Standard Methods Research Articles

The application of Chinese version of SARC-F and SARC-CalF in sarcopenia screening against five definitions: a diagnostic test accuracy study

BackgroundSARC-F questionnaire is a simple and convenient tool for sarcopenia screening, and SARC-CalF is a modified version of it. The developments of their Chinese versions are warranted for the clinical use for Chinese population. This study aimed to culturally adapt the SARC-F questionnaire into Chinese using standardized methods, validate the reliability and diagnostic accuracy of the Chinese version SARC-F and SARC-CalF against five sarcopenia diagnosis criteria, and determine optimal cut-off values for clinical practice in Chinese population.MethodsThe translation and cross-cultural adaptation of SARC-F into Chinese were conducted following the methodological report from European Union Geriatric Medicine Society Sarcopenia Special Interest Group. The Chinese version of SARC-F was validated through a diagnostic test, using diagnostic criteria of sarcopenia recommended by the revised 2019 European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) consensus, Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS2019) consensus, the International Working Group on Sarcopenia (IWGS), the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Biomarkers Consortium and the Sarcopenia Definition and Outcomes Consortium (SDOC). Additional analysis was done against the criteria of severe sarcopenia according to the revised EWGSOP2 and AWGS2019.ResultsThe Chinese version of SARC-F was well translated and demonstrated good reliability and acceptability. The diagnostic test included 1859 community-dwelling older individuals from two medical centers. Against five different definitions of sarcopenia, the Chinese version of SARC-F showed reasonable diagnostic accuracy for sarcopenia screening (AUC 0.614–0.821), and was demonstrated low sensitivity (13.7–37.9%) but high specificity (94.8–97.7%) with a cut-off value of ≥ 4. SARC-CalF significantly enhanced the diagnostic accuracy of SARC-F when using definitions of EWGSOP2, AWGS2019 and IWGS (all P ≤ 0.001). A score of ≥ 2 for SARC-F and ≥ 7 for SARC-CalF were established as optimal cut-off points for identifying older individuals as at risk of sarcopenia in Chinese population.ConclusionsThe Chinese version SARC-F is of reasonable reliability and validity for sarcopenia screening. Despite its low sensitivity, it proves to be a useful tool to identify severe cases in community taking advantage of its simplicity. SARC-CalF appears to be a more suitable screening tool for clinical use in detecting sarcopenia.

Deep Learning Phase Pickers: How Well Can Existing Models Detect Hydraulic-Fracturing Induced Microseismicity from a Borehole Array?

Summary Deep learning (DL) phase picking models have proven effective in processing large volumes of seismic data, including successfully detecting earthquakes missed by other standard detection methods. Despite their success, the applicability of existing extensively-trained DL models to high-frequency borehole datasets is currently unclear. In this study, we compare four established models (GPD, U-GPD, PhaseNet and EQTransformer) trained on regional earthquakes recorded at surface stations (100 Hz) in terms of their picking performance on high-frequency borehole data (2000 Hz) from the Preston New Road (PNR) unconventional shale gas site, in the United Kingdom (UK). The PNR-1z dataset, which we use as a benchmark, consists of continuously recorded waveforms containing over 38,000 seismic events previously catalogued, ranging in magnitudes from -2.8 to 1.1. Remarkably, all four DL models can detect induced seismicity in high frequency borehole data and two might satisfy the monitoring requirements of some users without any modifications. In particular, PhaseNet and U-GPD demonstrate exceptional recall rates of 95% and 76.6%, respectively, and detect a substantial number of new events (over 15,800 and 8,300 events, respectively). PhaseNet’s success might be attributed to its exposure to more extensive and diverse instrument dataset during training, as well as its relatively small model size, which might mitigate overfitting to its training set. U-GPD outperforms PhaseNet during periods of high seismic rates due to its smaller window size (400-samples compared to PhaseNet’s 3000-sample window). These models start missing events below Mw -0.5, suggesting that the models could benefit from additional training with microseismic datasets. Nonetheless, PhaseNet may satisfy some users’ monitoring requirements without further modification, detecting over 52,000 events at PNR. This suggests that DL models can provide efficient solutions to the big data challenge of downhole monitoring of hydraulic-fracturing induced seismicity as well as improved risk mitigation strategies at unconventional exploration sites.

