microscopic expertise is waning outside endemic areas. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) has become the gold standard diagnostic method for the identification of bacteria and fungi in many microbiological laboratories. Preliminary studies have recently shown promising results for parasite identification using this method. The aims of this study were to develop and validate a species-specific database for adult Schistosoma identification, and to evaluate the effects of different storage solutions (ethanol and RNAlater) on spectra profiles.MethodsAdult worms (males and females) of S. mansoni and S. japonicum were obtained from experimentally infected mice. Species identification was carried out morphologically and by cytochrome oxidase 1 gene sequencing. Reference protein spectra for the creation of an in-house MALDI-TOF MS database were generated, and the database evaluated using new samples. We employed unsupervised (principal component analysis) and supervised (support vector machine, k-nearest neighbor, Random Forest, and partial least squares discriminant analysis) machine learning algorithms for the identification and differentiation of the Schistosoma species.ResultsAll the spectra were correctly identified by internal validation. For external validation, 58 new Schistosoma samples were analyzed, of which 100% (58/58) were correctly identified to genus level (log score values ≥ 1.7) and 81% (47/58) were reliably identified to species level (log score values ≥ 2). The spectra profiles showed some differences depending on the storage solution used. All the machine learning algorithms classified the samples correctly.ConclusionsMALDI-TOF MS can reliably distinguish adult S. mansoni from S. japonicum.Graphical

Injection-locked highly Yb3+-doped uncoupled-61-core phosphate fiber laser.

Uncoupled multicore fibers are promising platforms for advanced optical communications, optical computing, and novel laser systems. In this paper, an injection-locked highly ytterbium (Yb3+)-doped uncoupled-61-core phosphate fiber laser at 1030 nm is reported. The 61-core fiber with a core-to-core pitch of 20 μm was fabricated with the stack-and-draw technique. Each core doped with 6-wt.% Yb3+ ions has a diameter of 3 μm and numerical aperture of 0.2. Linearly polarized single-frequency output of 9.1 W was obtained from the injection-locked cavity with a 10-cm-long gain fiber at a pump power of 23.6 W. The injection locking of all 61 cores was confirmed by inspecting the longitudinal modes of the individual lasers with a scanning Fabry-Perot interferometer. The performance of the injection-locked 61-core fiber laser was characterized and compared to that of the free-running operation in terms of optical spectrum, near- and far-field intensity profiles, and relative intensity noise.