DGCNN approach links metagenome-derived taxon and functional information providing insight into global soil organic carbon

Metagenomics can provide insight into the microbial taxa present in a sample and, through gene identification, the functional potential of the community. However, taxonomic and functional information are typically considered separately in downstream analyses. We develop interpretable machine learning (ML) approaches for modelling metagenomic data, combining the biological representation of species with their associated genetically encoded functions within models. We apply our methods to investigate soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. First, we combine a diverse global set of soil microbiome samples with environmental data, improving the predictive performance of classic ML and providing new insights into the role of soil microbiomes in global carbon cycling. Our network analysis of predictive taxa identified by classical ML models provides context for their ecological significance, extending the focus beyond just the most predictive taxa to ‘hidden’ features within the model that might be considered less predictive using standard methods for explainability. We next develop unique graph representations for individual microbiomes, linking microbial taxa to their associated functions directly, enabling predictions of SOC via deep graph convolutional neural networks (DGCNNs). Interpretation of the DGCNNs distinguished between the importance of functions of key individual species, providing genome sequence differences, e.g., gene loss/acquisition, that associate with SOC. These approaches identify several members of the Verrucomicrobiaceae family and a range of genetically encoded functions, e.g., related to carbohydrate metabolism, as important for SOC stocks and effective global SOC predictors. These relatively understudied but widespread organisms could play an important role in SOC dynamics globally.

A novel method for the simultaneous determination of flavonoids in Pteridium aquilinum via SPE combined with UPLC-DAD via QAMS

A novel analytical method based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (UPLC-DAD), solid-phase extraction (SPE), and quantitative analysis of multiple components by single marker (QAMS) was developed for the first simultaneous determination of 8 flavonoids in Pteridium aquilinum. The combination of QAMS and SPE demonstrated the convenient and economic advantages of the QAMS method while also exhibiting straightforward and cost-efficient advantages in terms of both the time and solvent usage of the SPE. The contents of the 8 flavonoids in P. aquilinum ranged from 0.59 to 697.08 μg/g. There were no substantial differences in the quantification when comparing the QAMS method and the external standard method (ESM). The standard deviations (SDs, %) obtained by QAMS and ESM were all less than 5 %. SPE increased the concentration of flavonoids by 4.18–18.9 times. The limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) were in the ranges of 0.01–0.15 and 0.06–0.33 ng/g, respectively. Method validation revealed the linearity of the calibration curves (R2 ≥ 0.9989), with recoveries between 97.02 % and 105 %, and the relative standard deviations (RSD) were all lower than 5 %. In addition, rhoifolin (4), apigenin (6), and amentoflavone (8) were first reported in P. aquilinum. The results suggested that this method was simple, reliable, and feasible for determining the flavonoids in P. aquilinum samples and could be further applied to various foods and herbal medicine samples.

Comparative efficacy of oral and vaginal probiotics in reducing the recurrence of bacterial vaginosis: a double-blind clinical trial

ObjectiveThe primary goal of this study is to discern the optimal adjuvant treatment for patients diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis, focusing on reducing recurrence rates.MethodsThis study is a double-blind clinical trial with no previous similar trials conducted to date. The study population consisted of non-pregnant, married women visiting teaching hospitals’ clinics in Mashhad, complaining of vaginal discharge. After informed consent and questionnaire completion, samples were obtained from vaginal discharge surrounding the cervix of clinically diagnosed bacterial vaginosis patients. Using Gram staining, a gold standard method for bacterial vaginosis diagnosis, samples were examined under a microscope according to the Nugent score. After initial treatment with metronidazole, patients were divided into two groups receiving either vaginal or oral probiotics.ResultsOf the 55 participating women, 20 were in the vaginal probiotic group and 35 were in the oral probiotic group. No significant demographic or clinical differences existed between groups at baseline. The Nugent score decreased from 8.5 to 3 in the vaginal group and from 9 to 3 in the oral group, suggesting the effectiveness of both treatments. While the difference between groups was not statistically significant, each group showed significant improvements from their initial states (p-value < 0.001).ConclusionNo significant difference was observed in the effectiveness of oral versus vaginal probiotics in reducing the recurrence of bacterial vaginosis after routine treatment. Therefore, the type of probiotic to be used could be chosen based on patient preference.

Theories and Methods for Indoor Positioning Systems: A Comparative Analysis, Challenges, and Prospective Measures

In the era of the Internet of Things (IoT), the demand for accurate positioning services has become increasingly critical, as location-based services (LBSs) depend on users’ location data to deliver contextual functionalities. While the Global Positioning System (GPS) is widely regarded as the standard for outdoor localization due to its reliability and comprehensive coverage, its effectiveness in indoor positioning systems (IPSs) is limited by the inherent complexity of indoor environments. This paper examines the various measurement techniques and technological solutions that address the unique challenges posed by indoor environments. We specifically focus on three key aspects: (i) a comparative analysis of the different wireless technologies proposed for IPSs based on various methodologies, (ii) the challenges of IPSs, and (iii) forward-looking strategies for future research. In particular, we provide an in-depth evaluation of current IPSs, assessing them through multidimensional matrices that capture diverse architectural and design considerations, as well as evaluation metrics established in the literature. We further examine the challenges that impede the widespread deployment of IPSs and highlight the potential risk that these systems may not be recognized with a single, universally accepted standard method, unlike GPS for outdoor localization, which serves as the golden standard for positioning. Moreover, we outline several promising approaches that could address the existing challenges of IPSs. These include the application of transfer learning, feature engineering, data fusion, multisensory technologies, hybrid techniques, and ensemble learning methods, all of which hold the potential to significantly enhance the accuracy and reliability of IPSs. By leveraging these advanced methodologies, we aim to improve the overall performance of IPSs, thus paving the way for more robust and dependable LBSs in indoor environments.

Deep learning-based spike sorting: a survey.

Objective.Deep learning is increasingly permeating neuroscience, leading to a rise in signal-processing applications for extracellular recordings. These signals capture the activity of small neuronal populations, necessitating 'spike sorting' to assign action potentials (spikes) to their underlying neurons. With the rise in publications delving into new methodologies and techniques for deep learning-based spike sorting, it is crucial to synthesise these findings critically. This survey provides an in-depth evaluation of the approaches, methodologies and outcomes presented in recent articles, shedding light on the current state-of-the-art.Approach.Twenty-four articles published until December 2023 on deep learning-based spike sorting have been examined. The proposed methods are divided into three sub-problems of spike sorting: spike detection, feature extraction and classification. Moreover, integrated systems, i.e., models that detect spikes and extract features or do classification within a single network, are included.Main Results.Although most algorithms have been developed for single-channel recordings, models utilising multi-channel data have already shown promising results, with efficient hardware implementations running quantised models on ASICs and FPGAs. Convolutional neural networks have been used extensively for spike detection and classification as the data can be processed spatiotemporally while maintaining low-parameter models and increasing generalisation and efficiency. Autoencoders have been mainly utilised for dimensionality reduction, enabling subsequent clustering with standard methods. Also, integrated systems have shown great potential in solving the spike sorting problem from end to end.Significance.This survey explores recent articles on deep learning-based spike sorting and highlights the capabilities of deep neural networks in overcoming associated challenges, but also highlights potential biases of certain models. Serving as a resource for both newcomers and seasoned researchers in the field, this work provides insights into the latest advancements and may inspire future model development.

Evaluation of the Preservation of Chitinozoans in a Case Study of the Katian?—Hirnantian Succession, Eastern Precordillera of Argentina

The poor preservation state of chitinozoans recovered from samples of the La Pola (Sandbian–Katian) and Don Braulio formations (Hirnantian-Llandovery), after being processed with standard methods, required significant modifications in processing. The sodium hexametaphosphate technique was used to avoid invasive mechanical procedures. Hence, more complete chitinozoans that preserved original features produced by biological, mechanical, and chemical degradation appeared. The processes that affected the good preservation of the chitinozoan exine are associated with factors inherent to the sedimentary environment, and biological and geological taphonomic effects that occurred in different regions of the Precordillera, added to the important associated tectonic activity. The thermal alteration was also an important factor in the fragile and brittle condition of the organic matter recovered. This transcends the preservation-processing technique relationship to be used. The results obtained from non-standard processing contribute to the paleoenvironmental interpretation of the Pola and Don Braulio successions, which are still widely discussed, and the determination of the most accurate age of the La Pola Formation. The latter will allow us to propose a biostratigraphic correlation between chitinozoan zones and graptolite zones, given the presence of both groups in the succession studied here, and to establish correlations with other successions in the Precordillera and elsewhere.

Antimicrobial and Antifungal Activities of Osmium Metal Complex with Benzoxazole Derivative

The combination of some Osmium metal ions with an important 2-(1,3-benzoxazole -2-yl - sulfanyl )-N-phenyl acetamide (BSPA) ligand to form coordination compounds is an important area of current research. Less explored biologically important 2-(1,3-benzoxazole -2-yl - sulfanyl )-N-phenyl acetamide ligand is allowed to react with solution of some rare metal perchlorates and attempt has been made to synthesize solid 2-(1,3-benzoxazole -2-yl- sulfanyl )-N-phenyl acetamide complexes. These 2-(1,3-benzoxazole-2-yl-sulfanyl )-N-phenyl acetamide complexes are subjected to antimicrobial activity of these complexes has been evaluated by standard methods and attempts have been made to correlate structural characteristics with properties of these 2-(1,3-benzoxazole -2-yl - sulfanyl )-N-phenyl acetamide complexes.

Isolation and antibiogram of some bacterial isolates from patients with ear infection in a tertiary health care facility at Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Ear infection has been reported as a common health concern globally, impacting individuals across diverse demographic factors. Causative bacterial agents of this infection are constantly changing and require continuous surveillance to monitor emerging trends. This study investigated the bacterial etiologic agents and their susceptibility patterns among patients with ear infection at the study Centre. A total of 43 patients who visited the Ear, Nose and Throat clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital that were diagnosed with ear infection were evaluated. Patient data and specimen were collected after which isolated bacteria were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing against some antibiotics (Sparfloxacin, Azythromycin Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and amoxicillin) using standard methods. Results obtained showed that patients aged 16-25 years were more predisposed to ear infection and substantial number of them (60.5%) reported previous history of the infection. Staphylococcus (48.70%) and Pseudomonas (26.30%) were the most predominant bacterial isolated from these patients. Other isolates included; Bacillus (14.5%), Corynebacterium (3.90%), Enterobacterium (1.30%), and Klebsiella (3.9%). Antibiogram revealed that 78.9% of the isolates were susceptible to the killing effects of Azithromycin and only 39.3% were susceptible to amoxicillin. However. 69.8% of isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin- clavulanic acid combination therapy. Conclusively, Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas, were the leading cause of ear infection at the study center. Azithromycin as well as amoxicillin- clavulanic acid combination were the most effective antibiotics against the encountered bacterial isolates and these antibiotics can be used as a first line drug in the management of ear infection at the study.

Evaluation of hydrocarbon degrading potentials of cellulolytic edaphic borne fungi

This study assessed the hydrocarbon degradative potentials of cellulolytic fungi cultured from top soil samples within Benin City, Edo State. Soil samples were collected from 3 sites; a farmland, a fallow plant covered land, and municipal dumpsite. Physicochemical parameters of the soil samples were based on standard methods. Standard cultural and molecular techniques were used to isolate and identify fungi present in samples. Cellulolytic activity of fungal isolates was determined with Czapek-dox agar supplemented with 0.1% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Cellulolytic fungi were subsequently screened for the ability to utilize blended petroleum as sole carbon source. Further, two isolates having the highest optical density were used for growth profile study as axenic culture and in consortium. The growth profile study assessed pH, optical density, total petroleum hydrocarbon content and fungal dry mass. Results showed that the organic carbon value of the top soils ranged from 4.14 g/kg ± 0.55 to 8.56 g/kg ± 0.05. All collected soil samples were sandy, while total hydrocarbon content ranged from 0.38 g/kg ± 0.04 to 1.13 g/kg ± 0.01. The mean fungal counts were highest in dumpsite soils and ranged from 4.0 × 103 cfu/g ± 1414 to 7.0 × 103 cfu/g ± 1003. Eight fungal isolates with cellulolytic properties were identified from the soil samples. Trichosporon asahii and Curvularia bothriochloae had highest (p &lt; 0.05) OD when grown on blended petroleum and were used for growth profile studies. OD was highest (p &lt; 0.05) in C. bothriochloae (0.372 ± 0.0005) relative to T. asahii and the consortium at 15 d. THC reduced significantly (p &lt; 0.05) in both axenic cultures and the consortium after 15 days, while fungal biomass was highest (p &lt; 0.05) in consortium relative to axenic cultures after 15 d. This study showed hydrocarbon degrading capabilities of cellulolytic fungi from different top soils.

Isolation and Pattern of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Acinetobacter baumannii Clinical Isolates at Taksin Hospital: A Retrospective Study from 2019 to 2021

Objective: To determine the number of isolates and drug susceptibility testing of Acinetobacter baumannii at Taksin Hospital. Materials and Methods: A 3-year retrospective descriptive study was conducted between January 2019 and December 2021. Drug susceptibility testing of isolates to 13 drugs, which included amikacin, gentamycin, piperacillin/tazobactam, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, cefepime, three carbapenem drugs that were imipenem, meropenem, and doripenem, ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, colistin, and tigecycline, were evaluated by standard disk diffusion method and automated microdilution method. Results: One thousand six hundred sixty-five non-duplicate A. baumannii isolates from different patients were detected and included 535 in 2019, 500 in 2020, and 630 in 2021. The patients’ ages ranged from three days to 100 years. The median age of patients was 70 years with an interquartile range of 56 to 80 years. A. baumannii was mostly found in patients aged older than 50 years old at 83.6%. They were isolated from sputum in 72.3%, urine in 9%, pus in 6.3%, tissue in 6.3%, and blood in 5.2%. Overall, A. baumannii demonstrated 91.5% and 79.8% susceptibility to colistin and tigecycline, respectively, but less susceptible to other drugs tested, with a range of 0.4% to 32.6%. Drug susceptibility to carbapenem such as imipenem, meropenem, and doripenem were 19.5%, 20%, and 20.9%, respectively. The carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) was found at 77.6%, 80%, and 79.1% in 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. For total isolates tested, the mean of CRAB was 78.9±1.2%. Conclusion: The present study results suggested the importance of monitoring A. baumannii at a hospital in Bangkok. Colistin and tigecycline had the high percentages of drug susceptibility rates in vitro. The antibiogram of susceptibility helps provide guidelines for clinician to consider empirical treatment.

Loneliness Gets Under the Skin: A Scoping Review Exploring the Link Between Loneliness and Biological Measures of Inflammation.

Research suggests that systemic inflammation may link loneliness to adverse health outcomes, yet there is a gap in comprehensively reviewing recent evidence on the relationship between loneliness and biological measures of inflammation in adults. This scoping review synthesizes current research to address the question: Is there a definitive link between loneliness and biological markers of inflammation in adults? Following the methods outlined by Arksey and O'Malley, we developed a protocol, defined our research question, and systematically searched PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Scopus for English-language studies conducted from 2018 to 2023 exploring the relationship between loneliness and biomarkers of inflammation in adults. Twelve studies meeting the inclusion criteria displayed heterogeneity in terms of sample characteristics, loneliness scales, and inflammatory biomarkers. The UCLA Loneliness Scale, in various forms, emerged as the predominant tool for measuring loneliness, while C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 were the most frequently evaluated inflammatory biomarkers. Notably, all 12 studies reported an association between loneliness and at least 1 biological marker of inflammation. Research consistently associates loneliness with poor health outcomes in aging adults, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This scoping review suggests that inflammation may serve as a pathway linking loneliness to adverse health outcomes. However, the variability across studies highlights the need for standardized measurement methods and a consideration of both the duration and extent of loneliness. Enhancing our understanding of how loneliness affects systemic inflammation may help clarify why loneliness is associated with negative health outcomes.

Ten Years Later: Still Unchanged Susceptibility to Antibiotics of Listeria monocytogenes from Poultry Processing Environments.

Listeria monocytogenes is still recognized as being commonly susceptible to antibiotics; however, there have been reports of reduced susceptibility in recent years. The significance of this resistance is not clear, in part due to the disparity in the antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods used. EUCAST (European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing) has recently proposed a standardized method for antibiotic susceptibility testing of L. monocytogenes. The aim of this work was to evaluate the susceptibility to 11 antibiotics in clinical use of 50 pulsed-field gel electrophoresis types of L. monocytogenes representing 347 isolates from a poultry industry setting using the EUCAST method and to compare the results with those obtained 10 years before. All poultry strains were sensitive to all the antibiotics tested but one strain was resistant to benzylpenicillin according to the EUCAST criteria. The current findings supported the previous study and confirmed that in certain food-associated L. monocytogenes populations, antibiotic sensitivity has remained stable.

Novel Immunotherapeutics for the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Resistant to PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors

Immunotherapy with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors is the standard method of care for the treatment of newly diagnosed advanced or metastatic NSCLC, with or without chemotherapy. Many tumors, however, develop resistance to these immunotherapy agents. There is a need to develop more effective therapies for patients with metastatic NSCLC in the second-line setting and beyond. In this review, we present an overview of novel immunotherapies being investigated regarding the treatment of these patients. We summarize completed, as well as ongoing, trials investigating these therapies as monotherapy or in combination with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. These include immune co-stimulatory antibodies, T-cell agonists, oncolytic viruses, vaccines, TIL therapies, and CAR-T therapies.

Physico-mechanical measurements, functional properties, proximate composition of newly developed climate-resilient cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) varieties and their classification with near-infrared spectroscopy

AbstractCowpea is an important staple in Ghana and many tropical and subtropicalregions. Improving food security and agricultural sustainability for these crops requires the development of climate-resilient varieties.This study aimed to classify five newly developed climate-resilient cowpea varieties—Bawutawuta, SAMPEA 14, SARI-tuya, IT13K-1070–2, and IT07K-299–6—using Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) for classification, while standard methods were used to evaluate their composition, functional and physico-mechanical properties. Proximate composition, including moisture, protein, ash, fat, crude fiber, and carbohydrates, was determined according to Association of Official Analytical Chemists methods. NIRS data was processed within the 950–1650 nm range to reduce spectral noise, employing Savitzky-Golay smoothing for baseline correction. Linear Discriminant Analysis facilitated multi-class classification, with cross-validation performed using a leave-one-sample-out method to evaluate recognition and prediction accuracy. The cowpea varieties exhibited significant differences in their chemical and physico-mechanical properties. Moisture content ranged from 7.21% to 10.88%, protein from 22.84% to 32.53%, ash from 0.90% to 1.81%, fat from 2.56% to 9.13%, crude fiber from 2.90% to 4.78%, and carbohydrates from 47.43% to 53.85%. NIRS analysis demonstrated high sensitivity, achieving a recognition accuracy of 98.08% and a prediction accuracy of 96.19%. Bawutawuta and SARI-tuya presented distinct spectral profiles, while SAMPEA 14, IT13K-1070–2, and IT07K-299–6 showed overlapping spectra. These findings provide valuable insights into the unique attributes of each cowpea variety, which can be leveraged to optimize agricultural practices, processing, and storage of these climate-resilient varieties.

Modified plastic stress distribution method incorporating size effect for strength prediction of CFST members

Large-size concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) members are widely applied in long-span and heavily-loaded structures due to increasing engineering demands. However, due to the size effect, applying the existing design methods to large-size CFST members may overestimate the load capacity, leading to unsafe designs. The plastic stress distribution (PSD) method is widely used as the primary method in typical design codes for calculating the strength of CFST members that are not susceptible to local buckling, while the PSD method was mainly used previously to evaluate the strength of CFST members with relatively small size. In this work, the experimental database of short CFST members with compact sections was complied, and the applicability of the PSD method was evaluated. The results showed that the test-to-calculated ratios decreased with increasing size of CFST members, and unsafe designs emerged for large-size CFST members. Based on the observations, the mechanics-based modified plastic stress distribution (MPSD) method was proposed, which not only considered the size effect at the material level similar to the way treated in most of the previous calculation methods, but also incorporated the size effect of the interaction action between the steel tube and concrete at the member level. Finally, the MPSD method was evaluated against the experimental database, and good agreement was achieved. These results provide strong justification for changes to the PSD method in design standards.

The "4.3," A New Filler Lips Technique.

The "4.3" technique is a hybrid lip augmentation approach that combines the aesthetic benefits of the vertical-lip technique with the fewer entry points of the retrograde linear technique. This method aims to create natural-looking, harmonious, and defined lips using hyaluronic acid (HA)-based fillers, to enhance volume and contour. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and reproducibility of the "4.3" technique in achieving natural lip augmentation with minimal filler volume and reduced injections. This technique is applied to improve the shape and volume of the lips while minimizing the risk of complications. The technique was applied to male and female patients with standard anatomical features who desired subtle enhancements in lip contour, projection, and volume. The procedure involved four injections in the upper lip and three in the lower lip, using a combination of retrograde linear and vertical techniques. A total of 0.7 mL of HA filler were used for each patient. The "4.3" technique achieved consistent and aesthetically pleasing results across all patients, with improvements in lip volume, shape, and definition. The reduced number of injections minimized discomfort and risk of vascular complications. The use of Tri-Hyal technology contributed to smooth, plump lips with harmonious proportions. The "4.3" technique is a standardized, intuitive, and reproducible method suitable for most patients, regardless of sex. It allows for natural-looking lip augmentation using a reduced volume of filler and fewer injections, making it a safe and effective option for enhancing lip aesthetics.

A single-stranded based library preparation method for virome characterization

BackgroundThe gut virome is an integral component of the gut microbiome, playing a crucial role in maintaining gut health. However, accurately depicting the entire gut virome is challenging due to the inherent diversity of genome types (dsDNA, ssDNA, dsRNA, and ssRNA) and topologies (linear, circular, or fragments), with subsequently biases associated with current sequencing library preparation methods. To overcome these problems and improve reproducibility and comparability across studies, universal or standardized virome sequencing library construction methods are highly needed in the gut virome study.ResultsWe repurposed the ligation-based single-stranded library (SSLR) preparation method for virome studies. We demonstrate that the SSLR method exhibits exceptional efficiency in quantifying viral DNA genomes (both dsDNA and ssDNA) and outperforms existing double-stranded (Nextera) and single-stranded (xGen, MDA + Nextera) library preparation approaches in terms of minimal amplification bias, evenness of coverage, and integrity of assembling viral genomes. The SSLR method can be utilized for the simultaneous library preparation of both DNA and RNA viral genomes. Furthermore, the SSLR method showed its ability to capture highly modified phage genomes, which were often lost using other library preparation approaches.ConclusionWe introduce and improve a fast, simple, and efficient ligation-based single-stranded DNA library preparation for gut virome study. This method is compatible with Illumina sequencing platforms and only requires ligation reagents within 3-h library preparation, which is similar or even better than the advanced library preparation method (xGen). We hope this method can be further optimized, validated, and widely used to make gut virome study more comparable and reproducible.EMStnH64sPQJC5VtA73CKfVideo

Evaluation of HemoQR (Haemoglobin Detection test with Mobile based Software) in Hospital Camp Setup using 280 Patient Samples in Comparison to Gold Standard Methods

Evaluation of HemoQR (Haemoglobin Detection test with Mobile based Software) in Hospital Camp Setup using 280 Patient Samples in Comparison to Gold Standard Methods